Lung cancer research: new evidence in lung cancer

Lung Cancer in Australia: review of the evidence, research and national consultation

In 2010, Curtin University was commissioned to undertake a scoping exercise to identify the key factors impacting on diagnosis and management of lung cancer across Australia. This project involved reviewing current literature and consulting with a number of key experts, health professionals and consumers to identify factors impacting on diagnosis and management of lung cancer across Australia.

Key findings of this project based on the consultation and literature review included:

• approximately 80 per cent of people diagnosed with lung cancer have advanced disease;
• stigma and nihilistic views (the view that the treatment of lung cancer is of little benefit) were seen as factors that caused delays in seeking help and referring for cancer-specific treatment;
• general practitioners could be supported in the assessment and referral of people with lung cancer.

Read the Lung Cancer in Australia report (PDF 4.9MB)

Research into risk factors for lung cancer

Although it is well known that over 80 per cent of people who develop lung cancer are current or past smokers there has not been a comprehensive review of the literature to understand other risk factors that may be associated with lung cancer that could be used by health professionals, consumers and policy makers to better understand the risks of lung cancer.

A systematic literature review on the risk factors associated with lung cancer is being conducted for Cancer Australia by Adelaide Research and Innovation.  This review will include looking at occupational and environmental causes of lung cancer, in addition to the risks of smoking, both active and passive. It will also include an analysis of the likelihood of lung cancer among smokers, ex-smokers and never-smokers.

Findings of this literature review will build our knowledge and understanding of lung cancer and will be used to support future work in the identification of people at risk of developing lung cancer. 

Research into the effects of stigma and nihilistic views on lung cancer outcomes

Stigma and nihilistic views are factors that have been identified as potentially impacting on lung cancer outcomes, delaying people seeking treatment and causing psychological stress to those people with lung cancer.

Cancer Australia has commissioned the Cancer Council Queensland to undertake a systematic literature review and qualitative and quantitative research in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of stigma and nihilistic, from the perspective of health professionals and people affected by lung cancer.  This research will be used to inform the content of public health messages, clinical practice and supportive care guidelines for health professionals.

Stigma occurs when society labels someone as tainted, less desirable, or handicapped. This negative evaluation may be ‘felt’ or enacted.  The experience of stigma in lung cancer is shaped by the association between:

• the disease and smoking and the perception of the disease as self-inflicted
• its high death rate
• the type of death

Many people with lung cancer feel guilt, shame or helplessness about their cancer which could affect their cancer care. [1],[2] 

Nihilism can mean destructiveness to self or others; or the view that medical treatments are of no value. [2]

This project will include investigating the impact of stigma and nihilistic views on lung cancer outcomes in people affected by lung cancer including those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds and from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The outcome of this research will inform the development of guidance material for health professionals, inform policy and practice in relation to supportive care and provide guidance on public health messages about lung cancer.

Best practice models of care for the treatment and management of people with lung cancer 

Cancer Australia has commissioned Zest Healthcare Communications to undertake a national consultation process and research to identify current models of care in relation to the management and care of people with lung cancer in Australia. 

This research will define best practice models of care to improve outcomes for people diagnosed with lung cancer.  In addition, the research will identify elements to support the delivery of best practice models, resource and tools to support the implementation of a model/s of care in Australia. 

Cancer Australia will facilitate a national consensus forum on the best practice model for Australia that will be held at the beginning of 2013.

This research will provide the evidence to support service delivery improvements and tools and resources to assist the implementation within health services.

[1] The Social Psychology of Stigma. Major, B & O’Brien, l. T Annu. Rev. Psychol. 2005. 56: 393-421.

[2] Are patients with lung cancer the poor relations in oncology? Ball. D. & Irving, L. Medical Journal of Australia. 2000.172: 310-311.