Lung Cancer the Netherlands
Invitational conference Population-based lung cancer screening

april 2022

REQUEST

In more than half of the cases, lung cancer is only discovered at a stage where curative treatment is no longer possible. Early detection by a population screening for lung cancer can also give these people a chance of recovery. Lung cancer is the form of cancer that kills the most people each year. That is no less than 10,000. Lung Cancer the Netherlands wants to talk to parties to quickly realize population screening for lung cancer.

EXECUTION

Together with Lung Cancer the Netherlands, Erasmus MC and Radboudumc, Novella-World Café is developing and realizing a meaningful invitational conference, in which scientists, general practitioners, various organizations and a patient will enter into discussions with each other to make population research into lung cancer possible as soon as possible. Kjell Lutz is the moderator who will lead this afternoon.

In addition to presentations and a discussion with a patient about the great importance of early detection, the participants will enter into dialogue with each other to arrive at concrete steps.

THEMES

During the World Cafe, two types of theme tables were set up:

‘Role of the GP’
How can the GP facilitate? Registration of smoking history?
In what way can other professionals also contribute?

‘Optimising early detection’
Improve current screening? New possibilities?
What is needed for this and when could this be possible?

The aim of this session is to clarify the next steps in how population screening or early detection can be realised.

After this invitational conference:

August 2022
In the coming months, around 400,000 Dutch people will receive an invitation to participate in a pilot population study into the early detection of lung cancer. In this study, (ex-)smokers between the ages of 60 and 79 in three regions will be asked to participate in the study. Lung cancer is most common in this age group.
Erasmus MC

Response from Lung Cancer Netherlands
Lidia Barberio, director of Lung Cancer Netherlands: ‘We are pleased that this study has started and that the people who are most at risk of developing lung cancer are being called upon to participate in this study. The study will last 5 years, so we advocate that a population study into lung cancer be started in the meantime. Because until this is done, lung cancer is discovered far too late. In 50% of cases, lung cancer is only discovered in stage 4. Unfortunately, there is no cure possible at that point. We want everyone to know that they have lung cancer in stage 1, so that there is still a good chance of recovery.’

September 2022
The Minister of Health Ernst Kuipers will ask the Health Council for advice on lung cancer screening. The members of parliament from D66 and the PVV and KWF asked the minister’s attention for the possibility of detecting lung cancer early.