Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. But recent policy milestones, including the IASLC-Lancet Commission on Lung Cancer and the World Health Assembly integrated lung health resolution, have made 2025 a pivotal year for action.
During Lung Cancer Awareness Month, as part of London Global Cancer Week, we joined the Union for International Cancer Control’s Lung Cancer Collaboration in co-hosting a webinar on how to leverage the integrated lung health resolution to drive policy changes.
‘For the first time [the integrated lung health resolution] provides a unifying, system-wide mandate to strengthen earlier detection, diagnostic pathways and integrated care across lung conditions and exposures.’ –André Ilbawi, World Health Organization
What we learned
Data drives impact
The webinar’s expert panel emphasised the role of robust data to inform policy – especially when those data are paired with the involvement of people with lived experience of lung cancer.
They also discussed approaches to screening for lung cancer across diverse populations and health systems; looked at the role of data in deepening our understanding of lung cancer and its risk factors; and highlighted the need to address disparities in exposure between high-, middle- and low-income countries.
People at the centre: dismantling stigma
Discussions focused on the importance of involving people with lung cancer in shaping policies. Panellists discussed how to dismantle stigma by talking more about the disease and spreading the message that everyone has lungs, therefore anyone could get lung cancer.
‘Lived experience is not something we perform; it is something we survive. And if we want real change, we need to give people the seat, the power, the partnership. That’s how change actually happens.’ –Rasika Bombatkar, Lung Connect India
Collaboration accelerates progress
The lung health resolution intentionally integrated a range of respiratory conditions, including lung cancer, because of their shared risk factors and the shared opportunities for improving outcomes. Integrating these conditions is intended to help dismantle the stigma associated with lung cancer, and to foster conversations about the disease in order to elevate it on the policy agenda.
‘We have developed a comprehensive framework to strengthen activities related to prevention, screening, treatment and control of lung-related diseases to develop integrated management of lung health in primary and tertiary care.’ –Eliana Ahmad, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all attendees, panellists and speakers. Their insights, stories and knowledge showcased the power of collaboration to realise change.
- André Ilbawi, World Health Organization
- Caleb Egwuenu, Move Against Cancer Africa
- David Baldwin, University of Nottingham, UK
- Debra Montague, Lung Cancer Europe
- Eliana Ahmad, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
- Helena Wilcox, Lung Cancer Policy Network (The Health Policy Partnership), UK
- Rasika Bombatkar, Lung Connect India
- Stephen Lam, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Yannick Romero, Union for International Cancer Control
