Launch of the Lung Cancer Policy Network: making lung cancer a policy priority worldwide

22 June 2022

Today marks the launch of the Lung Cancer Policy Network, a global and multidisciplinary alliance of stakeholders who have come together to help make lung cancer a policy priority around the world. The Lung Ambition Alliance (LAA) initiated the set-up of this global Network, which includes world-renowned lung cancer clinicians, patient organisations, professional associations, thought leaders on lung cancer and early detection, and experts in cancer screening and public health.

The Lung Cancer Policy Network’s overarching goal matches that of the LAA: to eliminate lung cancer as a cause of death. As a first step towards achieving this, the Network is advocating for the use of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) to increase the early detection of lung cancer, with the aim of helping to accelerate momentum towards implementation. Further workstreams will be developed in due course to address other priorities in lung cancer.

Learning from implementation of lung cancer screening

Network members have been developing two key resources to facilitate learning on how to ensure the implementation of effective, efficient and equitable lung cancer screening via LDCT.

The first of these is a report, Lung cancer screening: learning from implementation, to be published in summer 2022. The report, developed in collaboration with experts from the Network, will present four key lessons learnt from the implementation of lung cancer screening around the world.

The second is an interactive map collating ongoing and completed LDCT screening implementation research from around the globe. This will be launched in August at the 2022 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Vienna, Austria. The map will be displayed to congress participants and will also be available on the Network’s website.

Addressing the impact of lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Despite presenting such a significant public health and economic burden, lung cancer does not receive the attention it deserves in health policy.

Detection and treatment of lung cancer have long been in need of significant improvement, and the impact of COVID-19 has been profound. We have now reached a critical turning point: global leaders must take concrete action to address the unacceptably poor survival rates of lung cancer.

Find out more about the Lung Cancer Policy Network’s aims, activities and membership