Lung Cancer Education and Community Programs
About Lung Cancer
Fighting lung cancer starts with understanding lung cancer.
People who will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year in the United States; 8,920 in North Carolina alone
People will die of lung cancer this year; 4,640 in North Carolina alone
Percent of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or have already quit smoking
Percent of cancer deaths are from lung cancer - it takes more lives than breast, prostate, and colon cancer combined
*stats updated for 2024
Filling in the research gap
Over the last 30 years, substantial investment in research has resulted in significant increases in survival of many diseases. But lung cancer has seen a significantly smaller investment from the government to date – and therefore the results and survival rates haven’t been as drastically impacted. That’s where you can help.
| US Government Research Funding (2022) | Results | Survival Rates | |
| Lung Cancer | Only $479 million/year² | Very little change in 5-year survival rates:³ | Early 1970s: 12% |
| Today: 25% | |||
| Breast Cancer | $738 million/year² | Significant increase in 5-year survival rates:³ |
Early 1970s: 75% Today: 90% |
| HIV/AIDS | $3.2 billion/year² | AIDS is no longer considered a near-immediate death sentence | Today, with antiretroviral drug therapy, the 3-year survival rate is 90%. |
1
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2022. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2023.
2
RePORT, Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools. National Institute of Health.
3
SEER*Explorer. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute.
Community Education Program
Lung Cancer Initiative delivers community education programs designed for everyone. In partnership with area cancer centers, community organizations and other leading experts, these events bring together lung cancer patients, their families, advocates, researchers and healthcare professionals in an informal venue to discuss topics that are important to them. The events are intended to better the health of anyone who has been impacted by lung cancer, to raise awareness and enhance knowledge, and to connect patients and their loved ones with the medical and research community.
View past community education seminars in our video library below:
- LCI Community Education: Lung Cancer Screening – May 25, 2023
- Infection, Disease, and Prevention for Cancer Survivors – April 24, 2023
- Duke Law Webinar- Advanced Care Planning – March 2, 2023
- Lung Cancer Treatments & Challenges – July 22, 2022
- Updates After ASCO – June 2022
- Lung Cancer Treatments & Biomarkers: Make it Personal – November 16, 2021
- Clinical Trials – June 16, 2021
- Research Updates – March 31, 2021
- Caregiver Support – February 17, 2021
- Radon Action Month – January 21, 2021
- ASCO Updates for Patients – July 29, 2020
- Annual Lung Cancer Research Update – June 17, 2020
- Coping with Lung Cancer and COVID-19 – May 21, 2020
- Financial Hurdles for Lung Cancer Patients – April 23, 2020
- Supportive Care in Lung Cancer Patients – October 22, 2019
- ASCO Updates for Patients – July 24, 2019
- Lung Cancer in Women – May 9, 2019
- Vidant Cancer Care Expert Speaker Series – April 18, 2019
- Health Disparities Expert Speaker Series – April 10, 2019
- Advanced Care Planning, Levine Cancer Center – March 15, 2019
- UNC Health Care Expert Speaker Series – September 26, 2018
- Duke Raleigh Expert Speaker Series – November 8, 2018
- Updates in Lung Cancer with Dennis Carmody and David Foureau – November 15, 2018
- Health Equity with Cornell P. Wright – November 15, 2018
Access additional educational information, patient stories and video content on our YouTube channel.
Thank you to our Community Education Sponsors!
