NICE guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for nearly 30,000 deaths in England and Wales in 2002 (DoH, 2005). On February 23 this year new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer were published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2005). The guidelines offer best practice advice on the care of adults who are suspected of having, or are diagnosed with, lung cancer (Box 1). There are implications for lung cancer clinical nurse specialists in several sections of the guidance, some highlighted as a 'key priority' for implementation.