With their drug expertise, pharmacists can be instrumental in educating patients about the impact of early detection and clinical intervention. They can inform about possible treatment options, make clinical recommendations tailored to patient need, and confirm that medications are dosed properly. In addition, they can ensure proper administration, screen for potential drug/drug interactions and contraindications, and monitor for potential adverse effects as well as provide prescribers and patients with key efficacy and safety data for possible treatments.

Through patient education initiatives, pharmacists can also be a key resource for patients and can expand awareness about effective pharmacologic/nonpharmacologic measures that may reduce risk and improve clinical outcomes in those with lung cancer. Pharmacists can also be instrumental in identifying patients at risk for or exhibiting signs of lung cancer and encourage these individuals to seek further evaluation, including recommended lung cancer screening tests. Pharmacists can also encourage those at risk for lung cancer and lung cancer survivors to maintain routine medical care and to adhere to the recommended lung cancer screenings, with low-dose computed tomography for high-risk individuals. The American Lung Association indicates that if lung cancer is detected before it metastasizes, there is an estimated 60% improved probability of surviving 5 years or more.

Rebecca L. Siegel, MPH, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, stated, “Earlier diagnosis has an enormous impact on survival because with less spread, treatment has a better chance to be effective—5-year survival increases from 6% for patients diagnosed with metastatic disease to 33% for regional spread and 60% for localized disease. Earlier diagnosis also enables more treatment options.”

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) Facts & Figures 2022 Report, the incidence of lung cancer continued to decline sharply for advanced disease while rates for localized-stage increased suddenly by 4.5% annually, contributing to gains both in the percentage of localized-stage diagnoses (from 17% in 2004 to 28% in 2018) and 3-year relative survival (from 21% to 31%). The report also indicates that 72% of women and 81% of men aged 20 to 49 years recently diagnosed with lung cancer had smoked. As a result, the CDC has redoubled efforts to boost smoking cessation, including publication of a new Surgeon General’s report in 2020.

The ACS suggests the following measures to reduce and/or prevent lung cancer: smoking cessation; avoiding second-hand smoke exposure, radon exposure and exposure to other carcinogens; and maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and losing weight, if needed.

Patients with lung cancer should be directed to seek assistance from the various patient education and support resources available to them and their loved ones, including support groups, cost savings programs for medications sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, and life-planning services.

The ACS also suggests that lung cancer survivors discuss a survivorship care plan, which may include:

• A suggested schedule for follow-up diagnostic testing.
• A list of possible late- or long-term adverse effects from treatment, including what to watch for and when to seek medical evaluation.
• A schedule for other tests that may be needed to monitor for long-term health effects from the cancer and the treatment.
• Recommendations for measures that may improve health, including lowering the possibility of lung cancer recurrence.

The ACS website provides valuable information about Cancer Survivorship Cancer Plans.

The CDC website also provides resources.

The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk.

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