Join us on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 10:00 am (Washington D.C. time or EST) on the webinar "Lung Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment". This is the third session of the new Cancer Prevention and Control Webinar Series, scheduled for 2026, organized by PAHO in partnership with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Although largely preventable through effective tobacco control, environmental risk reduction, and early detection among high‑risk populations, lung cancer remains a major and growing public health challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the region and the leading cause of cancer‑related mortality. Despite advances in prevention and treatment, lung cancer continues to be diagnosed at advanced stages, contributing to poor survival outcomes. While incidence rates are higher in North America, mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean remains similarly high, reflecting persistent inequities in access to early diagnosis, timely treatment, and comprehensive cancer care. The burden of lung cancer underscores the urgent need to strengthen tobacco control policies, expand access to early detection strategies, and ensure equitable, high‑quality care across the region.
Objectives of the webinar:
- Present the current situation of lung cancer in the Region.
- Present the latest evidence on lung cancer screening.
- Present management protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
How to participate
- DATE: Thursday, October 29, 2026
- TIME: 10:00 a.m. (Washington, D.C. time or EST) [Check at the end of the page the time in other cities]
- LANGUAGES: Spanish and English, with simultaneous interpretation in those languages
- REGISTER: https://paho-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eoqz2BB0QECP2NwCzjTtbg#/registration
Agenda
Moderator: Mauricio Maza, PAHO
- 10:00 a.m. - Welcome remarks.
- Anselm Hennis, PAHO
- 10:05 a.m. - Lung Cancer in the PAHO Region
- Sara Benitez, PAHO
- 10:20 a.m. - Latest Evidence on Lung Cancer Screening
- Andre Carvalho, Deputy Branch Head, Early Detection, Prevention and Infections
- 10:35 a.m. - Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines
- Robert Smith, Senior Vice President, Cancer Screening, ACS
- 10:50 a.m. - ASCO’s Guidelines for Treatment for Lung Cancer
- Lyudmila Bazhenova, co-chair of ASCO’s Lung Cancer Guideline Panel
- 11:05 a.m. - Experience of Lung Research in Latin-American region
- Luis Corrales
- 11:20 a.m. - Closing remarks
- Silvana Luciani, PAHO
About the Cancer Prevention and Control Webinar Series
The collaboration between PAHO, ASCO, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center will bring together globally recognized clinical and research expertise to strengthen country capacities in screening, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of priority cancers, including prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer. These institutions will support the development of evidence‑based content, contribute expert presenters, and align topics with the latest scientific guidance. In addition, the series will feature guest speakers from IARC, ACS, IGCS, NCI, and other organizations, ensuring a comprehensive and multidisciplinary perspective. Together, these contributions will help deliver high‑quality, regionally relevant information tailored to the needs of ministries of health and cancer control programs across the Americas. In the first webinar, we will discuss prostate cancer.
- Webinar 1: Prostate Cancer
- Webinar 2: Colorectal Cancer
Time in other cities
- 7:00 am – Los Angeles, Vancouver.
- 8:00 a.m. – Belmopan, Guatemala City, Mexico City, Managua, San Salvador, San Jose (Costa Rica), Tegucigalpa.
- 9:00 a.m. - Bogota, Kingston, Lima, Panama City, Quito
- 10:00 a.m. - Bridgetown, Caracas, Castries, Georgetown, Havana, La Paz, Nassau, Ottawa, Port of Spain, Port-au-Prince, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Saint George's, Saint John's (Antigua), Santiago, Washington D.C.
- 11:00 am – Asunción, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Montevideo, Paramaribo.
- 4:00 p.m. – Geneva, Madrid.
For other cities, check the local times in the following link.