Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.
But early detection saves lives.
Finding lung cancer early saves lives. We know it works for breast, prostate and colon cancer, and now science has shown that lung cancer screening saves lives, too. In fact, the American Lung Association recently found that New Mexico ranked 42nd in the country for survival rates and 47th for surgical intervention. The report also found that Indigenous Peoples in New Mexico are most likely to receive no treatment.
The report found that New Mexico ranked:
- 2 out of 49 in the nation for rate of new lung cancer cases at 32.9 per 100,000. The national rate is 53.6 per 100,000.
- 42 out of 47 in the nation for survival at 23.9%. The national rate of people alive five years after a lung cancer diagnosis is 28.4%.
- 45 out of 47 in the nation for early diagnosis at 23.1%. Nationally, only 27.4% of cases are diagnosed at an early stage when the survival rate is much higher.
- 49 out of 51 in the nation for lung cancer screening at 9.1%. Lung cancer screening with annual low-dose CT scans for those at high risk can reduce the lung cancer death rate by up to 20%. Nationally, only 16% of those at high risk were screened.
- 47 out of 47 in the nation for surgery at 13.0%. Lung cancer can often be treated with surgery if it is diagnosed at an early stage and has not spread. Nationally, 20.7% of cases underwent surgery.
- 46 out of 47 in the nation for lack of treatment at 33.0%. Nationally, 20.9% of cases receive no treatment.
The New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation will provide a free, low-dose, CT screening, regardless of insurance status. New Mexico Cancer Center clinical staff will follow-up with you and your physician with your results. Age and smoking history are the two main factors used to know if you should be screened for lung cancer.
