Kentucky Clinicians and Researchers Fight High Lung Cancer Death Rate with Early Detection Efforts
In the heart of Kentucky, a group of clinicians and researchers are on a mission to rewrite the story of lung cancer. Led by the Kentucky LEADS (Lung Cancer Education, Awareness, Detection, and Survivorship) Collaborative, these dedicated individuals are working tirelessly to increase screening rates and catch tumors earlier, when they are more treatable.
The inspiration for their work comes from personal experiences. Anthony Stumbo, an internal medicine physician, vividly remembers the day his mother was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. “Nobody wants to get told they’ve got inoperable lung cancer. I cried because I knew what this meant for her,” he said. Determined to prevent other families from going through the same pain, Stumbo joined forces with other Kentucky clinicians and researchers to promote training and raise awareness about early detection.
Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Kentucky now ranks second in the nation for lung cancer screening rates among high-risk residents, screening 10.6% of eligible residents in 2022, more than double the national rate of 4.5%. This achievement is a result of the collaborative’s decade-long work in promoting lung cancer screening and prevention. They have partnered with clinicians and hospital administrators across the state, including rural Appalachia, to ensure that screening is accessible to all.
However, the researchers face a significant challenge in their mission: the fear and stigma surrounding smoking and lung cancer. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, particularly in states like Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The collaborative aims to combat this stigma by educating the public about the benefits of early detection and dispelling misconceptions about lung cancer.
Their efforts are already showing promising results. Data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry reveals that the percentage of advanced lung cancer cases in the state has decreased from 81% between 2000 and 2014 to 72% in 2020. This means that more cancers are being detected before they become advanced and difficult to treat.
Jennifer Knight, a LEADS principal investigator, expressed her optimism about the impact they are making. “We are changing the story of families. And there is hope where there has not been hope before,” she said. The collaborative has received grant funding from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation and works closely with partners like the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and GO2 for Lung Cancer.
The success of the Kentucky LEADS program can be attributed to various factors. In 2014, Kentucky expanded Medicaid, increasing access to lung cancer screening and related treatments for lower-income individuals. Additionally, the collaborative has provided training and support to 10 hospital-based screening programs, ensuring that resources are available for education and navigation.
Regular screening has proven to significantly improve survival rates for lung cancer patients. When lung cancer is detected early through a CT scan, patients have an 81% chance of living at least 20 years, according to a study published in the journal Radiology. This highlights the importance of increasing screening rates and catching tumors before they spread.
Despite the progress made in Kentucky, screening rates across the country vary widely. Massachusetts leads the nation with a screening rate of 11.9% among eligible residents, while California lags behind at just 0.7%. Raquel Arias, an associate director of state partnerships at the American Cancer Society, acknowledges that California’s low smoking rate and healthy image have unintentionally stigmatized smokers, making them reluctant to share their smoking history with healthcare providers.
As Kentucky continues its screening efforts, one hospital system is already making a significant impact. Appalachian Regional Healthcare screened 3,071 patients in 2023, compared to just 372 in 2017. Driven by the desire to save lives, the clinicians at this health system are determined to make a difference. “We’re just scratching the surface of the potential lives that we can have an effect on,” said Stumbo.
The work of the Kentucky LEADS Collaborative serves as a beacon of hope for lung cancer patients and their families. By increasing screening rates and catching tumors early, they are rewriting the narrative of lung cancer in Kentucky. Through their dedication and determination, they are giving families a chance at a brighter future, free from the devastation of advanced lung cancer.
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