Lung cancer continues to be reported as the deadliest cancer in Australia. Nearly 75% of cases are diagnosed in the later stages, making treatment options limited with only around 20% of patients surviving past 5 years. Advocates are calling for a new screening program in order to catch the disease earlier, giving a higher survival rate for patients. Lung cancer kills more Australians than prostate cancer and breast cancer combined although, unlike the latter, it does not have a dedicated screening program. The proposed $60 million program targets people over 55 years with a smoking history, providing a low-dose CT scan and better management.
“A national screening program needed to start “yesterday” to not only potentially save lives, but also save the health system millions of dollars – an advanced lung cancer patient who needs ongoing immunotherapy for at least two years funded by the taxpayers’ money … will cost close to $200,000 – and that is just one patient” – Dr Abhishek Joshi, Townsville ICON Cancer Care and Townsville University Hospital.
A promised Strengthening Medicare Task-force also aims to deliver results for patients through better management systems for ongoing conditions like cancer. A major concern for funding continues to be the stigma of lung cancer patients being smokers with the perception of the illness is somehow brought on by themselves. Lung Foundation modelling predicts 170,000 patients will be diagnosed with lung cancer in the next 20 years.
Read about the screening program here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-19/lung-cancer-going-undetected-without-screening/101075640
