Optimism and concern for Iowa’s state of lung cancer

As a pulmonologist, the American Lung Association’s “State of Lung Cancer” released on Nov. 14, gives me both optimism and concern.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for adults. I celebrate the 22% improvement in overall long-term survival in lung cancer; but I am sobered that it remains only about 27%. This is largely because most lung cancers are found too late to cure.

How do we change that? First, support efforts such as quit-smoking programs like Quitline Iowa and in-school tobacco prevention education for youth, and efforts to increase awareness about the risks of radon. For those at high risk, increase awareness about annual low-dose CT screening which can reduce lung cancer deaths by up to 20%. Less than 10% of eligible patients in Iowa received lung cancer screening.

Finally, there continue to be at-risk populations left behind in improvements in screening and treatment due to racial and socioeconomic disparities across the U.S. As a nation, we must do better if we are ever to realize the Lung Association’s vision of a world free of lung disease.

Thomas Gross

Solon