Today is the second anniversary of the Lung Ambition Alliance , and while treatment for lung cancer has come so far , to realize the full potential of these advances we need to ensure people have timely access to effective screening and diagnosis – which would allow them to act quickly on possible cancer symptoms .”
Fewer screens are required to prevent one lung cancer death than for other cancer types . The NELSON study found that for every 320 LDCT scans administered , one life could be saved , compared to 864 tests
for colorectal cancer and between 645 to
12 , 13 , 14
1,724 scans for breast cancer . However , screening for lung cancer is not as widely available as for breast and colorectal cancers . 15
Unfortunately for lung cancer screening , policy change has lagged behind the changing attitudes as new evidence has become available . In a survey of policymakers in seven countries ( France , Germany , Italy , Japan , Spain , UK , US ), the majority ( 75 %) believed that countries should invest in targeted lung cancer screening programs . 16 Only a few countries across the world have committed to introducing nationwide screening programs , these include the US , Japan , South Korea , Croatia , Poland and Australia . 1 The report calls on governments to implement LDCT screening at scale in high-risk populations and provides implementation guidance based on decades of global research .
Mohit Manrao , Vice President and Global Franchise Head of Lung Cancer , AstraZeneca , said :
“ We cannot squander the opportunity to alleviate the burden of lung cancer on society through effective screening . Not only will early detection benefit patients , but this approach also has the potential to reduce costs for health systems , ensure greater sustainability in the long run and support governments in achieving their goals of reducing cancer mortality as a whole . Early diagnosis is key to achieving the best possible outcomes for lung cancer patients . We now have a deeper understanding of the complexities of lung cancer and how to treat it , and indeed an imperative to provide patients with care that is best suited to the characteristics of their disease .”
About the Lung Ambition Alliance
The Lung Ambition Alliance is a flagship partnership of diverse organizations united in the quest to eliminate lung cancer as a cause of death . The Alliance aims to accelerate progress and bring meaningful change for lung cancer patients by amplifying the expertise of each partner and prioritizing meaningful projects with potential to further its goal . The founding partners – the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer ( IASLC ), Guardant Health , the Global Lung Cancer Coalition ( GLCC ) and AstraZeneca – will explore and overcome barriers to screening and early diagnosis , the development of innovative medicine and quality care , and pursue an ambitious vision for the future in lung cancer that starts with doubling five-year survival by 2025 .
For more information , visit www . lungambitionalliance . org .
Source :
https :// www . lungcancercoalition . org / screeni ng-resource / guidelines / lung-ambitionalliance-guidelines / lung-ambition-alliancepublishes-report-lung-cancer-screening-thecost-of-inaction / laa-report-screening-thecost-of-inaction-2