New Report Highlights Potential of Lung Cancer Screening to Improve Outcomes for Patients and Health Systems

Early detection of lung cancer is the key to better outcomes for individual patients and for health systems. A report published today by the Lung Ambition Alliance, ‘Lung Cancer Screening: The Cost of Inaction’, shows that early diagnosis has the potential to alleviate the burden of disease on society, and to save funds for and ensure the sustainability of health systems [i].?Nearly 1 in 4 deaths from lung cancer in high-risk individuals could be avoided through targeted low-dose CT (LDCT) screening, based on evidence from large-scale randomized clinical trials including the NELSON study [ii],[iii].?Further, the report shows that early diagnosis has the potential to alleviate the burden of disease on society, and to save funds for and ensure the sustainability of health systems [iv].

Today is also the two-year anniversary of the Alliance, and as a founding partner, we at AstraZeneca echo the report’s recommendations and endorse the call for widespread screening using LDCT scans – which enable the detection of lung cancers too small for traditional X-rays. Significant cost savings could be made for health systems, as late diagnosis is associated with higher treatment costs [i].?

People diagnosed with lung cancer at Stage I are six times more likely to survive five years than those who are diagnosed at Stage IV. Sadly, for many patients, early diagnosis is not the reality.?This new report reinforces the benefits of lung cancer screening and its transformative impact on early diagnosis. It also outlines recommendations for countries to implement widespread screening effectively.?

We cannot afford to neglect lung cancer and its impact on society. This report is yet another proof point that through LDCT scanning, we can make early diagnosis – and better outcomes – the new reality for more patients. When we detect cancer in its early stages, before it has spread, we have more effective treatment options available that increase a patient’s chance of cure.?

You can read the report here:?https://www.lungambitionalliance.com/increased-screening-rates-and-diagnostic-testing/cost-of-inaction.html

To stay up to date with how the Lung Ambition Alliance is driving forward meaningful improvements in lung cancer, follow them on @LungAmbition on Twitter.?

Refrences

[i]?The ASCO Post. World Cancer Day 2019. Emphasis on Early Detection. Available at:?https://ascopost.com/News/59711#:~:text=Benefits%20of%20Early%20Diagnosis&text=Early%20detection%2C%20screening%2C%20and%20diagnosis%20have%20been%20proven%20to%20significantly,and%20complexity%20of%20cancer%20treatment.?Accessed June 2021.

[ii]?The Health Policy Partnership. Lung cancer screening: the cost of inaction report.?June 2021.?https://www.lungambitionalliance.com/content/dam/az/lung-ambition/V2/Lung%20cancer%20cost%20of%20inaction_final%2007July21%20(2).pdf

[iii]?de Koning H.J., et al.?Reduced Lung-Cancer Mortality with Volume CT Screening in a Randomized Trial. NEJM. 2020,382:503-513

[iv]?The ASCO Post. World Cancer Day 2019. Emphasis on Early Detection. Available at:?https://ascopost.com/News/59711#:~:text=Benefits%20of%20Early%20Diagnosis&text=Early%20detection%2C%20screening%2C%20and%20diagnosis%20have%20been%20proven%20to%20significantly,and%20complexity%20of%20cancer%20treatment.?Accessed June 2021.