Updated December 30, 2014.

In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared a war on cancer. Sadly, in 2008, we are still at the dawn of that war, and our oncology troops have a long road ahead of them. Lung cancer alone will cause over 150,000 U.S. casualties this year. President elect Barack Obama has called for ? has promised ? change. Let?s ask him to make a change by launching an attack on the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

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This battlefield sounds dismal; aren?t we getting somewhere? All of that money we donate at funerals, when memorials to the American Cancer Society are preferred in lieu of flowers? All of the news reports talking about "breakthroughs?"

Just as the truth comes out when our children bring home their report cards, the Lung Cancer Alliance?s Report Card on Lung Cancer tells us a bigger investment in time and energy is needed. A grade of C- in "federal committment" can't compensate for F's in "number of deaths", "5-year survival", "number of late stage diagnoses", and "stigma associated with lung cancer". Progress on lung cancer is failing those that our president set out to save 37 years ago.

History tells us that a single person can make a difference. Events ? such as the results of the recent election ? are no longer impossible. Each of us can make a difference, and here is one way to start. Write a letter to President-elect Obama asking for a change that will result in better grades for lung cancer.

A change that could increase survival dramatically. You can compose your own letter, but if you are pressed for time like me, the Lung Cancer Alliance has even made that step easy. Go to LCA Advocacy Action and add your name to their letter.

The Lung Cancer Alliance has proposed a goal: 50% reduction in mortality by 2015.

This is change worth writing for!