We mark #LungCancerAwarenessMonth 2024 by publishing key findings from our latest global survey of symptom awareness, attitudes to lung cancer and views on screening.
The GLCC is calling on governments and health systems across the world to:
- Increase recognition of lung cancer symptoms through targeted public awareness campaigns
- Improve public education and understanding of lung cancer and its causes to reduce stigma
- Highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in improving survival to encourage more people to seek help early
- Implement national lung cancer screening programme to help people get diagnosed and into treatment as early as possible.
Key Findings
Symptom recognition
- Nearly four out of ten people (37.5%) said they did not know any symptoms of lung cancer
- Men were more likely to report not knowing any symptoms compared to women (40.49% vs. 34.85%)
- People aged 18-24 were most likely to report not knowing any symptoms (45.11%)
- People who had never smoked were more likely to report not to know any symptoms than people who currently smoke/have smoked in the past (40.20% vs. 36.65%)
- There was significant variation between countries, with the percentages of people who indicated they did not know any symptoms ranging from 16.80% in South Africa to 54.36% in Japan.
Attitudes towards lung cancer
- Over four out of ten people (42.62%) agreed with the statement ‘I have less sympathy for people with lung cancer than other types of cancer’
- Men had less sympathy for people with lung cancer than women (50.38% vs. 35.67%)
- Sympathy increased with age, with nearly 50% of 18-24 year olds agreeing they had less sympathy for people with lung cancer
- People who currently smoked/had previously smoked were slightly less sympathetic than people who had never smoked (43.15% vs. 42.33%)
Views on lung cancer screening:
- Over eight out of ten people agreed there should be a national lung cancer screening programme to help people with lung cancer get diagnosed early (84.89%)
- Men and women showed nearly equal supported the need for lung cancer screening programmes (84.12% vs. 85.57%)
- Support grew with age, increasing from 78.65% of 18-24 year-olds to 86.01% of people aged 55 and over
- While both largely supportive, people who currently smoke/had previously smoked were even more supportive than people who had never smoked (86.78% vs. 82.48%)
Concerted political action required
Matthew Peters, Chair of the GLCC, believes that only ‘’concerted political action’’ can bring about effective change, tackling the ‘double whammy’ of lack of awareness and sympathy which is hampering healthcare systems worldwide in their efforts to reduce the burden of lung cancer and improve outcomes for all affected by the disease.
He said: ‘’While this research shows concerning levels of awareness of and sympathy for lung cancer and those affected by it, these findings and the clear and substantial support for a national lung cancer screening programme highlight the need for concerted political action to improve outcomes in lung cancer.’’
Read / download the global report here.
Individual country briefings can be read here.
An infographic summary of the survey’s key findings can be downloaded here.
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Many member organisations within the GLCC are currently promoting their own awareness and engagement activities. You can find our member organisations listed here.
