"Lung cancer is most curable when it is detected early. However, by the time most people are diagnosed with lung cancer, they have surpassed the curable stages of the disease," said Dr. Port. "Improved survival in patients with stage I lung cancer has rekindled interest in lung cancer screening for the purpose of detecting smaller and potentially more curable lesions. Our findings suggest that lung cancer screenings may be useful in discovering even the smallest of lesions that can, in turn, represent early-stage lung disease."
"Although further substaging of early-stage lung tumors may be necessary to accurately assess and treat patients with lung cancer, routine CT [computed tomography] screening for the detection of lung cancer is controversial," said Richard S. Irwin, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians. "This study reinforces the need for further investigation into the benefits and outcomes associated with lung cancer screening."
November 17-21: Lung Cancer Awareness Week
Lung Cancer Awareness Week is supported by The CHEST Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the ACCP, whose mission is to improve lung health for patients and communities through education focused on public health issues. Together with leading cancer community organizations, such as Cancer Care, Inc. and the Oncology Nursing Society, The CHEST Foundation raises awareness about lung cancer, encouraging early diagnosis and offering educational and emotional support to lung cancer patients and their loved ones.
In the United States, lung cancer causes more deaths in both men and women than the next three most common cancers combined (colon cancer, 48,100 deaths; breast cancer, 40,000 deaths; and prostate, 30,200 deaths). 1 It is projected that 171,900 individuals (91,800 men and 80,100 women
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Contact: Jennifer Stawarz
jstawarz@chestnet.org
847-498-8306
American College of Chest Physicians
10-Nov-2003