U.S. Cancer Doctors Urge Focused War Against Tobacco
"Oncologists see the end product from smoking. To see a preventable form of cancer is a tragedy," Reuters quoted Dr. Paul Bunn, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists, as saying at a news conference at the group's annual meeting.
In a new policy statement, the group representing tens of thousands of cancer experts globally, recommended creation of a "blue-ribbon" panel to focus U.S. government tobacco policy. Right now, Bunn said, some federal agencies are helping to promote exports of U.S. tobacco products while other agencies are working to cut use. "The goal is a smoke-free world," Bunn said, citing the potential harm to developing nations. "We think regulation and legislation will be required."
A panel of experts cited the dire health costs from smoking, including that one-third of all U.S. cancer deaths relate directly to tobacco. If current trends hold, 1 billion people will die this century from tobacco-related illnesses compared to 100 million in the last century.
The oncologists' statement called for increased efforts to discourage tobacco use, as 1 million Americans take up the habit each year. These included raising federal excise taxes by $2 per pack and requiring disclosure of all ingredients in tobacco products.
"This is a very comprehensive policy statement -- it hits all the issues including (smoking cessation) treatment," said Mayo Clinic researcher Richard Hurt, an expert on cessation and on research into tobacco industry documents on its products.
Hurt said the U.S. Congress seemed stymied on giving regulators power over tobacco, but that state and local governments were putting a crimp in the industry by barring smoking at more and more indoor venues.
Second-hand smoke is an important avenue for the industry to develop new smokers and to hamper quitting efforts by those who are addicted, he said.
Another researcher cited the relatively steep decline in smoking in California, where smoking restrictions are tight.