About the Initiative
In December 2006, the MCC Board of Directors approved appointment of an Ad Hoc Lung Cancer Early Detection Workgroup to review the current science regarding early detection of lung cancer using CT (computer tomography) scans.

An internationally recognized lung cancer expert, who was a member of the MCC Board, volunteered to co-chair the ad-hoc committee. The MCC Lung Cancer Early Detection Workgroup convened statewide experts from radiology, medical oncology, the Michigan Association of Health Plans, epidemiology, the Michigan Academy of Family Practice, nursing, and public health to discuss the current science and consider the development of position statements for healthcare providers and consumers.

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Impetus for the Collaboration
The Oct. 26, 2006 issues of the NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine) included results of a 12-year international research study (1993-2005) entitled the Early Lung Cancer Action Project (ELCAP), which reported an estimated survival rate of 88 percent for persons with clinical Stage I lung cancer diagnosed as a result of annual CT Screening. As a result, the findings in this report produced questions and controversy for both healthcare providers and consumers. Guidance was needed to address the relevant public health concerns.

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Results
Development of two evidence-based position statements — one for healthcare providers and one for consumers. The position statements provide a reliable and evidence-based resource to address questions and concerns resulting from the ELCAP (Early Lung Cancer Action Project) research publication.

Position statements are posted on the MCC Web site, available to the public as free downloads 24 hours/day, seven days a week. This provides easy access for dissemination and distribution statewide to all of our 100 MCC organizations.

The use of electronic and telephonic communication, supplemented by the U.S. Postal delivery service, demonstrated both cost-effective and time-efficient methods to convene a dialogue with statewide expert stakeholders.

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Lessons Learned
Given pre-determined timelines, clear expectations for expected outcomes, attention to detail, responsive leadership interaction with the workgroup, and use of modern electronic communication technology, expert stakeholders have the ability to respond to new research publications and develop meaningful position statements that provide public health guidance in a cost-effective and time efficient manner.

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Collaborating Partners

• John C. Ruckdeschel, MD (Co-Chair), Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute/Wayne State University
• Gregory P. Kalemkerian (Co-Chair), University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Kevin Berger, MD, Michigan State University Radiology Department
• William C. Granger, MD, MS, Blue Care Network
• Timothy Tobolic, MD, Michigan Academy of Family Physicians
• Teri Scorcia-Wilson, MPH, Tobacco Section, Michigan Department of Community Health
• May Yassine, PhD, Cancer Epidemiologist, Michigan Public Health Institute
• Carol Garlinghouse, MSN, RN, Michigan Public Health Institute
• Debra Kimball, MSN, RN, Cancer Prevention and Control Section, Michigan Department of Community Health

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Learn More
The position statements developed by this workgroup are available online at www.michigancancer.org/WhatWeDo/positionstatements-lungcancerscrng.cfm.

For more information about this project, please contact Polly Hager, MSN, RN at hagerp@michigan.gov or 517-335-9729.

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last updated: 12/04/07

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