Letters to the Editor
The dictionary defines it as a feeling of deep sympathy or sorrow for someone's misfortune.
This can be said of the many elderly persons left to fend for themselves, some abandoned by their children, others who want to be on their own and not be a burden to the families, is what we are facing in an aging world.
People are living longer due to better health services and medical technology.
It used to be grandparents, parents and their children would be born and died in the same house. At the turn of the century the average life span was about 55, give or take a few years.
Society today is presented with a real problem. The average life span today for seniors in the 70s or 80s. As we live longer more problems are created for society.
Do you have any idea how many nursing homes of different classifications there are in this country tending to the needs of seniors? There are hundreds upon hundreds in every state.
Medical costs are soaring. If you are an elderly person and have your health, you are indeed fortunate, but how about the millions who are in poor health or have a debilitating illness.
They need care and compassion, not just on the part of society, but of their families.
When we were in our 20s, 30s, and 40s we thought we would never arrive at being a senior, but aging will happen to all of us faster than we think. Do all you can to show care and compassion to your elderly parents and relatives, for your day is coming when your care will be in the hands of your children.
Arthur L. Andre
St. Charles
Despite the high mortality rate from the disease, lung cancer receives the least amount of federal funding for research among the common cancers. Federal funding for breast cancer research is typically sixteen times that for lung cancer.
We are co-chairing the Lung Cancer Task Force of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, one of the leading cancer centers in the nation based in Madison, Wisconsin.
The UW's Lung Cancer Program provides world-class clinical care coupled with an outstanding research program, but we need more research support to quickly move new discoveries from the laboratory to the bedside to aid patients and families.
In the next three years, we plan to raise $4 million to support:
• Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, a brand-new facility on the UW-Madison campus. This facility is a new concept in cancer research which unites basic scientists and clinicians and sets the stage to translate discoveries into treatment. Approximately $1.3 million is needed to finish lung cancer research space in this state-of-the-art complex since the state of Wisconsin has already pledged a $2.5 million dollar-for-dollar match.
• We also need $2.7 million to provide recruitment packages to attract new, world-class lung cancer scientists to the UW. This funding will also provide seed money to establish pilot projects to advance lung cancer research and treatments.
The need to support the UW's Lung Cancer Program is more important than ever, and we need your support! If you are interested in learning more, please contact Steve Ramig at the UW Foundation, 608-265-3527 or steve.ramig@uwfoundation.wisc.edu.
George & Candy Gialamas & Fred Johnson
Co-chairs, Lung Cancer Task Force
