Lung cancer—the leading cause of cancer death in men and women worldwide at 1.80 million—is the second most diagnosed cancer in the United States, accounting for approximately a quarter of all cancer deaths. Divided into 2 primary types, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), NSCLC comprises nearly 84% of lung cancer, while SCLC constitutes about 13% of lung cancers in the U.S. each year. Although SCLC is less common, it is more aggressive and metastasizes rapidly to organs such as the liver, bones, adrenal glands, the lymph nodes, and the brain. Smoking tobacco is the leading cause for lung cancer, accounting for 90% of all SCLC diagnoses. Current treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery. With estimated new lung cancer cases of 235,760 and estimated deaths of 131,880 in 2021, it is imperative to find new ways to overcome treatment barriers in patients with lung cancer.
In early 2021, ACCC began facilitating patient- and provider-facing surveys that focus on creating awareness about the SCLC patient experience. These surveys, used to identify and better comprehend the gaps and potential disconnects in the patient/provider relationship in the treatment of SCLC, highlight opportunities to improve patient care. ACCC's Comprehensive Quality Care for Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer initiative builds upon those survey findings to help dispel misconceptions and myths about SCLC and its treatment, promoting the use of guideline-concordant treatment plans, and identifying and uncovering the gaps, barriers, and challenges to deliver optimal care to patients with SCLC.
For more information on this project, please contact the ACCC Provider Education department.
ACCC examined best practices in the treatment of small cell lung cancer. The following cancer programs highlight best practices in specific areas of cancer care.
Discover actionable, consensus-driven best practices from our expert Delphi panel—access the new quality document to strengthen SCLC care delivery at your institution.
Small Cell SMASHERS was founded in 2023 as a patient-centered advocacy and education community designed to challenge long-standing narratives about small cell lung cancer and restore a sense of voice, connection, and hope for patients and their loved ones.
In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Charles B. Simone, II, MD, FASTRO, FACRO, FACR, chief medical officer of the New York Proton Center and radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, about strategies to improve collaboration between radiation and medical oncology.