Inspiring lung cancer patients
through clinical research
Lung cancer is Australia's biggest cancer killer
Your donation to TOGA clinical trials and research can discover life-saving treatments and improve survival for lung cancer and mesothelioma patients.
Lung cancer is the 5th most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia but more people die from lung cancer than any other cancer.
The other 4 most commonly diagnosed cancers (breast, prostate, colorectal and melanoma) have benefited enormously from research and now all enjoy a median 5 year survival rate over 65%. But 5 years after diagnosis just 17.8% of lung cancer patients are alive (1).
How do clinical trials help lung cancer patients?
Clinical trials lead to discoveries that will change the outcome of a lung cancer diagnosis. Over the last decade the following discoveries from international clinical trials have changed the story for many with a lung cancer diagnosis:
- Targeted therapies have provided a novel and more effective initial treatment option than chemotherapy for those that express a ‘druggable’ target. Patients on these treatments can live for many years, relatively free of treatment side effects.
- Immunotherapy restores and recruits the patient’s own immune system to fight the lung cancer, allowing many patients to live longer than they used to following a lung cancer diagnosis
- Inclusion of palliative care improves the quality of patients’ lives and can give more time with loved ones
- Screening with annual low dose CT scan rather than chest x-ray reduces deaths due to lung cancer amongst current and former heavy smokers
Although lung cancer patients are living for longer than they used to, most patients will die prematurely and lung cancer is still the cancer that kills the most Australians. More clinical trials are needed to save lives.
What types of clinical trials does TOGA conduct?
TOGA’s clinical trials follow on from these significant discoveries to:
- Answer further questions that matter for both patients and doctors when treating patients with these new drugs and changes in practice
- Provide expanded treatment options, often by providing access to an effective drug or test that does not yet have marketing approval or is not yet reimbursed in the Australian or New Zealand environments
Read more about TOGA’s research
How does TOGA design and conduct their lung cancer clinical trials?
Members come up with ideas for clinical trials in their own time, and then other members from all the specialities involved in treating lung cancer and lung cancer patients, help to develop those ideas into a full clinical trial and open it at their hospitals so it is available all over Australia and New Zealand. Bringing together many of the top researchers, patients and doctors ensures that the clinical trials are developed into a design that benefits everyone.
But clinical trials are really expensive to run, so at the moment they need to be funded by grants or other means. With a fast-growing membership already over 200 people, there’s no shortage of good clinical trial ideas that can change lung cancer patients’ lives, but not all good ideas turn into clinical trials due to lack of funding. Limited funding also sometimes means that not all clinical trials can open at all hospitals.
Where does my donation go?
Your donation will be used to support clinical trial activities which help to discover better ways to diagnose, treat and support people with lung cancer and mesothelioma.
How can I donate to TOGA?
- One time donation
- Recurring donation (e.g monthly)
If you would like to make a gift in memory, please contact us on info@thoraciconcology.org.au
References
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2021). Cancer data in Australia. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia
