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canadian cancer society launches new plan to reduce lung cancer deaths
the new pan-canadian lung action plan by the canadian cancer society (css) hopes to cut lung cancer deaths by 30 per cent in the next decade by addressing several issues within the health system.
4 minute read
canadians face significant burdens when trying to get care for lung cancer, including stigma, financial costs and a lack of medical compassion.
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over 32,000 canadians were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2024 alone, and of those, 21,000 lost their lives due to the disease. lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country.
to improve care and reduce mortality rates for people who are diagnosed with lung cancer, the canadian cancer society (ccs) has launched a new roadmap to lessen deaths by 30 per cent over the course of the next ten years.
the 2026 to 2035 pan-canadian lung cancer action plan outlines several priorities that span patient access to care, detection and screening, and prevention. it will do so by addressing several barriers faced by people who develop lung cancer, including stigma, geographic isolation and financial strain.
barriers imposed on people diagnosed with lung cancer
it’s often assumed that when a person develops lung cancer, it’s because they smoke. the narrative that they “did it to themselves” continues to be a significant issue, even though the idea is a commonly held misconception.
while smoking continues to be a considerable risk factor associated with the development of lung cancer, as many as 30 per cent of lung cancers develop in people who never smoked a day in their lives.
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because people still believe this misconception, bias toward people with lung cancer, whether they smoked or not, leads to several issues in care, including delayed diagnosis and stigma that makes it more difficult for people to seek out support.
it also paints a bleak picture for those with lung cancer who smoked, showcasing that lack of medical compassion is alive and well when medical providers believe a cancer diagnosis could have been avoided.
people also face other hurdles when trying to seek care for lung cancer, such as living in geographic areas that do not provide ample access to testing, diagnostics or care. financial barriers also exist, with 17 per cent of total societal costs borne by patients and their caregivers. there are also issues when it comes to culturally sensitive care, with people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, indigenous peoples and newcomers feeling the burden even further.
when all these factors are considered, people with lung cancer are often left without access to what they need when they have lung cancer, and experience diagnosis in the later stages, when the outcomes are worsened.
a toronto resident, winhan wong, noted in a press release that he “had to navigate a lot of challenges” to get the care he needed when diagnosed, but feels hopeful that this new action plan will make changes to the system that could help people with lung cancer.
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working toward better future for lung cancer in canada
the action plan, finalized in 2024 and developed through collaborations with experts, clinicians, researchers and patients, has four main priorities it will tackle. the first revolves around prevention. they plan to raise awareness surrounding risk factors, both tobacco and non-tobacco-related, to give people the tools they need to assess their exposure to certain carcinogenic inhalants.
the second will focus on earlier detection. screening eligibility is meant to be expanded, as well as low-dose ct scans for diagnostics, in an effort to give people an avenue to use, so that if they do develop lung cancer, treatment can be started sooner, providing them with a higher chance of survival.
access and the type of care also require some improvements, because even with advances in technology in healthcare, those who are diagnosed with lung cancer have yet to really benefit.
through the work being done by the ccs and this new plan to tackle discrepancies in access and care, people diagnosed with lung cancer will experience more timely and equitable diagnosis, as well as access to the latest innovations in lung cancer treatment. the focus will be on patient-centred care and navigation to improve the entire health system and how it addresses lung cancer as a whole.
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lastly, lung cancer research is severely underfunded, especially considering how high a burden it places on anyone diagnosed with it. according to health canada, less than 20 per cent will survive lung cancer for a period of five years.
“too many lives are cut short by lung cancer,” says annemarie edwards, vice president, cancer strategy and innovation at ccs, in a press release. “this action plan is about hope, equity and action—an opportunity for the entire lung cancer community to work together to rewrite the future for thousands of canadians through evidence-based solutions that can save lives.”
the goal of the plan is to cut cancer deaths by 30 per cent over the next decade, and the professionals, patient voices and researchers who created the action plan are continuing to call for change to the government, health systems and the industry as a whole.
“this action plan marks a turning point for lung cancer in canada,” says dr. christian finley, thoracic surgeon and clinical lead of the ontario lung cancer screening program, in a press release.
“for too long, lung cancer outcomes have lagged behind other cancers, despite major advances in prevention, screening and treatment. this plan brings together the best of science, clinical care and lived experience into a shared national vision. by working collaboratively across provinces and disciplines, we can close gaps in care, detect cancers earlier and ultimately save thousands of lives.”
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