SR 634: Lung Cancer; recognize burden in the United States and State of Georgia; support prevention, early detection, and timely intervention to improve patient outcomes

Senate Resolution 634

By: Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd, Hatchett of the 50th, Burns of the 23rd, Watson of the 1st, Summers of the 13th and others

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the burden of lung cancer in the United States and the State of Georgia; supporting prevention, early detection, and timely intervention to improve patient outcomes; addressing disparities in care; and commending Intuitive for its leadership in advancing lung cancer care through innovations such as the Ion robotic endoluminal system; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, taking the lives of nearly 361 Americans each day and accounting for approximately 125,070 deaths annually-nearly as many deaths as colorectal (53,010), breast (42,780), and prostate (32,520) cancers combined; and

WHEREAS, about every two minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with lung cancer, and close to 227,000 people were expected to be diagnosed in 2024; and

WHEREAS, there are a variety of risk factors associated with lung cancer, including smoking, exposure to radon gas, air pollution, secondhand smoke and military service-related exposure; and

WHEREAS, even non-tobacco users get lung cancer, with approximately 20 percent of new cases occurring in people who have never smoked; and

WHEREAS, veterans have a higher rate of lung cancer and are 25 percent more likely to receive a lung cancer diagnosis compared to the general population; and

WHEREAS, the burden of lung cancer is not distributed equally: people of color, particularly Black and Indigenous Americans, are less likely to be diagnosed early, less likely to receive surgical treatment, and face significantly lower survival rates compared to white Americans; and

WHEREAS, lung cancer has one of the lowest five-year survival rates of all major cancers, largely because cases are frequently diagnosed at later stages, when effective treatment options are limited; and

WHEREAS, the national five-year survival rate after a lung cancer diagnosis is only 29.7 percent, and in Georgia is 26.2 percent-ranking Georgia 30th among 39 states with available data and placing it in the below average tier; and

WHEREAS, only 28.1 percent of lung cancer cases nationally are diagnosed at an early stage, when the five-year survival rate rises to 65 percent; unfortunately, 43.1 percent of cases are diagnosed at a late stage, when survival drops to just 10 percent; and

WHEREAS, in Georgia, only 26.9 percent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed early, which is lower than the national rate and ranks Georgia 38th among the 50 states, placing it in the average tier for early diagnosis; and

WHEREAS, the rate of new lung cancer cases in Georgia is 55.7 per 100,000, higher than the national rate of 52.8 per 100,000 and placing Georgia 29th among all states; and

WHEREAS, surgery is the most effective treatment for early-stage lung cancer that has not spread, yet only about 20.7 percent of cases nationally undergo surgery, with rates similarly low in Georgia, partly due to late diagnosis; and

WHEREAS, early-stage lung cancers present unique clinical challenges, with over 70 percent located in the outer third of the lung, 64 percent in the upper lobes, and 51 percent lacking a leading airway, making them very difficult to reach and biopsy using traditional technology; and

WHEREAS, Intuitive's Ion robotic endoluminal system is designed with the smallest outer diameter in its class, maximizing physician reach into the lung periphery and enabling minimally invasive biopsies of small, hard-to-reach nodules, thereby empowering clinicians to overcome anatomical challenges and achieve more accurate, earlier diagnoses; and

WHEREAS, Ion has the potential to improve survival rates and reduce overall healthcare costs by increasing the number of patients who can be diagnosed at an early and treatable stage; and

WHEREAS, expanding access to cutting-edge technology like Ion and the da Vinci surgical system supports Georgia healthcare teams, including those serving active military and veterans, in their fight against lung cancer, benefits patients regardless of risk factors, and aligns with statewide commitments to elevate patient care and address health disparities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize lung cancer as a critical public health concern and support efforts to improve prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and intervention, while addressing disparities in care and outcomes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members commend Intuitive for its leadership and innovation in advancing lung cancer diagnostic care through the Ion robotic endoluminal system and surgical care through the da Vinci surgical system. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Intuitive.