What CDC is Doing

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to prevent and control lung cancer by

• Collecting critical data about who is being diagnosed with and dying from lung cancer in the United States.



• Supporting programs in states, tribes, and U.S. territories, which strive to prevent and control tobacco use and promote a healthy diet.



• Implementing public health interventions and countermarketing strategies to reduce smoking.



• Monitoring tobacco use and tobacco control programs, and conducting tobacco product research.



• Supporting a national network of "quitlines" that smokers anywhere in the United States can call for help with quitting smoking.



• Maintaining this lung cancer Web site, which provides information about preventing and controlling lung cancer.



• Supporting the Guide to Community Preventive Services, a publication that recommends ways to improve tobacco control in communities.

Ongoing Work

CDC's ongoing work to encourage the prevention and control of lung cancer includes

National Program of Cancer Registries
CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC) collects critical data about who is being diagnosed with and dying from lung cancer in the United States. These data inform public health action and are the result of a partnership between the National Program of Cancer Registries (housed in DCPC) and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Together, these programs coordinate the collection of incidence data from approximately 96% of the U.S. population and mortality data from 100% of the U.S. population. CDC's National Center for Health Statistics/National Vital Statistics System also provides nationwide cancer death statistics.

Office on Smoking and Health
CDC's Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) works to reduce smoking through public health interventions, countermarketing, policy development, evaluation, research into tobacco products, and monitoring tobacco control programs and tobacco use. OSH also gives technical support and funding to tobacco prevention and control programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, seven U.S. territories, seven tribal support centers, and eight national networks.

1-800-QUITNOW
CDC and its partner, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), support a national network of "quitlines" that smokers anywhere in the United States can access for help with quitting smoking. 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669) is a single-access point to the National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines. Callers are routed automatically to a state-run quitline, if one exists in their area. If there is no state-run quitline, the call goes to the NCI quitline. As part of the Network, CDC provided funding to help 49 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories either enhance their existing quitline or create a quitline.

Lung Cancer Web Site
CDC maintains this Web site to increase awareness and knowledge about lung cancer, and to provide resources for preventing and controlling lung cancer. The site presents information about disease burden, risk factors, and risk modification, as well as screening recommendations, a review of CDC's activities in lung cancer control, and links to additional resources. For lung cancer survivors, the site offers definitions and links to information about diagnosis, staging, treatment, supportive care, management of side effects, clinical trials, and support groups.

Guide to Community Preventive Services
CDC supports the Guide to Community Preventive Services, a publication that recommends ways to improve tobacco control at the community level. The Guide also offers recommendations about other disease-prevention and health-promotion programs.

Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T.
CDC contributes to the Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T., a Web site that offers research-tested tools and programs for tobacco control, as well as many other resources for the prevention and control of cancer.

Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
CDC's Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity supports states by offering programs that promote a healthy diet. These programs include Fruits and Veggies: More Matters, which encourages people to eat more fruits and vegetables.

Future Directions

During fiscal year 2008, CDC will continue to support and contribute to the activities listed above, and will maintain its lung cancer Web site.

With additional funding, CDC's DCPC would enhance lung cancer surveillance activities, and would evaluate potential research efforts related to 1) lung cancer screening, 2) disparities in health outcomes for different population subgroups, and 3) quality-of-life issues for cancer survivors. Possible areas of investigation in lung cancer screening might include the potential harms of screening (such as false-positive tests and over-diagnosis), and optimal management of screen-detected tumors.