2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - ePosters-EP.17C.01 Increasing the Earlier Detection of Lung Cancer: A Toolbox for Change

Pdf Summary

The report "Increasing the Earlier Detection of Lung Cancer: A Toolbox for Change" by the Lung Cancer Policy Network highlights the urgent need to improve early lung cancer diagnosis. Lung cancer often gets detected at a late stage, resulting in poor outcomes and limited treatment options. Despite the effectiveness of Low-dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) in early detection, its high resource demand makes it impractical in many settings.<br /><br />To tackle this, a comprehensive strategy incorporating multiple tools is recommended. These tools should be selected based on local epidemiology, health system capacity, and available resources, aiming to improve survival rates. The report is based on a thorough methodology, reviewing existing literature, grey literature, qualitative expert interviews across various locales, and insights from the Lung Cancer Policy Network. It documents 12 real-world case studies and culminates in a set of recommendations to bolster early detection strategies that cater to the diverse needs of different populations.<br /><br />The key recommendations emphasize the need for:<br />- Prioritizing early detection within broader health policies.<br />- Aligning these approaches with national health strategies.<br />- Assessing the health system's resources and capacity to develop suitable early detection programs.<br />- Engaging at-risk communities and traditionally underserved groups to understand and mitigate barriers to care.<br />- Exploring technological integrations, like Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), to enhance diagnostic imaging effectiveness.<br />- Investing in research to develop and refine detection approaches, including biomarkers for early detection.<br />- Conducting ongoing monitoring and evaluation of early detection initiatives and broader lung cancer metrics.<br /><br />Tools to support these recommendations include public awareness campaigns, symptom-based detection training for healthcare professionals, rapid referral pathways, targeted screenings, and technological innovations in detection strategies.

Asset Subtitle

Lucia Viola

Meta Tag

Speaker Lucia Viola

Topic Global Health, Health Services, and Health Economics

Keywords

lung cancer

early detection

Low-dose Computed Tomography

health policy

Computer-Aided Detection

Artificial Intelligence

biomarkers

public awareness campaigns

targeted screenings

diagnostic imaging