Ayotte, Feinstein Introduce Bill Aimed at Addressing Lung Cancer in Women

Press Release

This week, U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2016 along with Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). In the United States, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women. Each day, an average of 198 women in the United States die of lung cancer. Women are also at greater risk than men of being diagnosed with lung cancer at young ages.

"Lung cancer has a disparate impact on women and we must place a focus on improving research that can help us better understand why this is the case," said Senator Kelly Ayotte. "I'm proud to work with Senators Feinstein, Rubio, and Cantwell on this important legislation because it's clear that lung cancer affects men and women differently. Our bill will allow for a greater understanding of this terrible disease and how it affects women, determine ways to increase access to life-saving preventive services, and make the public more aware of the importance of screenings that can catch this deadly disease at its earliest, most treatable stage. We owe it to our mothers, sisters, and daughters to do all we can to ensure that women and their families across the country do not continue to suffer from the consequences of this tragic disease."

"Lung cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States and the leading cause of cancer deaths. Despite this, awareness of lung cancer is low and the disease is widely misunderstood. This bill will help provide a comprehensive plan to better understand lung cancer, increase screening and improve treatment options," said Senator Dianne Feinstein.

"Senators Ayotte and Feinstein, along with Senators Rubio and Cantwell, have shown what responsive, bipartisan, can-do legislative effort looks," said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President & CEO of Lung Cancer Alliance. "Evidence clearly shows that lung cancer presents differently in women and men and it is time to more fully understand why and devise a comprehensive plan of action to address the lethal impact of this disease. We are extremely grateful to be aligning our efforts with these respected leaders who have consistently shown support for initiatives that would improve women's health and reduce cancer's impact on all people."

According to the National Cancer Institute, it is estimated that over 71,000 women will die of lung cancer in 2016. If enacted, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2016 will require the Department of Health and Human Services to undertake an inter-agency study to determine ways to increase research on women and lung cancer. The report would also determine ways to increase access to lung cancer preventive services and screenings, and place a focus on developing an enhanced public awareness and education campaign on lung cancer. Specifically, the study would recommend ways to fill current gaps in research, accelerate the implementation of preventive lung cancer detection methods for women and encourage federal agencies to create a wider education campaign on the benefits of early detection. The Ayotte-Feinstein bill is supported by Lung Cancer Alliance. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Richard Nolan (D-MN), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Lois Capps (D-CA), and Peter DeFazio (D-OR).

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