Network members join key global cancer congresses in September

We reflect on our involvement in this year’s World Conference on Lung Cancer, European Society of Medical Oncology and World Cancer Congress.

Advancing screening implementation at WCLC

The Network had a strong presence at this year’s World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in San Diego, California. The annual conference is always an opportunity to hear about innovations and implementation activity in early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

The Secretariat and many Network members also attended the IASLC CT Screening Symposium. The wide-ranging discussions centred around how to design and implement screening programmes in a sustainable, effective and equitable way. We also heard about how the use of mobile CT scanners, is improving access to screening services in England, Australia and Brazil.

In a session on equity in CT screening, delegates discussed how co-design is helping address disparities in screening, including examples focussed on the role of community engagement and outreach with LGBTQ+ communities, and with Māori peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.

During the conference, we also presented four posters on our work:

• Care pathways for lung cancer: building a foundation for optimal care, presented by Andrea Borondy Kitts
• Increasing the earlier detection of lung cancer: a toolbox for change, presented by Dr Lucia Viola
• A framework and toolkit to support the implementation of LDCT screening with a focus on inclusion of underserved communities, presented by Dr Joelle Fathi and Professor David Baldwin
• Evidence based communication on lung cancer screening to political decision makers, presented by Dr Sebastian Schmidt

The conference once again provided the venue for our yearly in-person member meeting, and we held discussions on our priorities as we look ahead to 2025.
 

Ensuring lung cancer is prioritised in global cancer discussions at WCC

Eleanor Wheeler from the Network Secretariat attended the World Cancer Congress in Geneva, where around 2,000 delegates from more than 120 countries shared ideas and discussed cancer control efforts.

As well as presenting a poster about the Network’s Care pathways for lung cancer report, Eleanor joined other Network members in building new connections and discussing topics including early detection, continuity of and access to care, and the importance of collecting and interrogating robust data. She also joined planned sessions, including one on setting global priorities for prevention, early detection and care pathways for lung cancer.

With a lens on lung cancer, several sessions highlighted the need to turn more attention to raising awareness about lung cancer broadly, as well as developing specific lung cancer screening guidance and ensuring that lung cancer is part of the discussion about non-communicable diseases as well as lung health in general.

Network member Dr Karen Kelly, from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, shared her perspective on the current situation, saying, ‘The projections for lung cancer mortality and economic cost are sobering. But these are projections, and right now we have the opportunity to change the future.’

Early detection and good early cancer care were also areas of focus. In addition to discussions, new resources were launched, including one from All.Can International. Its Action Guide for Efficient Cancer Care offers insights and practical guidance for the implementation of cancer care efficiency metrics across health systems.

Showcasing earlier detection at ESMO

At this year’s European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Barcelona, Network member Prof. Torsten Blum presented key findings and recommendations from the Network’s report Earlier detection of lung cancer: a toolbox for change. He also discussed the importance of earlier detection, and showcased some approaches to improving outcomes.
 

Upcoming events

Later this year, we will be hosting a workshop as part of the first Asia Conference on Lung Cancer, taking place from 17–19 October in Hong Kong.

We will also be joining this year’s Rescue Lung Society Conference on 25 & 26 October in Boston, US.