The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center -- an institution committed to promoting cancer prevention and dedicated to ending cancer-- is applauding the court-ordered "corrective statements" being published by tobacco companies.
The tough truth about tobacco's effects is the result of a 2006 judgment by U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler. The mandated advertisements "will be a significant step toward informing Americans about the addictive power of cigarettes and the harms of tobacco use," according to M.D. Anderson.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. -- claiming an estimated 480,000 lives each year.
Tobacco use is also the leading preventable cause of cancer, responsible for roughly 30 percent of all cancers and 90 percent of all lung cancers.
“Although we have made tremendous progress in terms of reducing tobacco use, the CDC recently reported that 20 percent of adults in the U.S. still use tobacco products,” said Dr. Ernest Hawk. vice president and chair, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences. “It’s clear that we must continue to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco use, and these statements will be an important part of that process."