Lung Cancer Patients Face a Void of Emotional Support

Lung Cancer Patients Face a Void of Emotional Support

November 29, 2007

The International Psycho-Oncology Society Introduce a New
Global Quality of Life Initiative With the Support of
Roche

    BASEL, Switzerland, Nov. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Concerning results from a Europe-wide survey released today
during Lung Cancer Awareness Month reveal that one in three
lung cancer patients feel that they are not receiving the
emotional support they need to manage their
life-threatening disease. Patients surveyed say support is
essential during their diagnosis and treatment, but many
are still not benefiting from the services available in
hospitals and patient groups because they do not address
the particular burdens unique to a lung cancer
diagnosis(1). Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer
and Europe's most deadly, claiming almost 1,000 lives every
day(2).

    "Nothing prepared me for the wide range of
emotions that accompanies a lung cancer diagnosis,"
says lung cancer patient Ana Motta, Spain, who was
diagnosed in January 2007. "Programs that are
developed with our feelings in mind are sorely needed,
especially those that we can use when we are at
home."

    To fill the void currently faced by lung cancer
patients and their caregivers, Roche and the International
Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) have introduced INSPIRE, an
innovative global initiative to improve quality of life for
lung cancer patients worldwide. This unique program will
provide patients and caregivers with comprehensive
practical and emotional guidance that is customised to
their needs. It will include:

    - Coping and self-help techniques
    - Advice to improve communication among patients,
caregivers and health
      care professionals
    - Relaxation methods to help patients take a more
positive and active
      role in their cancer care.

    The INSPIRE resources will be available next year, in
formats adapted to suit each country, including, but not
limited to, booklets, CD-ROMs and online programs.

    "Emotionally, lung cancer patients have a
particularly difficult journey because they are often
diagnosed at a very advanced stage of their disease,"
says Dr. Luigi Grassi, President of IPOS and Professor and
Chair of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, Italy. "It
is, therefore, critical that we have programs and support
vehicles that are designed with the specific needs in mind
of lung cancer patients and their carers/families. IPOS is
pleased to be involved with Roche in this first-of-its-kind
patient program."

    Psycho-oncology is a growing discipline within the area
of cancer care, focusing on the psychological, behavioral
and social impact of cancer on patients and their
caregivers. When the emotional distress of lung cancer is
neglected, the patient's health and quality of life often
deteriorates. Psycho-oncologists help patients and their
caregivers to cope with their disease and to manage their
overwhelming emotions that often accompany a cancer
diagnosis and its treatment.

    For more information on INSPIRE, please contact Lester
B. Davis, International Communication Manager, Tarceva at
[e-mail] or May Baccari, Resolute
Communications at [e-mail].

    For more information about IPOS and how you can support
its critical programmes, visit http://www.ipos-society.org.

    About the survey

    Over a period of two months, 252 lung cancer patients
across the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain were
surveyed on their experiences with being diagnosed with and
treated for lung cancer. The survey was commissioned by
Roche and conducted by an independent research consultancy,
Patient Research, and was carried out using a combination of
telephone and internet methodologies. All survey respondents
were offered full anonymity and were qualified by the
researchers.

    About IPOS

    Since 1984, the International Psycho-Oncology Society
(IPOS) has been committed to developing the science of
psychosocial and behavioral oncology as it relates to
improving the care of cancer patients and their families,
as well as preventing cancer through healthy behaviors.
IPOS is an individual membership society serving
psycho-oncology professionals throughout the world and an
umbrella organization serving national societies that
represent over 5,000 research and clinical professionals in
more than 50 countries. Psycho-oncology stakeholders are
multidisciplinary and include physicians, psychologists,
nurses, social workers, rehabilitation specialists,
epidemiologists, social scientists and educators.

    About Roche

    Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of
the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in
the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As the
world's biggest biotech company and an innovator of
products and services for the early detection, prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the Group contributes
on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and
quality of life. Roche is the world leader in in-vitro
diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, a
market leader in virology and active in other major
therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases,
inflammation, metabolic disorders and diseases of the
central nervous system. Additional information is available
on the Internet at www.roche.com.

    All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are
protected by law.

    Disclaimer: Cautionary statement regarding
forward-looking statements

    This document contains certain forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements may be
identified by words such as 'believes', 'expects',
'anticipates', 'projects', 'intends', 'should', 'seeks',
'estimates', 'future' or similar expressions or by
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or intentions. Various factors may cause actual results to
differ materially in the future from those reflected in
forward-looking statements contained in this document,
among others: (1) pricing and product initiatives of
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and economic conditions; (3) delay or inability in
obtaining regulatory approvals or bringing products to
market; (4) fluctuations in currency exchange rates and
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the discovery, development or marketing of new products or
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obtain adequate protection for intellectual property
rights; (9) litigation; (10) loss of key executives or
other employees; and (11) adverse publicity and news
coverage. The statement regarding earnings per share growth
is not a profit forecast and should not be interpreted to
mean that Roche's earnings or earnings per share for any
current or future period will necessarily match or exceed
the historical published earnings or earnings per share of
Roche.

    References

    1. Survey commissioned by Roche, conducted by Patient
Research, 2007.

    2. IARC. GLOBOCAN 2002. Cancer Incidence, Mortality and
Prevalence
       Worldwide (2002 estimates). Accessed 2007
(http://www-dep.iarc.fr/).


    Media Relations Contacts

    Lester B. Davis, International Communication Manager,
Tarceva
    Email: [e-mail]

    May Baccari, Resolute Communications
    Tel:   [phone]
    Email: [e-mail]