Merck Serono - a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany - has launched the latest initiative in their long-established commitment to social responsibility and disease awareness.

Developed in partnership with leading patient group 'Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe' (WALCE), lifebeyondchemotherapy is dedicated to providing tailored, practical and clinical information. The site also provides emotional support throughout the lung cancer journey for the 'people behind the patients,' from diagnosis through to standard treatment (e.g. chemotherapy) and beyond.

"Due the debilitating nature of lung cancer, caregivers play a crucial role in supporting people with this disease. Despite this, there are currently very few resources tailored specifically for caregivers' needs," says Stefania Vallone, from Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe (WALCE). "We hope this new website will empower caregivers to further help their loved ones take a positive step forward."

This website is the latest in a series of campaigns led by Merck Serono which aim to address the need for increased disease awareness with greater support and treatment information for the community. Last year the website was launched - an educational resource for patients focusing on personalized care and new advances in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treatment approaches.

"Following diagnosis of lung cancer, many patients and their families seek information to help support their decisions around lifestyle, treatment and ongoing healthcare. The internet is often the first point of access for these patients; however, its rapid expansion has given rise to an increasing level of misleading and inaccurate information," says Dr. Wolfgang Wein, Executive Vice President, Oncology, Merck Serono.

By working in partnership with several leading European patient groups to develop these resources, Merck Serono has ensured that the content, guidance and resources provided on these websites are balanced, and truly meet the needs of caregivers, friends and families of people with lung cancer. The content available from this website will be for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Globally, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the second most common in women.1,2 There were over 1.5 million new cases reported in 2007 alone.2 At diagnosis, most patients with non-small cell lung cancer (the most common form) have advanced, inoperable disease, which is associated with a very poor outlook - this is why the role of caregivers in lung cancer is so important.3 Only one in every eight people (13%) with lung cancer is alive five years after diagnosis, compared to 83% for melanoma and 79% for breast cancer.4

References

1. Garcia M, et al. American Cancer Society 2007. Available here.

2. World Health Organization

3. Bunn PA, et al. Oncologist 2008;13(Suppl 1):1-4.

4. Sant M, et al. Eur J Cancer 2009; 45(6):931-91.

Source:
Merck Serono
Merck