A new partnership has been announced between the Florida Lung Health Coalition, DELFI Diagnostics, RadNet, Inc., and the American Lung Association to enhance lung cancer screening and detection in Florida.

This initiative, revealed ahead of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, aims to improve early detection rates in a state where only 15.8% of people are screened for lung cancer, according to the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

The programme will be financed through grants and corporate sponsorships, bringing together leading healthcare organisations to improve access to effective lung cancer screening.

Patients from primary care practices linked with the Florida Lung Health Coalition will be offered the FirstLook Lung test, a simple and sensitive blood test. If a result indicates "Elevated," the individual will then be referred for a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan.

Annual lung cancer screening is recommended for individuals aged 50 to 80 with a 20-pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years.

The collaboration seeks to make significant advancements in the fight against lung cancer by combining expertise and innovative technologies to create a new model for early detection.

Research shows that the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 64% when detected early, compared to just 9% for late-stage cases. This initiative introduces a blood-based testing option that may increase screening rates among those at high risk.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the U.S., with fewer than one in four cases diagnosed early. This partnership aims to reduce the impact of lung cancer by implementing effective early detection programmes within healthcare systems.

The FirstLook Lung test will help identify patients who are most likely to benefit from LDCT screening, ensuring high-quality care.

Lung cancer places a significant burden on individuals, families, and the healthcare system. Ongoing research is making strides towards new treatments, and collaborations like this one are crucial for improving early detection and ultimately saving lives.
 

 

Source: prnewswire.com

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