The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable strategic plan: Addressing planning for lung cancer interventions at the state and local level through the creation of the National Lung Cancer Roundtable Planning Tool

Abstract

Background

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for approximately 20% of cancer deaths nationwide. Despite national guidelines, uptake of lung cancer interventions varies across states because of differences in resources, insurance, policies, and infrastructure. Coalitions need a state-specific, web-based tool to develop targeted strategies. The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable recognized this gap and prioritized the development of a web-based State-Based Initiatives (SBI) Planning Tool to help coalitions personalize and streamline lung cancer efforts.

Methods

The SBI Task Group convened public health leaders, health care professionals, policymakers, and patient advocates to design a centralized, user-friendly tool. Inspired by the American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s Guide to the Development of State-Level Colorectal Cancer Coalitions, the team iteratively refined the SBI Planning Tool through beta testing cycles, ensuring accessibility and relevance.

Results

The final SBI Planning Tool is a customizable, web-based platform in which coalitions develop action plans using state-specific data, interactive resources, and best practices. Key functionalities allow users to explore state-specific factors, such as existing lung cancer programs, coalition-building strategies, and policy environments, supporting a structured yet flexible approach to improving lung cancer outcomes.

Conclusions

The SBI Planning Tool represents a critical advancement in lung cancer control, offering an adaptable framework for states to strengthen their interventions based on real-world conditions. This tool equips state and local leaders with the resources needed to drive meaningful change, reduce disparities, and improve lung cancer prevention, screening, and treatment efforts nationwide.