Thursday 9th September 2010
MEMO to Australian smokers: don't expect sympathy from your compatriots if you develop lung cancer.
Research has found Australians are the world's least sympathetic when it comes to patients diagnosed with lung cancer.
But the same study of 1000 adults across 16 countries, including Australia, found many were ignorant about lung cancer being the most common cause of cancer death.
''Compared to other countries, Australians are the least sympathetic towards people with lung cancer,'' the study commissioned by the Global Lung Cancer Coalition found.
Australia edged out Brazil (28 per cent) and then Britain (24 per cent) in terms of reduced sympathy levels.
Argentinians were the most sympathetic, with just 10 per cent reporting feeling less compassion.
Matthews Peters, head of respiratory medicine at Sydney's Concord Hospital, said lung cancer was the biggest cancer killer in Australia, causing more than 7600 deaths each year - more than breast, ovarian and prostate cancer combined.
For the full story go to:
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/little-pity-for-sick-smokers-20100828-13wy7.html