Sixty-two thousand Americans’ lives could be saved in five years if we bridge the gap between what science demands and what actually happens in lung cancer screening.
Story Snapshot
- Only 1 in 5 eligible U.S. adults receive recommended lung cancer screening, despite clear evidence of benefit.
- Universal screening could prevent over 62,000 lung cancer deaths in five years and gain nearly 900,000 life-years.
- Screening rates lag far behind those for breast and colorectal cancers due to access, awareness, and stigma barriers.
- Policy changes, targeted interventions, and public awareness are urgently needed to close the lifesaving gap.
The Deadliest Cancer, The Most Preventable Deaths
Lung cancer still claims more lives than any other cancer in the United States, with projections of 125,000 deaths and 225,000 new diagnoses in 2025. Cigarette smoking remains the main culprit, responsible for nearly 86% of cases. Over a decade ago, screening high-risk adults with low-dose CT scans was proven to save lives. National guidelines followed: annual screening became the standard for those at highest risk. Yet, the promise of early detection has not translated into everyday reality for most Americans. Screening rates have stubbornly hovered below 20%, far outpaced by breast and colorectal screenings, which reach nearly four times as many eligible people.
Latest ACS Lung Cancer Data: Only 1 in 5 Eligible Adults in U.S. Screened for Lung Cancer; 62,000 Lives Over 5 Years Could be Saved if All Eligible Screened https://t.co/gt5oQWR0In
— PR Newswire Top Stories (@PRN_TopStories) November 20, 2025
Guideline expansions in 2021 and 2023 aimed to change this, broadening who qualifies for screening and removing outdated barriers. The 2021 shift lowered the age threshold and reduced the “pack-year” smoking requirement, opening doors to more women and Black Americans—groups previously underrepresented in screening pools. In 2023, the American Cancer Society dropped the “years since quitting” exclusion, potentially extending eligibility to millions more former smokers.
Barriers to Screening: Stigma, Access, and the Numbers Game
The chasm between medical recommendations and real-world screening is not for lack of evidence. Proven survival benefits—up to a 20% reduction in lung cancer deaths—have not overcome fear, stigma, or logistical barriers. Many eligible adults simply do not know about the screening or do not think it applies to them. Others face insurance coverage gaps, high out-of-pocket costs, or lack of nearby screening centers. The American Cancer Society and advocacy partners have pushed for policy reforms to eliminate patient costs and expand coverage, but patchwork implementation leaves wide disparities by state.
Disparities extend beyond geography. Black Americans, women, and those without private insurance are less likely to be screened, even though they may face higher risks or worse outcomes. The stigma of smoking lingers, discouraging candid conversations between patients and providers. Yet, the economics are compelling: increasing screening rates could save hundreds of millions in healthcare and productivity costs by catching cancer earlier, when it is more treatable and less expensive to manage.
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Policy, Awareness, and the Push for Change
On November 19, 2025, the American Cancer Society published a landmark study quantifying the lives lost to low screening rates. Dr. Priti Bandi called the findings “a real missed opportunity,” urging the nation to recognize that three times as many lung cancer deaths could be prevented with full screening participation. Lisa Lacasse of the ACS Cancer Action Network stressed the need to “protect and expand access to care,” calling for immediate removal of cost barriers and broader eligibility. National Lung Cancer Screening Day, held annually to boost awareness, brings attention but not yet the sustained action needed to change the national trajectory.
If the right levers are pulled—removing costs, expanding insurance mandates, ramping up outreach in high-risk communities—the payoff is not just thousands of lives saved, but a new model for cancer prevention that bridges the gap between science and society.
Sources:
American Cancer Society Press Release: 2025 Lung Cancer Data
ACS: Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts & Figures 2025-2026
SEER Cancer Statistics: Lung and Bronchus Cancer
American Lung Association: Key Findings in State of Lung Cancer
National Lung Cancer Roundtable: Lung Cancer Screening Day
JAMA: ACS National Lung Cancer Screening Study
