The more information that is collected about patients just like you, the closer we get to finding new and better therapies so that all survivors can live longer, better, stronger lives.
Some areas of study that your information could help with include:
Cause – From gene changes and biomarkers to environmental hazards, lung cancer has many causes.
Who will do well on which therapy – Because lung cancer is associated with a number of biomarkers, researchers are increasingly able to identify which therapeutic agents work best for which subgroups of patients.
Management of side effects – Each patient experiences a given drug or therapy differently, but a number of recent studies focus on quality of life and levels of toxicity with newer therapies. These studies provide big-picture connections among patients and create more accurate expectations, for doctors and patients alike, about what types of side effects can be expected. This allows patients to make more informed decisions about therapy.
Survivorship – As more people are living longer with lung cancer, the Registry is helping researchers understand what it means to live “better.” By learning about the challenges that people within the lung cancer community face—from long-term side effects to sexual health—researchers can work to provide meaningful solutions in the forms of new therapies, improved supportive care, and even better doctor–patient communication.