If you're reading this page, you are someone who cares about lung cancer, but you may not know how to go about making a positive difference for those affected by the disease.

Despite being the leading cancer killer in the U.S., lung cancer is often called the "invisible" cancer because it does not get the media and public health attention that other cancers do - despite the tragic death toll it takes each year. Lung cancer has not been made the priority it should be.

If we're going to "win the war" on cancer, targeting the leading cancer killer - lung cancer must be a top priority.

How do we make lung cancer a national health priority? We start by making NOISE - and lots of it.

CURRENT LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN:  Support for the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009

Your voice matters! Please help support the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2008. Write your Senators today and ask them to support this important legislation. Some tips and a sample letter are provided to get you started.

Contacting Your Senators by Mail

1. Go to http://www.congress.org/ and enter your ZIP code under “My Elected Officials” search box at the upper left of the page.
2. Look under “President & Congress” for the names of the two Senators that represent your state. Write a letter to each of them separately.

How to Properly Address a Letter to a U.S. Senator

1. Address the envelope as follows:
   The Honorable (Name)
   United States Senate
   Washington, D.C. 20510
2. The greeting for a U.S. Senator is: Dear Senator (Name),
3. Signing your letter – you must include your name, city, state and ZIP code. Senators are concerned with addressing the issues important to their constituents. In order for your voice to be heard, your Senator must know he/she is representing YOU in the U.S. Senate.

Sample Letter Requesting Support for the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009

You can cut-and-paste this sample letter into your word processing program and then modify to make your message personal. Or you can write a message of your own!

Dear Senator (Name),

I am deeply concerned about the lung cancer crisis in the United States and in our home state of (name of your state). Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among American men and women of all ethnicities. More Americans die of lung cancer each year than from breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined. If we are to win the “war on cancer” (and we must), lung cancer must be made a national health priority.

I implore you to join with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) in support of the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009. This important legislation would establish a coordinated federal interagency policy aimed to reduce the lung cancer mortality rate and authorizes additional funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand and intensify their research into causes and treatments for lung cancer. It also calls upon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement an early disease research and management program and encourages the development of drugs or devices for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer.

In 2008 alone, more than 215,000 American men and women will be diagnosed with lung cancer; tragically, 162,000 will lose their lives to this deadly disease.

As the leading cancer killer of American citizens, lung cancer should be a national health priority. I respectfully urge you to employ your leadership in the Senate in making that a reality with your support of the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009.

Your name
Your Address
Your City, State ZIP Code