WHEREAS, Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among individuals in the California and the United States, accounting for more deaths than colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined; and

WHEREAS, Ninety percent of the 66,835 deaths among Californians diagnosed with lung cancer from 2014 to 2019, inclusive, were attributable to cigarette smoking, despite California’s robust prevention program, which is attributed to accelerating the decline in lung cancer rates faster than the rest of the United States. California has the second highest number of new lung cancer cases and second highest number of annual lung cancer deaths in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Early detection is critical in improving lung cancer mortality. In California, the overall five-year survival rate for all stages of lung cancer is 25.2 percent. With earlier detection, the five-year survival rates for localized stage (64.8 percent) are far better than distant stage diagnoses (8.3 percent); and

WHEREAS, Significant health disparities exist for lung cancer survival for all racial and ethnic groups. American Indians (46.8 out of 100,000) and Black Californians (43 out of 100,000) have the highest incidence of lung cancer, as well as the highest mortality rate from lung cancer (55.5 out of 100,000 for American Indians and 29.5 out of 100,000 for Black Californians). All racial and ethnic groups have more late-stage diagnoses and fewer local diagnoses than non-Hispanic White individuals; and

WHEREAS, Since 2013, both the American Cancer Society and the United States Preventive Services Task Force have recommended lung cancer screening using a low dose computed tomography as a safe and effective method to detect lung cancer in its earliest stages and ultimately save lives from lung cancer, and this screening procedure is covered by most insurance plans, including Medi-Cal; and

WHEREAS, Anyone between 50 to 80 years of age who is currently smoking or has smoked in the past, is considered higher risk, and should discuss their eligibility for this screening with their health care provider, and people who still smoke should be offered cessation support; and

WHEREAS, Based on the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey data, the American Cancer Society estimates that the number of Californians who should be screened annually for lung cancer is about 850,000. However, less than 1 percent of individuals in California at high risk for lung cancer undergo lung cancer screening; and

WHEREAS, California’s successful tobacco prevention program, which includes cessation services and programs in every county to support tobacco prevention, has contributed to California’s lower smoking rate; and

WHEREAS, California has a free state quitline, Kickitca.org, and other local support to help people stop using tobacco and recover from nicotine addiction, which is a key treatment to improve the health of people with or without cancer. When high-quality lung cancer screening is combined with sustained tobacco abstinence, lung cancer mortality can be reduced by nearly 40 percent; and

WHEREAS, According to a 2022 study, nearly 70 percent of adults are not familiar with lung cancer screening and the low-dose computed tomography scan; and

WHEREAS, Educational efforts can increase awareness of lung cancer and lung cancer screening among the general public, patients and their families, and health care workers, thereby increasing the early detection of lung cancer; now, therefore, be it