Americans are seeing a 22% increase over the past five years in lung cancer survival rates, according to a report from the American Lung Association. Despite this progress, experts say that more people need to be tested for lung cancer in order to improve overall outcomes.
The five-year survival rate for lung cancer has increased to 26.6% from 21.7% in 2016, the report indicates. Additionally, the survival rate for people of color saw a 17% increase over the past two years. However, researchers also found significant racial disparities in treatment, diagnosis, and survival rates.
Black and Latino patients with lung cancer were found to be less likely to survive five years past their initial diagnosis compared to White patients. Moreover, Black individuals were 19% less likely to receive surgical treatment and 16% less likely to survive. Latinos were 30% less likely to receive any treatment, and 9% less likely to survive.
Asian and Pacific Islander patients, on the other hand, were 17% less likely to be diagnosed early, but 17% more likely to receive surgical treatment and 14% more likely to survive compared to White patients.
Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death in the US, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states. Luckily, there have been recent advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which have led to more personalized treatment options. Experts say that increasing lung cancer screenings could save many more lives.
Screening has been found to reduce the lung cancer death rate by up to 20%. Catching lung cancer early can significantly improve the overall chance of survival. However, only about 4.5% of people at high risk of lung cancer are getting screened for it, the report suggests. In California, for example, only 0.7% of high-risk individuals are getting screened.
The American Cancer Society recently expanded its screening recommendations. Now, anyone between the ages of 50 and 80 with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years is recommended to get checked for lung cancer. A pack-year is defined as smoking an average of a pack of cigarettes per day for one year.
Experts are optimistic that screening rates will improve, especially with the updated guidelines. Lung cancer screening involves only a low-dose CT scan, making it a relatively straightforward procedure. Additionally, doctors emphasize the importance of quitting smoking, as tobacco is to blame for 80% to 90% of lung cancer cases.
Overall, the report stresses the importance of increasing lung cancer screenings, improving access to smoking cessation programs, and reducing exposure to high levels of pollution and radon in order to continue improving lung cancer survival rates in the United States.