The IASLC STARS program deepened my understanding of the importance of patient research advocacy in improving patients’ lives. While the needs are tremendous, my focus is expanding screening and improving patients’ quality of life.
1. Expanding Lung Cancer Screening
More Canadians will die from lung cancer than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined because lung cancer diagnoses are made in advanced stages. 1 2 Diagnosing lung cancer in advanced states reduces treatment options, reduces chances of successful treatment, and shortens lives.3 Early detection saves lives.4
Before symptoms appear, low-dose CT screening detects lung cancer in its early stages. Many eligible people are either unaware of screening or face barriers to access. Advocating for increased awareness of screening in high-risk groups, including current and former smokers, and promoting policies that expand access for other at-risk populations is crucial.
Why should the public and politicians care about this? Diagnosing lung cancer earlier improves survival rates by making treatments more effective and less invasive.
What can patient research advocates do? We can spread awareness of lung cancer screening programs in our communities and push for policy changes that broaden the screening criteria beyond smokers. My Right to Survive Committee membership provides a platform to advocate for policy changes in this critical area.
2. Expanded Care Teams for Better Patient Survivorship
Lung cancer care is complex, and side effects burden many patients.5 In addition to expert medical, surgical, and radiologic treatment, patients need support for their emotional and mental well-being. As survival rates improve, patient survivorship care demands attention. Advocates give voice to patients’ needs for comprehensive care that addresses both physical and psychosocial needs, helping make their cancer journey less overwhelming and more positive.
Why is this important? Multidisciplinary care teams improve patients’ outcomes and quality of life, including providing personalized and effective care.6 Patients can have other conditions, such as asthma or cardiovascular disease, also requiring care and attention. As patients survive longer and understand their cancer journey needs management over time, there’s an opportunity for care teams to build patient cooperation and engagement.7
What can patient research advocates do? We can promote the benefits of multidisciplinary care and work with our hospitals, healthcare providers, and policymakers to encourage the creation of expanded care teams and patient resources. We can build support by sharing patient stories and successes. My involvement as a patient advocate on Sunnybrook Hospital’s Odette Cancer Centre’s Patient and Family Advisory Committee provides a vehicle.
Conclusion
High-risk Canadians deserve access to early lung cancer screening. Those living with lung cancer deserve comprehensive care that helps them live longer and better lives. We can spotlight these needs through advocates’ lived experiences and drive change for early detection, quality care, and better survivorship.
1 Canadian Cancer Statistics Advisory Committee in collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society, Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2023. Toronto, ON: Canadian Cancer Society; 2023.
2 https://lungcancercanada.ca/about-lung-cancer/facts-about-lung-cancer/
3 Right2Survive Government Briefing Note, October 2024. “Diagnosed at Stage I, there’s a 63% five-year survival rate for lung cancer patients. At Stage IV, it drops to 3%.”
4 Ibid.
5 Quality of life of patients with lung cancer Jacek Polanski 1, Beata Jankowska-Polanska 2, Joanna Rosinczuk 3, Mariusz Chabowski 4,✉, Anna Szymanska-Chabowska 5 Oncology Targets Ther. 2016 Feb 29:9:1023 –1028.
6 Christie L Pratt Pozo 1, Mary Ann A Morgan, Jhanelle E Gray. “Survivorship Issues for Patients with Lung Cancer. Cancer Control: Journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center 21.1 Medscape, 2014. Web. 16 May 2016
7 Ibid