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Implementing lung cancer screening for those living with low income

Description: Lung cancer is currently the most common cause of cancer death in Canada. However, when detected early, fiveyear recurrence-free rates of Stage 1A disease approach 80%+, whereas progressively later stages have recurrence-free rates of 50% or less. Screening procedures look for abnormal changes that lead to biopsy and subsequent definitive management, allowing treatment to be less invasive and more cost-effective. Early screening for lung cancer using low-dose CT (LDCT) scanning can detect early stage cancers long before symptoms appear. The initiation of LDCT screening has become widespread in many jurisdictions, particularly in the United States. In Canada, population-wide implementation has not yet occurred, but Cancer Care Ontario is currently piloting lung cancer screening at several sites in the province for people at high risk. Concerns around screening include the potential harms (e.g. false positives), identifying the optimal group of at-risk individuals, and the optimal frequency of screening. The most cost-effective program will need to screen the highest risk individuals i.e. those with the highest smoking rates. However, the highest rates of smoking are often found among those of low socioeconomic status (SES), a group that has usually been excluded from North American screening studies. The effectiveness of lung cancer screening in a more disadvantaged population is not well known. We do know that cervical, breast and colorectal cancer screening rates are reduced among Canadians experiencing social disadvantage.
Amount: CA$37,760
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Operating Grant - Knowledge to Action Grants - Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute
Start date: 2017-11-01
End date: 2018-10-31
Investigator: Aisha Lofters
Institution: St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto, Ontario)
Field: Medicine
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 155430_1
OpenAlex ID: G3786976840
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