The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Announces Release of Lung Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients

American Cancer Society
Tuesday, 12 November 2002

Patients battling lung cancer now have a new tool to aid them in the fight. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, recently announced the release of its Lung Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients.

"The collaboration between the NCCN and the American Cancer Society provides access to patient versions of the same guidelines oncologists use to aid their decisions about appropriate treatment," said William T. McGivney, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of the NCCN. "Our goal is to inform and facilitate this critical decision-making process between patient and physician."

The American Cancer Society produced the Lung Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients by translating the NCCN's Clinical Practice Guidelines, originally designed for oncologists, into reliable, specific, easy-to-understand materials for patients with lung cancer, their family, and caregivers. Among the topics covered are: types of lung cancer, tests and exams, types of treatment, clinical trials information, and a helpful glossary of lung cancer terms.

Patients are also provided with the same decision trees used by their doctors. These flow charts represent the appropriate course of treatment for each stage of specific types of lung cancer. These charts are invaluable in determining the most effective course of treatment, helping patients take a more active role in the decision-making process with their health care providers.

According to the American Cancer Society, there will be nearly 170,000 new cases of lung cancer this year. Smoking is the main risk factor for the disease. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

"We want people with lung cancer to understand their treatment options," said Robert C. Young, MD, national volunteer president of the American Cancer Society and president of Fox Chase Cancer Center, a founding member of the NCCN. "These materials will help patients take a more active role in their own health care and guide them through the treatment decision-making process."

The Lung Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients are part of an informational series to help patients and their families make more informed decisions regarding their treatment. Other guidelines cover supportive care topics such as nausea and vomiting; fever and neutropenia; cancer-related fatigue; and cancer pain. Other items in the series provide information on cancer of the prostate, breast, ovaries, colon and rectum. Many titles are available in Spanish as well as English. These materials are available free of charge on NCCN's Web site at www.nccn.org and by calling NCCN toll-free at 1-888-909-NCCN – or on the American Cancer Society's Web site.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org