The American Lung Association released a report Tuesday with a perhaps surprising dichotomy: Survival rates of lung cancer are improving in Maryland, but cancer screenings are lagging statewide.

The 2023 “State of Lung Cancer” report reveals that Maryland ranks 36th in the nation for lung cancer screening., highlighting an area for the state in which more work is needed to reduce the rates of lung cancer.

“Thankfully, in Maryland, the lung cancer survival rate has improved because of increased awareness, improved access to healthcare and cutting-edge research into new treatments for the disease,” said Aleks Casper, director of Advocacy, MD, at the American Lung Association. “However, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths here in Maryland and across the nation, and our recent report makes it clear that we have more work to do to focus on lung cancer screening and make sure that no one is left behind in efforts to improve lung cancer survival.”

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Where do Lower Shore, Washington County rank?

Key findings for Maryland in the new report include the state being ranked above average for:

• surgery as first course of treatment as 7th out of 47 states measured;
• 11th out of 42 states measured for five-year survival rates;
• and 14th out of 47 states measured for overall treatment.

Demographically In Maryland, Asian or Pacific Islanders are least likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer early at 12% less likely than white individuals at 21.7%. Overall, the five-year lung cancer survival rate for people of color has increased by 17% in the last two years, helping close the health disparity gap.

On the Eastern Shore, Wicomico County had an average of 28 new annual cases of lung cancer from 2016 to 2022. Worcester County had an average 16 cases, and Somerset County had an average 8 cases according to the National Cancer Insititute. The silver lining is that in these three areas, the totals were either stable or falling.

Washington County had an annual average of 42 cases during that period. Overall, Maryland had 14,726 annual cases of all types for cancer in that same time span.

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Currently, the national association is backing the effort to get members of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 4286, the Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act, which would expand coverage for tobacco cessation in the federal payment program, including counseling and medication-assisted treatment.

The Great Americal Smokeout and the Eastern Shore

The Great American Smokeout Day returns on Nov. 16. The event challenges people to stop smoking and helps people learn about the many tools they can use to help them quit. The Worcester County Health Department has many resources available to youth and adults for support in quitting smoking or vaping.

“The Great American Smokeout offers people trying to quit smoking or vaping the support they need by knowing that other smokers are also giving up cigarettes and vaping on the same day. This is an annual event that encourages smokers to make a plan to quit smoking,” said Crystal Bell, Chronic Disease and Tobacco Supervisor at the Worcester County Health Department.

To help county residents in their attempt to be smoke-free, the Worcester County Health Department will be distributing Quit Smoking Kits to several locations, including the Snow Hill Health Center, Worcester County Dental Clinic, the WACS Center, Worcester County government and Roads offices, Atlantic General Hospital and Chesapeake Healthcare for patients and clients.

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County residents can also contact the health department to receive an additional Tobacco resource kit. All kits will be mailed upon requests.

For its part, Wicomico County will also hold events for the Great American Smokeout, and the county health department is offering stop smoking kits at the following locations:

• Apple Discount Drugs, 404A N. Fruitland Blvd., Fruitland;
• Apple Discount Drugs, 1210 Nanticoke Rd. Unit 11, Salisbury;
• Lower Shore Friends, 207 Maryland Ave. #5, Salisbury;
• Chesapeake Health Care, 1665 Woodbrooke Drive, Salisbury.

To help people stop smoking, the Wicomico County Health Department offers a virtual group class each Thursday at noon. The program features free education, support and stop smoking medications including nicotine replacement patches or nicotine lozenges. Anyone who lives or works in Wicomico County may participate.

The Wicomico Tobacco Program also offers worksite and community stop smoking classes and counseling over the phone, including for pregnant women.

Delaware and smoking trends

According to the report, Delaware ranks 12th in the nation for early lung cancer survival.

The report also found that Delaware ranked 18th for lung cancer screening and 10th for early diagnosis, but finds that Black individuals in the state are least likely to be diagnosed early, at a rate 20% less likely than white individuals.

“Thankfully, in Delaware, the lung cancer survival rate has improved because of increased awareness, improved access to healthcare and cutting-edge research into new treatments for the disease,” said Deborah Brown, Chief Mission Officer at the American Lung Association.

The state ranks 27th out of 48 states examined in the nation for rate of new lung cancer cases at 57.4% per 100,000 people, which is 32% better over a five-year period. The national rate is 54.6% per 100,000. “The First State” is also 12th out of 42 states studied in the nation for survival at 28.3%, marking a 31% improvement over the past five years.

The national rate of people alive five years after a lung cancer diagnosis is 26.6%. Finally, it’s 10th out of 47 states listed in the national data for early diagnosis at 28.4%. Nationally, only 26.6% of cases are diagnosed at an early stage, when the survival rate is much higher.

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