DETROIT – (July 18, 2023) – Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of both men and women in the United States, however, people of color suffer disproportionally from lung cancer. According to the “State of Lung Cancer” report, the rate of new lung cancer cases is 69 per 100,000
population among Black Americans in Michigan, which is significantly higher
than the rate of 60 among Black Americans nationally and significantly higher
than the rate of 64 among whites in Michigan. Today, the American Lung
Association in Michigan announced the Awareness, Trust, and Action campaign,
which aims to increase awareness amongst Black Americans about clinical trials
and encourage them to speak with their healthcare provider about their
treatment options.
Nationally, Black
Americans with lung cancer are less likely to be diagnosed at
an early stage, less likely to receive surgical treatment, and
less likely to receive any treatment at all compared to white Americans.
“More people are surviving lung cancer. The lung cancer five-year survival rate is now 25% overall but remains significantly lower among communities of color, including Black Americans at only 18%”, said Ken Fletcher, Advocacy Director at the Lung Association. “When Black Americans enroll in clinical trials, they can benefit from the latest science and treatments, and researchers can learn about how lung cancer treatments work in different people. Unfortunately, Black Americans are underrepresented in clinical trials, so it is critical to raise awareness about this important issue.”
This underrepresentation happens
for many reasons, with one of them being the long-standing history of racial
bias in healthcare, which impacts access to care and trust in
providers. It is important to enroll a diverse group of people in clinical
trials so researchers can understand the effects of potential treatment methods
on the different patient populations.
The American Lung Association is
launching the Awareness, Trust, and Action campaign in Michigan to:
- Raise
awareness among
Black Americans with lung cancer (as well as the larger Black community)
about the availability and importance of clinical trials as a treatment
option for lung cancer;
- Address
misconceptions and mistrust
around clinical trials and convey their value as a potential treatment
option; and
- Empower
Black Americans to take action
by talking with their doctors about lung cancer clinical
trials.
Learn more at Lung.org/trials-and-you.
Support for this project provided
in part by Daiichi Sankyo, Genentech, Merck, Novartis and Novocure.
The Lung
Association is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as core
values. Our vision of a world free of lung disease includes all people,
regardless of skin color, race, ethnicity, gender identity, creed, age,
ability, sexual orientation, national origin, education, language, or socio-economic
status. Given the disproportionate impact of lung disease on historically
underserved communities, the Lung Association embraces diversity as a moral and
mission-driven imperative. This commitment governs all activities of the Lung Association, including policies and guidelines, procedures, programs, personnel practices, and resource development to ensure that the diversity of the communities we serve—including but not limited to racial, ethnic and gender diversity—are reflected in our volunteers and staff.
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About the American Lung
Association
The American Lung
Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung
health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research.
The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives:
to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of
life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a
tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association,
a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a
Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call
1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org. 
