Detecting lung cancer earlier saves lives, but only if the health system can respond; for lung cancer, that means ensuring people receive timely, coordinated and high-quality care from diagnosis through to treatment and beyond.
In many health systems, fragmented care and delays in diagnosis and treatment contribute to poor outcomes and deepen inequities. The evidence on what works is growing, but implementation often proves challenging without the right focus or tools.
Drawing on global evidence and expert insight, the Network helps policymakers and health system leaders to build the structures needed to deliver better care consistently, and at scale.
Care pathways for lung cancer
Building a foundation for optimal care
From first suspicion through diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and end-of-life care, people with lung cancer move across multiple services, settings and specialties – and the system does not always keep pace.
Despite clear evidence that structured approaches improve outcomes, formal pathways for lung cancer remain the exception rather than the rule. Why, and how can we address this gap?
Patient navigation for lung cancer
An essential component of care
A lung cancer diagnosis and care rarely follow a straight path. For many people, care and system complexities result in delays to treatment, missed appointments and, in the worst cases, late or missed diagnoses. And the impact often falls hardest on the people already least well served by health systems.
Patient navigation provides a structured solution: dedicated support to guide people through the system, connect them with the right services and reduce the barriers that stand between someone with lung cancer and the care they need.
Timeliness matters
Improving lung cancer care with timed targets
Untimely lung cancer care can reduce survival, limit treatment options and cause profound distress. Timed targets – clear timeframes for diagnosis, treatment and key points in the pathway – offer a practical way to create accountability and drive improvement. But their use is inconsistent, and the evidence base for what works remains fragmented.
Our policy brief sets out the conditions for effective implementation and provides practical recommendations for policymakers working to make lung cancer care more timely and effective.
