Lung cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers across Europe. It claims more lives each year than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined, but only receives 5.6% of the total global funding for cancer research.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month, observed throughout November, provides an opportunity for the public health community to raise awareness of the risk factors for lung cancer and highlight ways to reduce the burden of the disease across Europe.
Ahead of this awareness month, ERS produced a short film on lung cancer screening to inform policymakers, patients and the public, the scientific community and the healthcare field about the potential for lung cancer screening to save lives and reduce medical costs.
Further, ERS also recommends that the European Union commits to the following actions in order to change the fate of lung cancer in Europe:
- Increase funding for medical research
- Enable European citizens to breathe clean air
- Encourage Member States to adopt and implement anti-tobacco legislation
- Develop European guidelines on lung cancer screening
- Protect workers from occupational exposure to risk factors
- Support Member States in health system management
ERS resources for Lung Cancer Awareness Month
- Factsheet: Lung cancer in Europe
- ERS Educational material on lung cancer
- ERS Publications on lung cancer
Upcoming events
- 08:00-09:30 CET on 6 November, 2019 at the European Parliament in Brussels (room ASP 5G1) – ERS/LuCE/ESR joint event ‘Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: focus on lung cancer and prevention’ – register
ERS Skills Courses on Thoracoscopy and Pleural Techniques: