LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Kentucky leads the nation in new lung cancer cases, but the state is showing significant improvement thanks to screening initiatives centered in Lexington at the UK Markey Cancer Center.

The lung cancer mortality rate in Kentucky is decreasing over time, according to Dr. Timothy Mullett, a thoracic surgeon at UK Markey Cancer Center. Over the past decade, a statewide push to get more people screened has led to more Kentuckians surviving after a lung cancer diagnosis than ever before.

"We're measuring, we're seeing stage shift, into that early stage when people are developing cancer," Mullett said.

Progress recently highlighted by Governor Andy Beshear shows an increase in Kentucky's lung cancer survival rate by 30 percent over the past five years due to increas

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