When it comes to lung cancer, there’s little doubt we’ve made meaningful progress.
Since 2000, the number of new cases has fallen by almost 27 percent, and the survival rate has improved by more than 50 percent. Meanwhile, teen smoking rates continue to shrink.
Yet, one number remains sobering: 130,000.
That’s the estimated death toll from lung cancer in 2022, making lung cancer the nation’s leading cause of cancer deaths. More than 76 percent of patients diagnosed with the disease die within five years.
At IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, our team of 10 clinical scientists focused on lung cancer know there are many questions that remain unanswered.
Can we use immunotherapy to blunt lung cancer in its earliest stages? How can we adapt and tailor treatment to a patient using biomarkers? What new targets might we uncover if we could get reliable samples of aggressive disease? And how do we ensure our patients remain strong in body and spirit throughout their fight to overcome lung cancer?
Fortunately, we have you.
Our donors are close partners, making vital investments that help the lung cancer research program amass talent and obtain equipment that leads to breakthroughs. In some cases, your generosity grants us the flexibility to pursue bold ideas that would otherwise go unexplored.