American Lung Association report shows North Dakota leads nation for lung cancer treatment

(Fargo, ND) -- A new report from The American Lung Association shows good news for North Dakota.  

"Again this year, as I recall last year also North Dakota ranked first for treating lung cancer in this report. We don't have the direct, and here's you know, here's all the things that lead to that because there are other pieces of the report that say oh, but screening, they weren't top in screening," said Pat McKone, Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the American Lung Association.  

Specifically, the ranking indicates that on a per capita basis, the state has the highest percentage of people being diagnosed with lung cancer actually receiving treatment. 

McKone says another highlight from the report shows North Dakota ranks 7th nationally when it comes to screening for lung cancer, with a screening rate of 10.1 percent. Nationally, the report shows bad news for screening. Only 5.8 percent of those at highest risk for lung cancer are getting screened. To learn more about screening for lung cancer, visit savedbythescan.org.