Louisiana has some of the nation's highest lung cancer rates, but prevention, smoking cessation, and early detection can reduce the disease's impact.

That was the message from Dr. Michael Celestin, assistant professor at LSU Health New Orleans and director of the Louisiana Tobacco Control Initiative (TCI), a program of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC), delivered during a November online webinar sponsored by the LCRC and Xavier University of Louisiana’s RCMI Center for Cancer Research.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in Louisiana, with an incidence rate of 61.1 cases per 100,000 residents, compared with the national rate of 52.8. The state's five-year survival rate for lung cancer is just 24.6%, below the national average of 29.7%.

According to Dr. Celestin, only about one in five Louisiana lung cancer cases is diagnosed at an early stage, when treatment is most effective. Rural communities face additional challenges in accessing screening and medical care.

"The data highlights the need for prevention, early detection, and timely access to treatment," he said.

Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of lung cancer and accounts for about 80% of lung cancer deaths. Smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who have never smoked. However, quitting smoking can substantially reduce one’s risk of lung cancer.

"Lung cancer risk declines after quitting," Dr. Celestin said, noting that after 10 to 15 years of smoking cessation, the additional risk of developing lung cancer falls to about half that of someone who continues smoking. "Quitting benefits patients even after a cancer diagnosis.”

He also emphasized the importance of pairing smoking cessation with lung cancer screening. Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans can detect lung cancer before symptoms appear, improving outcomes.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual screening for adults ages 50 to 80 with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years. Many insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, cover this preventive service at no cost to members to eliminate financial barriers. Additionally, organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association offer programs to help people get screened. However, only 17% of high-risk Louisiana residents receive recommended lung cancer screenings, compared with 18.2% nationally.

How to access the resources of the Tobacco Control Initiative?

Visit www.latci.org or call 1.866.457.QUIT (7848). Cessation resources for smokers include quit information, behavioral and medication counseling, and referral to additional treatment programs. TCI also provides technical assistance to health care administrators and clinicians to improve their clinical support.

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