Lung cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer and the deadliest worldwide, claiming 1.8 million lives annually—more than colorectal and liver cancers combined and nearly triple the toll of breast cancer. Experts now warn that, without urgent action, deaths from lung cancer could rise by 30% by 2035.
In response, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is backing a groundbreaking resolution titled “Promoting and prioritising an integrated lung health approach” at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva this May. The resolution, co-sponsored by 14 countries including Malaysia, Japan, and Egypt, seeks to put lung cancer and overall lung health at the forefront of global health policy.
“This resolution is an opportunity to change that by recognising lung cancer as part of a broader commitment to integrated lung health,” said Yannick Romero, Senior Manager of Knowledge, Advocacy and Policy at UICC.
The proposed resolution urges governments to implement comprehensive lung health policies that are embedded in primary healthcare, ensure universal access to screening and treatment, improve air quality standards, reduce exposure to known environmental and occupational risks, and confront stigma associated with lung diseases.
Key provisions also include:
- Strengthening indoor and outdoor air quality regulations
- Addressing tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure
- Improving access to essential diagnostics, medicines, and vaccines
- Enhancing data collection and monitoring through WHO-supported frameworks
- Prioritising early detection and equitable treatment options
Lung cancer is largely preventable, with smoking and air pollution being the primary drivers. Tobacco alone is linked to over two-thirds of lung cancer deaths globally, while air pollution contributes to roughly a third. Yet, despite this, only 12% of national cancer control plans include actionable lung cancer screening strategies.
With World No Tobacco Day on 31 May and World Environment Day following on 5 June, UICC and its partners are calling for increased attention to prevention. Effective policies such as tobacco taxation, smoke-free public spaces, curbs on youth-targeted marketing, and environmental protection standards are proven to reduce risk.
The resolution also acknowledges the role of emerging treatments, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies, which have significantly improved outcomes but are most effective when the disease is caught early. Low-dose CT screening for high-risk populations remains underutilised globally, especially in low-resource settings where barriers to implementation persist.
Cary Adams, UICC CEO, described the resolution as “an important step toward a long-term, integrated approach to lung health, centred on prevention, equitable access and sustainability.”
Further supporting this global shift is the Lung Cancer Collaboration (LCC), an initiative spearheaded by UICC since 2023. The LCC aims to double lung cancer’s five-year survival rate by 2030 through international coordination in prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment access.
UICC member organisations worldwide—including the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), LUNGevity Foundation (USA), Lung Connect India, and WALCE onlus (Italy)—are contributing to this mission through research, advocacy, and patient engagement.
Meanwhile, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is developing a Lung Cancer Screening Handbook with input from LCC, offering evidence-based policy recommendations to aid national implementation strategies.
As governments prepare to debate the resolution at the WHA, health advocates hope it will mark a pivotal turning point for global lung health—and help reverse the trajectory of the world’s deadliest cancer.
