American Cancer Society Comprehensive Lung Cancer Patient Support Program (CLCPSP)

Need

In 2016, there were 38,580 newly diagnosed lung cancer cases from the 8 target states.  While the number of cancer survivors is growing, there are fewer survivors of lung cancer than other cancers such as breast or prostate, given the often asymptomatic nature of the disease and resulting diagnosis at a later stage. However, with the increased use of low dose computerized tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer, more cancers are being found early and at a treatable stage.  This will result in an increasing number of lung cancer survivors and it is imperative that models of survivorship care are established for this patient population.

The Institute of Medicine’s report From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition (2006) represented a clarion call to the oncology community to ease the transition of survivors upon completion of treatment.  Moving from an intense period of treatment in which the patient frequently has contact with their treatment team to a “non-system” with little guidance and few guidelines for life after treatment, patients can often feel overwhelmed and depressed. (NCI OCS, 2010).