According to a new study, an alarming number of patients with advanced lung cancer are not receiving treatment, despite many advances over recent decades. These new findings are from a large population-based study conducted between 2006 and 2021. It has found that half of the older adults with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) never received systemic therapy. The findings of the study have been published in Jama Oncology.
Advances in Lung Cancer Treatment
It has been found that many of the new treatments for lung cancer are targeted towards specific genetic mutations and biomarker testing. Gerard Silvestri, M.D., and Adam Fox, M.D., both lung cancer pulmonologists at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and the Thoracic Oncology Research Group, led the study team on behalf of the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (ACS NLCRT), which funded the study.
Many Patients Diagnosed Too Late
In the study, the team found that many patients are too sick at the time of diagnosis and even die before treatment can be selected and done. About 40% of patients in the study were deceased within three months of diagnosis. This is an alarming rate! This points to the importance of screening so that lung cancer can be detected at an earlier stage.
Importance of Early Detection and Timely Referral
“Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in this country, with more Americans dying of this disease than the next two cancer types combined,” Dr. Silvestri said in the news release. The focus is on early detection so that the treatments options can improve both quality of life and survival.
Future Research Plans
Dr. Silvestri outlined the key implications for clinicians and why this research shows that timely referral is critical. Silvestri and Fox are planning new research to delve into the reasons why people aren’t treated.
The information shared in this blog is for educational purposes only. You should always consult with your healthcare professional for any medical needs.
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