Lung cancer is New Zealand's most common cause of cancer death, with approximately 2,500 deaths annually. Māori have significantly higher lung cancer incidence and mortality. Despite the introduction of immunotherapy, outcomes remain poor for most patients. This guide covers the key funding sources.
Cancer Society NZ funds lung cancer services:
- Regional support for lung cancer patients
- Smoking cessation programmes (smoking is the major risk factor)
- Research contribution
- Community education and awareness
Lung Foundation NZ focuses on lung cancer and respiratory health:
- Research funding
- Patient advocacy
- Lung cancer awareness
- Low-dose CT (LDCT) screening advocacy
Health system lung cancer:
- Respiratory medicine: Diagnosis — bronchoscopy, CT-guided biopsy
- Medical oncology: Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy
- Radiation oncology: SBRT (stereotactic body radiotherapy) for early stage
- Thoracic surgery: Lobectomy and minimally invasive surgery for operable disease
- Palliative care: Symptom management for advanced lung cancer
Pharmac funds lung cancer treatment:
- Pembrolizumab: Funded for first-line PD-L1 high non-small cell lung cancer
- Nivolumab: Funded for second-line treatment
- Osimertinib: EGFR-mutant lung cancer (targeted therapy)
- Chemotherapy: Multiple funded regimens
HRC funds lung cancer research:
- Clinical trials
- Translational research
- Epidemiology and prevention
LDCT screening for high-risk smokers:
- Not yet funded nationally in NZ: Advocacy ongoing for LDCT screening programme
- High-risk population: Heavy smokers aged 50-74
- Early detection: Catching lung cancer at operable stage
This is a major advocacy gap — lung cancer screening would shift diagnoses to earlier, operable stages.
Smoking as primary cause:
- Quitline NZ: Free quit smoking support
- Pharmac-funded NRT: Nicotine replacement therapy funded
- Smokefree NZ 2025: Goal of <5% smoking prevalence
- Community health: Smoking cessation in primary health
Gaming trusts fund lung cancer community services:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community health
- Grassroots Trust: Community health
- Pub Charity: Community health events
- Lion Foundation: Community health
Gaming trust lung cancer applications:
- Support group events and peer support
- Smoking cessation resources
- Patient transport to treatment
- Financial hardship assistance
Māori experience the highest lung cancer burden:
- Higher smoking rates: Driving higher lung cancer incidence
- Late diagnosis: Māori diagnosed at more advanced stage
- Smokefree equity: Targeted smoking cessation for Māori
- Te Puni Kōkiri: Māori cancer health equity investment
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Smoking cessation: Quit rates in people who smoke
- Equity: Māori and Pacific smoking and lung cancer outcomes
- Early detection: LDCT screening advocacy and access
- Patient support: Peer support and navigation during treatment
- Research: Clinical trial access and scientific quality
- Palliative care: Symptom management and quality of life
- Financial hardship: Practical support for patients during treatment
Tahua's grants management platform helps lung cancer organisations manage grant applications across Cancer Society NZ, Te Whatu Ora, HRC, gaming trusts, and health foundations, tracking screening, support, research, and equity outcomes.