HJBR Nov/Dec 2025

42 NOV / DEC 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE ONCOLOGY DIAL GUE COLUMN ONCOLOGY LUNG CANCER remains a formidable health challenge across the United States, and its impact is felt with particular force here in Louisiana. Nationwide, more than 235,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, according to the American Lung Association. 1 Even more alarming, the asso- ciation says the survival rate in Louisiana is among the five worst states in the country, at 22.9% compared to the national average of 28.4%. 2 While advancements in more timely diag- nosis with cutting-edge robotic techniques as well as targeted oncologic therapies offer better outcomes, a significant gap exists be- tween those who are eligible for these screen- ing services and those who receive low-dose which can improve survival of non-small cell lung carcinoma. According theAmerican Cancer Society, when identified in its earliest “localized” stage, the five-year survival rate is 67%. The survival rate decline with each subsequent level is significant. Five-year sur- vival of the “regional” state is approximately 40%. 4 This underscores the urgent need for a more proactive and unified approach to screening in our state. For patients, the journey fromCT-detected nodule to treatment can be challenging. We must help our patients navigate. Findings from the American Lung Association re- leased in 2024, the latest available, highlight common patient experiences, including high anxiety, communication breakdowns, and Closing the Gap in LUNG CANCER CARE for Our Community CT imaging. As leaders in healthcare, it is our respon- sibility to address this disparity head-on and champion a new standard of care for our communities. To that end, theAmerican Lung Association has launched a campaign to raise awareness about lung cancer screening and biomarker testing. The association estimates that a stagger- ing 84% of Americans who are eligible for lung cancer screening do not get low-dose CT chest imaging. The number is slightly higher in Louisiana at 85%. This is a critical issue, especially in Louisiana, which consistently ranks among the states with the highest rates of lung cancer incidence and mortality. 3 Early detection remains a powerful tool