The Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) recently launched screenforlungcancer.org, a new website aimed at educating people at risk for lung cancer about the importance of yearly low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening to promote early detection of the disease. More than 70% of new lung cancers are diagnosed in people whose cancer is at a late stage, when survival is poor.

The launch of the LCA's site came less than 1 month after a landmark study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study found that yearly low-dose CT screening for people at high risk can detect lung cancer at the earliest stage, dramatically increasing their chance of survival. The current 5-year survival rate for people diagnosed with lung cancer is only 15%. Remarkably, the study showed an estimated 92% 10-year survival rate for those whose cancers are detected early and removed immediately.

Aimed at High-Risk Individuals

"We now know that screening those at high risk can detect lung cancer at the earliest stages, when it's most treatable," said Laurie Fenton, president of the Lung Cancer Alliance. "This new site provides smokers, former smokers, or anyone at high risk for developing lung cancer with an education about the screening process. It is critical for people to know their risks, and to know that they can now do something to protect themselves from this lethal disease."

Screenforlungcancer.org provides information on the importance of screening and the screening process, tools for assessing a person's risk for developing lung cancer, and a directory of leading institutions with the highest screening standards. Visitors can also experience the entire screening process by viewing videos of a person undergoing a CT scan, as well as photographs. For more information on the services provided by the Lung Cancer Alliance, visit www.lungcanceralliance.org/.