By Move Against Cancer Africa (MACA)
Accra, Ghana | January 31 – February 1, 2025
The 2025 Pan-African Conference on Lung Cancer, hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), marked a historic moment as the organisation’s first multidisciplinary lung cancer conference held in Sub-Saharan Africa. From January 31 to February 1, leading experts, patient advocates, researchers, and healthcare professionals gathered in Accra, Ghana, to confront the rising burden of lung cancer in Africa.
Move Against Cancer Africa (MACA) was honoured to participate in this event and contribute to discussions and workshops aimed at strengthening lung cancer care and advocacy across the continent.
Key Highlights
Clinical Trials and Research Capacity
The Clinical Trials Workshop emphasised the importance of strong research protocols, skilled teams, and regulatory support. Kenya’s experience revealed that more people now die from cancer than infectious diseases, underscoring the need for increased research capacity in African countries.
Empowering Advocacy through Patient Voices
The Patient Advocacy Workshop was one of the most impactful sessions. Introduced by Mr. Caleb Egwuenu of Move Against Cancer Africa (MACA), the workshop focused on storytelling, grassroots activism, and collective action. U.S.-based lung cancer survivor and advocate Jill Feldman emphasised that advocacy is not only about raising awareness, but about driving long-term, systemic change. She shared strategies for building trust, amplifying community voices, and sustaining advocacy momentum.
Participants also discussed the unique challenges faced in African countries and explored how collaboration and communication can improve access to care.
Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy
Scientific sessions on the second day focused on improving lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. Experts highlighted that accurate tissue diagnosis is essential, especially when imaging results are unclear. Techniques such as bronchoscopy, CT-guided biopsy, endobronchial ultrasound, and surgical biopsy were discussed in detail.
The conference also addressed the problem of misdiagnosing lung cancer as tuberculosis. Participants stressed the need for more awareness among both patients and physicians to reduce delayed or incorrect diagnoses. Multidisciplinary collaboration was identified as a key strategy for improving patient outcomes.
Multidisciplinary Treatment and Care
Sessions on systemic therapy and multidisciplinary care emphasised the importance of collaboration between pulmonologists, oncologists, surgeons, and pathologists. Discussions highlighted common challenges, such as financial barriers, poor referral systems, and limited diagnostic infrastructure. These challenges must be addressed to provide comprehensive and timely care for lung cancer patients in Africa.
Next Steps and Recommendations
MACA is committed to the following priorities:
- Increase lung cancer awareness in communities and online
- Support data collection and reporting to support advocacy and inform policy
- Support curriculum reform by partnering with institutions to update training on lung cancer diagnosis and care
- Strengthen partnerships with NGOs and professional networks across Africa for greater impact
- Train and empower patient advocates through workshops, toolkits, and webinars
Conclusion
The 2025 Pan African Conference on Lung Cancer was a powerful step forward in the fight against lung cancer in Africa. It fostered collaboration, knowledge exchange, and bold thinking. For MACA, it reaffirmed our mission and expanded our vision of an Africa where cancer is no longer considered a death sentence.
