The CCC National Partners want to share exciting news with you! They have updated and revised our partnership priorities.

The cancer screening priority work group that formerly focused on colorectal cancer has been expanded to also include lung cancer now.  While colorectal cancer screening remains a priority for CCCNP, they have expanded the priority because lung cancer causes more deaths among men and women in the U.S. than any other cancer and lung cancer screening rates are currently abysmal.  CCCNP wants to support and enhance the work that you are currently doing or considering to address this critical issue.  Please be sure to check out their revised page on the CCCNP website at Cancer Screening — Comprehensive Cancer Control National Partnership (cccnationalpartners.org) for more information and an updated lung cancer screening resource list.

Annual screening with low dose computed tomography, low dose CT scan, (LDCT) is recommended for 50 – 80-year-olds who have 20-year per day or more smoking history and currently smoke or have quit smoking within the past 15 years. Yet, fewer than 7% of the people for whom screening is recommended get the screening test.  While increasing lung cancer screening is a major challenge, CCCNP also sees it as a tremendous opportunity for comprehensive cancer control partners as nearly all of you have included lung cancer prevention strategies in your state- and jurisdiction cancer plans.  Rightfully so, many of the strategies focus on tobacco cessation.  But many of you have also included strategies to specifically increase lung cancer screening in your cancer plans and your program work plans-despite not having dedicated federal funding for lung cancer screening.  CCCNP commend you for your efforts and are committed to supporting you in this very important work.

CCC coalitions are partnerships of diverse, committed people and organizations who look at problems and determine ways to address the problem, form all corners of society.  With CCCNP’s expanded focus we are looking forward to helping you continue to identify and prioritize efforts to increase awareness of lung cancer risks and screening recommendations broadly; promote tobacco cessation and support the use of appropriate tools to assess and refer quitters to lung cancer screening; support provider trainings; support patient navigation; and more.  CCCNP hopes to not only share resources developed by their national partners with you, but also develop and deliver multiple training opportunities that include peer-to-peer learning opportunities as well.