Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Focus of New Real World Health Care Series

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by Krista Zodet, President, HealthWell Foundation

I am not a clinician, a cancer survivor, or a research expert, however I know the bad hand cancer deals to people like you and me every day.  While I have seen the devastating effects of cancer diagnoses through my work with HealthWell, I am hopeful that the combined efforts of advocates, researchers, and clinicians will continue to move treatment options forward and remission rates up.

HealthWell has been honored to assist patients receiving treatment for lung cancer since 2006 and this cancer, like many, continues to surprise me with its twists and turns.  According to the American Lung Association, lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the U.S. It has surpassed breast cancer to become the leading cause of cancer deaths in women, and it accounts for approximately 27 percent of all cancer deaths. Almost everyone knows someone who has been affected. That’s why RealWorldHealthCare.org has decided to focus on non-small cell lung cancer (NSLCL) as the next on the topic.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 80-85 percent of all lung cancers and afflicts about 180,000 people in the United States each year. A number of factors can increase risk of developing NSCLC. Smoking cigarettes or being exposed to secondhand smoke is a primary risk factor for the disease. Exposure to asbestos, radon and certain paints or chemicals may also increase risk.  The scariest stories, though, are those where no clear risk factors exist.

NSCLC has five stages, from stage 0 to stage 4 in order of increasing severity. Outlook and treatment is based on the stage, and because stage 4 cancer is typically not curable, treatment is usually aimed at relieving symptoms. However, targeted therapies have been developed that attack specific aspects of the cancer cell, like growth factors or blood vessels that feed the tumor. Each year, tens of thousands of people are cured of NSCLC in the U.S.

Over the next couple months, we will be focusing on some of these targeted therapies and other therapies designed to treat NSCLC. We’ll be interviewing top researchers in the field as well as leaders of patient advocacy organizations dedicated to helping patients and their families manage the disease.

We invite you to check back to learn more about NSCLC research priorities and challenges. You can also sign up to receive email alerts when new interviews are posted. Just enter your email address under the sign-up message to the right.

If you or someone you love is on Medicare and suffering from NSCLC, HealthWell may be able to help with medication copayments and insurance premiums. Visit our eligibility page to learn more.

Read this article on Real World Health Care.