Improving outcomes in lung cancer

01.12.2010

Every year, 1.5 million people are diagnosed with lung cancer, and 1.3 million will die of their disease. When you have a tumor where the incidence is almost the same as the mortality rate - you realise the scale of the mountain that we have to climb to improve outcomes.

By the time it is diagnosed, 80% of patients have a stage of tumour that is beyond cure. The majority are not amenable to surgery, so they cannot be removed, and the aim of treatment is to shrink the tumor and control it. In many countries, up to 50% of lung cancer patients are never given the chance to see a specialist.

Because the demographics of lung cancer are changing and more women are developing the tumor, perhaps it will become more centre stage politically and it will become less acceptable not to treat lung cancer.