ASH Daily News for 08/10/2001
HEADLINES
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ASH Daily News
5 – 8 October 2001
Headlines
‘Anti-smoke drug in jail’
‘Cancer bias puts breasts first’
‘Winning formula eludes BAT team’
‘Smuggled goods smokers are returning to the retailer fold’
‘Complex trends mean retailers must stay ahead of the game’
Full Text
‘Anti-smoke drug in jail’
The Sunday Express reports that, ‘Inmates at a maximum security prison are to receive a controversial anti-smoking drug costing £87.50 – paid for by the taxpayer.’
A Prison Office spokesman confirmed that various anti-smoking treatments will be available to prisoners, including NRT and Zyban. He said: “According to the Prison Service performance standard, prisons have a duty to allow prisoners the same standard healthcare as that available on the NHS.”
Source: Sunday Express, 7 October 2001
‘Cancer bias puts breasts first’
The Observer reports, ‘Cancer experts have warned that the breast cancer lobby is now so powerful it is distorting research spending, treatment and facilities at the expense of those suffering from other cancers. Lung cancer kills almost three times as many people each year as breast cancer, which also kills fewer people than colon cancer. However, there are more than 25 charities dedicated to breast cancer, compared with five for prostate, three for colon and just one for lung cancer.’
The article continues, ‘The breast cancer charities have succeeded in raising millions of pounds and attracting patronage from Ministers, MPs and royalty, as well as from celebrities such as pop star Geri Halliwell. 'Breast cancer research has moved forward much faster than the others because of the breast cancer lobby, which is very powerful,' said Ian Gibson MP, chairman of the House of Commons' all-party group on cancer. ‘The treatment has been skewed by the lobbying, there is no doubt about that. Breast cancer sufferers get better treatment in terms of bed spaces, facilities and doctors and nurses.'
The article also adds, ‘Professor Jonathan Waxman of the Prostate Cancer Charity said the Government had been easily swayed by the breast cancer lobby. 'The Government has responded to the media attention and the huge emotional pull of breast cancer,' he said. A spokesman for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Britain's only lung cancer charity, complained: 'It's been skewed totally. Breast cancer is so well addressed, [while lung cancer] doesn't attract the level of funding you'd expect for the number one cancer killer.' Sarah Cruickshank of Colon Cancer Concern said it has been struggling to get attention and raise funds. 'People are too embarrassed to talk about bottoms and rectums. But breasts are visible, attractive, and you can dress up models and market it,' she said. In a desperate bid for attention, the charity put out a poster of a bottom, but made it look like a cleavage. Leslie Walker, head of information at the Cancer Research Campaign, said: 'The explosion of research into breast cancer comes down to one thing - breast screening. If you screen, you detect women with breast cancer and you get all the expertise and facilities built up around that.'
Source: The Observer, 7 October 2001
Link: http://society.guardian.co.uk/cancer/story/0,8150,565318,00.html
‘Winning formula eludes BAT team’
British American Racing, the Formula One team, owned by cigarette giant, British American Tobacco, lost $40m last year, bringing the team’s total losses to more than $150m since it was established in 1997.
Source: Sunday Business, 7 October 2001
‘Complex trends mean retailers must stay ahead of the game’
One article in Retail newsagent reports on how the government is tackling tobacco smugglers and that consequently smokers are ‘returning to the retailer fold’.
However, another article in the same publication, points out that smokers are ‘trading down’ and buying ‘value for money’ cigarette brands like Royals and Lambert & Butler.
Source: Retail Newsagent, 6 October 2001
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