Congressman Langworthy and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Highlight Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention; Tour Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Unit

BLASDELL, NY — Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and leadership of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center — President & CEO Dr. Candace S. Johnson and Dr. Mary Reid, Director of Cancer Screening and Survivorship — teamed up to highlight federal legislation to expand lung cancer research and prevention. In front of the EDDY (Early Detection Driven to You), Roswell Park’s state-of-the-art mobile lung cancer screening unit, they also urged the community to take advantage of available screening services and underscored the life-saving importance of early detection.

Congressman Langworthy discussed two key bipartisan bills he is co-sponsoring to cut through red tape and improve lung cancer prevention efforts. First, the Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act of 2023 (H.R. 6693) would allow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to cover FDA-approved lung cancer screening tests without additional review, ensuring faster access to life-saving screenings for seniors. 

Second, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2024 (H.R. 4534) directs the Department of Health and Human Services to assess lung cancer in women, identify research gaps, and recommend a national prevention and screening strategy as diagnoses among non-smoking women continue to rise.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in America, and it doesn’t discriminate—affecting men, women, smokers, and non-smokers alike. Sadly, only 6% of eligible New Yorkers have had a lung cancer screening.

“Roswell Park is leading the charge in cancer prevention and research, bringing hope to patients and families across Western New York and the Southern Tier through their commitment to early detection and innovative programs like EDDY that are making a real difference in our fight against lung cancer,” said Congressman Langworthy. “I'm proud to be their partner at the federal level, advocating for bipartisan legislation that will support their mission by expanding access to life-saving screenings and providing resources for research to advance prevention and treatment.”

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center President & CEO Dr. Candace S. Johnson emphasized their advocacy efforts to work with federal lawmakers to increase access to critical screenings and drive research efforts, as well as their commitment to reaching underserved communities through mobile screening units like EDDY.

“We thank Congressman Langworthy for championing impactful legislation that will help patients nationwide. Together, we’re expanding access to care and reaching more high-risk individuals throughout our region, with the potential to save hundreds of lives each year,”said Roswell Park President & CEO Candace S. Johnson, PhD. 

Watch the full press conference.

The importance of these efforts was underscored by testimony from Douglas Vincent of Gowanda, who utilized EDDY.

“Roswell sent me a postcard in the mail saying, ‘We’re having a lung screening in your area,’ five minutes from my home,” said Vincent. “They talked to me about quitting smoking…it’s been a little over a year and three months since I quit. If it weren’t for their team and the lung screening that came out to me, this never would’ve happened.”

Those who are interested in a lung cancer screening with Roswell Park’s EDDY team can view future locations and sign up at www.roswellpark.org/eddy.