New State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan Analysis

These plans include area-specific data about the most common types of cancer and mortality rates. The states or organizations develop strategies to create a blueprint for action. The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that state cancer plans have overarching goals, measurable outcomes towards these goals, identified strategies to advance them, and a plan for evaluating the outcomes. The CDC also recommends stakeholder involvement and a commitment to reducing cancer disparities.

In an analysis of all state CCC plans, GO2 for Lung Cancer identified plans with gaps in lung cancer-specific objectives and strategies and plans that included best practice language. State plans were evaluated on the following 10 key criteria that address the burden of lung cancer and are consistent with best practice criteria included in the Centers of Excellence designation program. Plans were then given a weighted average, CCC Lung Plan Score, based on the findings. The plans were evaluated on the following inclusion criteria::

• lung cancer-specific goals and objectives*
• up-to-date or within a current plan cycle
• current United States Preventive Taskforce (USPSTF) lung cancer screening recommendation*
• lung cancer-specific biomarker testing for treatment*
• smoking cessation goals or aims and resources
• risk factors other than smoking (radon, secondhand smoke, environmental, occupational exposures)
• lung cancer disparities*
• information on clinical trials
• information on palliative and hospice care
• person-first language, as defined by the ACS Inclusivity Language Guide

*These criteria were weighted double because they are specific to lung cancer.

Check out the map above to see how your state plan compares.

The analysis showed more than half (>50%) of state plans did not include current criteria recommended by the USPSTF (2021), close to 90% of plans do not include information on lung cancer biomarker testing, and a surprising 18% of plans omitted lung cancer screening as an objective or goal.