The 7th Lung Cancer Europe Report on Lung Cancer

From the first signs and symptoms through to diagnosis, treatment, support and follow-up, the lung cancer care pathway should be timely, clear and built around the person.

This Lung Cancer Europe report examines how people diagnosed with lung cancer experienced each stage of care across Europe. It looks at delays, communication, treatment decisions, access to support and what people said would improve their care.

Between May and July 2022, 991 people diagnosed with lung cancer from 25 countries in the WHO European Region completed the survey. The report also includes case studies based on responses from 24 lung cancer experts in the Netherlands and Romania, showing how challenges can differ between healthcare systems.

What the report covers

The findings fall into three main areas.

Diagnosis: the time between first symptoms, seeking medical advice, referral to a lung specialist, diagnosis and the start of treatment. The report also examines what could help people receive an earlier and more accurate diagnosis.

Treatment: how treatment decisions were made, whether people received clear information and understood informed consent, and the difficulties they experienced during surgery, radiotherapy and drug treatment.

Support and follow-up: whether physical, emotional and social needs were addressed, access to supportive services, communication with healthcare teams and the information people received after active treatment.

Some of what we found

Delays were common at several points in the lung cancer care pathway. Four in ten people waited more than one month after first experiencing symptoms before contacting a doctor. More than four in ten did not start treatment within one month of diagnosis.

People wanted a faster and clearer diagnostic process. More than eight in ten supported fast-track services to reduce waiting times. Almost three quarters wanted a named healthcare professional they could contact directly, while 72.1% wanted a clear roadmap explaining the diagnostic process.

Only 52.7% said they had received and understood all the information they needed before signing an informed consent document. The information people most wanted when making treatment decisions covered the available options, their advantages and disadvantages, and possible side effects and risks.

More than one in three said their overall support needs had not been addressed well enough. Emotional needs were the area most often overlooked. Among people who had completed active treatment, 85.3% said they had missed information or support, particularly about signs that the cancer may have returned and managing the longer-term effects of lung cancer and its treatment.

What we are calling for

The report calls for rapid referral pathways that reduce the time between suspected lung cancer, diagnosis and treatment.

It also calls for targeted lung cancer screening programmes and greater public awareness of screening across Europe.

Healthcare teams should provide complete and understandable information about lung cancer, treatment options and possible side effects. People should have the information and support they need to take part in decisions about their care and manage the effects of treatment.