Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA)
launched screenforlungcancer, a new Web site aimed at educating people
at risk for lung cancer about the importance of yearly low-dose Computed
Tomography (CT) screening to promote early detection of the disease. More
than 70% of new lung cancers are diagnosed in people whose cancer is at
late- stage, when survival is poor.
The launch of LCA's site comes less than one month after a landmark
study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study found
that yearly low-dose CT screening for people at high risk can detect lung
cancer at the earliest stage, dramatically increasing chance of survival.
The current five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with lung cancer
is only 15 percent. Remarkably, the study showed an estimated 92 percent
ten-year survival rate for those whose cancers are detected early and
removed immediately.
"We now know that screening those at high risk can detect lung cancer
at the earliest stages, when it's most treatable," said Laurie Fenton,
President of Lung Cancer Alliance. "This new site provides smokers, former
smokers, or anyone at high risk for developing lung cancer with an
education about the screening process. It is critical for people to know
their risks, and to know that they can now do something to protect
themselves from this lethal disease."
Screenforlungcancer provides information on the importance of
screening and the screening process, tools for assessing a person's risk
for developing lung cancer, and a directory of leading institutions with
the highest screening standards. Visitors can also experience the entire
screening process by viewing videos of a person undergoing a CT scan, as
well as photographs.
LCA is the only national organization solely dedicated to patient
support and advocacy for people living with or at risk for lung cancer,
which causes more deaths in the United States than any other cancer. As the
number one cancer killer, lung cancer will kill more than 160,000 Americans
this year alone, causing more deaths than breast, prostate, colon, liver,
kidney cancers and melanoma combined. For more information on the services
provided by Lung Cancer Alliance, visit lungcanceralliance.
Lung Cancer Alliance
lungcanceralliance