A new report by the American Lung Association (ALA) shows that Louisiana continues to have one of the lowest survival rates [43 out of 47 states reporting] in the country for lung cancer. But there are signs of progress. As Matt Bloom with Louisiana Public Radio reports, the report looked at survival rates five years after a diagnosis. Louisiana sits at just under 23%. That’s higher than recent years. In 2020, the five-year survival rate stood at 18%. But Louisiana is still lower than the national average of 28.4%. Meanwhile, Arkansas’ survival rate is the third worst in the country, at 22.6%, while the survival rate in Texas has improved by 17% over the last five years, and now ranks 35th among the 47 states ranked, according to the ALA’s 2024 “State of Lung Cancer” report. The report shows Oklahoma registered the lowest survival rate of any state at 22.2%, despite improving by 19% over the last five years.
The report reveals that biomarker testing gaps and low screening rates for lung cancer continue to suppress lung cancer survival rates. Despite those challenges, the ALA reports that the survival rate nationally has improved by 26% over the last five years. Yet lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Eric Weinzettle is advocacy director for the American Lung Association in Louisiana. He credits the state’s improvement to higher screening rates and recent campaigns to lower tobacco use.” Eric Weinzettle: “You know, we’ve seen results from these efforts and so we want to build on that and continue to up those survival rates.”
Weinzettle says the state can continue the trend by enforcing statewide smoke-free air laws in bars and casinos and investing in programs that help people quit smoking. The Louisiana Health Department runs a free hotline with services to help smokers quit. It’s 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
