Proclaiming the Second Week in May 2026 to Be "Lung Cancer Action Week" in the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, The American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative has been working since 2014 to ensure that fewer people are diagnosed with lung cancer and those living with the disease live longer; and

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

WHEREAS, Lung cancer screening saves lives, and advocacy and increased awareness will result in more high-risk individuals obtaining recommended screening; and

WHEREAS, One in 16 men and one in 17 women in the United States will develop lung cancer during their lifetimes, and approximately 62 to 84 percent of high-risk adults are not familiar with lung cancer screening and the low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan; and

WHEREAS, Each year, more women die from lung cancer than from breast cancer, cervical cancer and ovarian cancer combined; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 10 to 20 percent of lung cancers are unrelated to smoking, and the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed in individuals who have never smoked is increasing in the United States. The 5-year survival rate for localized lung cancer is 61 to 65 percent, yet a majority of lung cancers are diagnosed at a distant stage, for which the 5-year survival rate is 7 to 10 percent, and

WHEREAS, Screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can detect lung cancer in its earliest stages and ultimately save lives, yet only 3 to 6 percent of high-risk individuals in the United States undergo lung cancer screening; and

WHEREAS, Veterans are 25 percent more likely to develop lung cancer compared to the general public, and although approximately 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 veterans have an elevated risk of lung cancer and are eligible for screening, less than 3 percent of veterans receive appropriate screening; and

WHEREAS, Black men have the highest incidence of lung cancer and the highest mortality rate from lung cancer in the United States, and non-White individuals are 15 percent less likely to be diagnosed early; and

WHEREAS, Lung cancer research is leading to breakthroughs in biomarker identification and the development of immunotherapies and targeted therapies that are highly effective for some cancer subtypes, yet accessing cutting-edge diagnostic testing can be difficult. Public support for research funding will result in new treatments and better methods of early detection; and

WHEREAS, LUNG FORCE is a national initiative led by the American Lung Association to defeat lung cancer; and

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

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby designates the second week in May 2026 as "Lung Cancer Action Week" throughout the state in order to promote efforts to increase awareness of lung cancer education, research on mitigation of risk factors, lung cancer screening, treatment, and issues affecting minorities and individuals who have never smoked. This House also encourages the people of Rhode Island to observe "Lung Cancer Action Week" with appropriate educational activities to learn more about lung cancer, its risk factors, early detection, and the best ways to take preemptive action; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the American Lung Association.