Lung cancer is the third-most diagnosed cancer in America and the second-most common cancer in Arizona. So, if there was a test to screen for the disease, you’d think every eligible American would line up to get one.
Well, there is a test to screen for lung cancer, but few Americans — and even fewer Arizonans — get screened, according to the American Lung Association.
Only about 5% of Americans who meet the criteria for lung cancer screening get tested for the disease. And Arizona ranks 48th in the nation, with a lung cancer screening rate of only 1.3%. The state also lags behind in lung cancer treatment, the report says.
By contrast, about 75% of women in Arizona have gotten a mammogram in the past two years, according to the National Cancer Institute.
“It’s very scary and very sad,” says Peter Baik, D.O., thoracic surgeon at City of Hope® Cancer Center Phoenix. “This is why I've been working with the Arizona Cancer Coalition through the Arizona Department of Health to see why this is happening. I’m sure there are multiple factors.”
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Why should Arizonans get screened for lung cancer?
- Arizona lung cancer treatment
- The future of lung cancer care
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and are interested in a second opinion of your diagnosis or treatment options, call us at (877) 524-4673. We’re available 24/7.
Why Should Arizonans Get Screened for Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in America, with more than 125,000 Americans dying from the disease every year, including about 2,500 Arizonans.
The five-year survival rate for a patient diagnosed with lung cancer is 27%. But when caught early, the survival rates improve dramatically.
When the cancer is considered:
Distant, or metastasized to organs or tissue elsewhere in the body, the survival rate is 9%.
Regional, or spread only to nearby lymph nodes or tissue, the survival rate is 36%
Localized, or confined to the lung, the survival rate is 64%.
That’s why it’s important for people who meet recognized screening criteria get tested. Lung cancer often doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms until it’s advanced. More than half of lung cancer cases are diagnosed after the disease has metastasized.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual screenings for current and former smokers, ages 50 to 80, who are smoking — or who’ve quit within the previous 15 years — and have at least a 20-pack-year smoking history.
A pack year is the number of packs of cigarettes smoked daily, multiplied by the number of years smoked at that level. For instance, if you smoked two packs a day for 10 years, you have a 20-pack-year history.
Dr. Baik attributes the lack of screening in Arizona to several potential factors, including those listed below.
Seasonal residents: Many residents live in Arizona part time and may get screened in another state.
Access: Low-income, Native American and rural communities may not have easy access to a facility that offers low-dose scans. Those in underserved communities may also lack health insurance or don’t receive regular health care.
“There are now a lot of facilities that have low-dose CT scans, but for the underserved population, it may be difficult to get access,” Dr. Baik says. “For example, what if they work during the day? How many imaging centers offer low-dose CT after hours? They may have transportation issues, or maybe they don’t have a primary care physician or resources to be screened or counseled about lung cancer.”
Arizona Lung Cancer Treatment
The American Lung Association report also shows that Arizona lags behind the nation in lung cancer treatment.
The state ranks 41st for lung cancer surgery, the most common type of lung cancer treatment. The report says that about 16% of Arizonans with lung cancer were treated with surgery, compared to 21% nationally.
In general, Arizona ranks 46th in the nation for lack of treatment, with about 31.5% of patients receiving no treatment at all.
Nationally, about 21% of lung cancer patients go untreated.
Dr. Baik says these numbers may also be attributed to seasonal residents and lack of access.
Treatments for an individual’s lung cancer may depend on its type — small cell or non-small cell lung cancer — and its stage.
But, in most cases, treatments include:
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery
- Targeted therapy
The Future of Lung Cancer Care
Lung cancer is a difficult cancer with often poor outcomes. Still, the rate of new lung cancer diagnoses and deaths have dropped by nearly half over the past 30 years.
Improved surgical techniques and the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors have helped to improve outcomes for millions of patients.
Clinical trials may also be an option for patients for whom standard-of-care treatments have been ineffective. City of Hope is conducting hundreds of clinical trials for lung cancer and other forms of the disease.
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and are looking for a second opinion of your diagnosis or treatment options, call us 24/7 at (877) 524-4673.