National Minority Quality Forum launches novel resource to map lung cancer prevalence estimates

Feb 5 2011

77% of all lung cancer cases reside in less than 20% of all zip codes

In recognition of World Cancer Day, the National Minority Quality Forum today launched the Lung Cancer Atlas (http://www.maplungcancer.com). This novel resource enables users to map lung cancer prevalence estimates and total counts at the zip-code level for the United States as well as for individual states, federal and state legislative districts.  In addition to mapping lung cancer prevalence estimates overall, the atlas maps lung cancer by age, gender, and race/ethnicity (Source: National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program).

Lung cancer is not only the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, but also disproportionately affects certain race/ethnic groups and geographical areas more than others. The Lung Cancer Atlas provides a compelling reference source for defining the disease at the community level.  A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supports the findings released in the atlas; namely, that the highest lung cancer prevalence rates are found in the South and Midwest.

"We are introducing the lung cancer atlas to assist health-care practitioners, policy makers, advocacy groups, and researchers not only to identify and quantify lung cancer by race/ethnicity, age, and gender, but also to help inform where preventive care, clinical trials, access to care, and educational support are needed most," stated Gary Puckrein, PhD, CEO of the National Minority Quality Forum.  

Dr. Puckrein noted that "we are hopeful that having the tools to define lung cancer prevalence by population segment and by location will help to identify the underlying factors that may be promoting higher lung cancer rates, particularly among African Americans and other high risk groups.   And while prevention is the best cure, targeted educational efforts may begin to reduce the variations we are seeing in lung cancer prevalence geographically."

The lung cancer atlas was developed with financial support from Pfizer, Inc.

SOURCE National Minority Quality Forum