New Survey: Most Americans Don’t Know About Lifesaving Lung Cancer Screening

Survey data released today show that only 36% of people know that lung cancer screening is available and 28% know that lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women and men. Today, the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative released the 2021 Lung Health Barometer, and highlights the 12th Annual Take A Breath for Life 5K event happening on Saturday, November 13 at the Hamburg Fairgrounds in Hamburg, New York, in honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. 

“Here in New York and across the nation, lung cancer is the leading cancer killer. It is estimated that in 2021, 13,950 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer and 6,860 will die from the disease,” said Kaelyn Gates, development director at the Lung Association in Western New York. “However, there is hope. The five-year survival rate has increased 33% in the past 10 years thanks to advancements in treatment, research and lifesaving lung cancer screening.”

The 2021 Lung Health Barometer surveyed 4,000 Americans nationwide about lung health and lung cancer. Some key findings show that: 

• 29% of Americans know that lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women and men, which is an 8% increase from the 2020 Lung Health Barometer.
• Only 10% of adults understand that lung cancer is among the most likely cancers to affect women while 35% know that it is among those cancers most likely to affect men. 
• Only 36% of respondents know that lung cancer screening is now available for early detection of the disease for those who are high risk.

See more Lung Health Barometer survey results here.

Throughout Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the Lung Association will be sharing new resources, the State of Lung Cancer Report (November 16), inspiring patient stories and lifesaving lung cancer screening information. Here in Buffalo, the organization is partnering with the 12th Annual Take A Breath for Life 5K event, with 100% of the proceeds going toward the American Lung Association’s mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research.

Through the Lung Association’s Lung Cancer Patient Meetup on the Go program, the organization is offering several webinars and plans to share recordings of the webinars in November. Learn more at www.lung.org/patient-meetup.

This is the sixth year of the Lung Health Barometer, which is conducted by the Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative. LUNG FORCE unites the nation to stand together for lung health and against lung cancer. 

For media interested in scheduling an interview with a lung cancer expert, contact Jennifer Solomon at 516-689-8927 or [email protected].