One in five Australians with lung cancer receive no treatment at all, according to a new report that also predicts the financial burden of the disease will explode over the next decade.

Key points: The cost of lung cancer is forecast to jump to $6.6b within a decade

The cost of lung cancer is forecast to jump to $6.6b within a decade One researcher says there are fewer than 20 specialist nurses in Australia

One researcher says there are fewer than 20 specialist nurses in Australia There are calls for more federal funding to address the "under-acknowledged" cancer

Lung Foundation Australia will today release a new blueprint for addressing what has been dubbed an "under-acknowledged" disease, despite being the leading cause of cancer death in Australia.

"This report has uncovered what we have long suspected: Australians with lung cancer face setbacks at every turn, from delays in diagnosis and staging, to inadequate referrals to treatment, to the stigma which blights their condition," Lung Foundation CEO Mark Brooke said.

"Despite recent advances, lung cancer continues to have the lowest survival outcome and some of the worse co-morbidities of any of the top five most commonly diagnosed cancers.

"We have a responsibility to make lung cancer a fair fight, and can no longer accept inaction."

The report includes data from consultancy firm PWC, compiled off existing research, and finds the cost of lung cancer is on track to reach $6.6 billion by 2028 — a drastic rise from $297.2 million in 2018 — as the number of patients increases.

The burden of lung cancer in Australia. ( Source: The Lung Foundation )

The Lung Foundation report also found stigma was rife for those living with the cancer — an all-too-familiar story for Lorraine Tyler.

When she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year the outpouring of support from friends gave her the strength to fight on and beat the disease.

When lung cancer was found just months later, her friends stood by her again. But there were also some questions that hinted at the stigma others have keenly felt.

"The first response to the lung cancer was either a statement or a question: 'Oh I didn't realise you had been a smoker'," she said, noting many of her friends knew she was an avid runner and had never smoked.

One in three Australian women and one in 10 men with lung cancer have never smoked.

Lorraine has tried to remain as active as possible while undergoing cancer treatment. ( Supplied: Lorraine Tyler )

"With breast cancer you feel like the whole world is on your side; whereas with lung cancer you think that probably the whole world thinks it's your own fault."

The hardship wasn't isolated to just how some people reacted, with Ms Tyler noting the medical world appeared well geared to helping those with breast cancer, but finding support for lung cancer was much harder.

Health experts have noted similar issues.

One study showed a link between lung cancer and delayed diagnosis and treatment, while other research suggested stigma meant lung cancer received significantly less research funding compared to other cancers.

"The contrast was incredible — the diagnosis and treatment was so fast with the breast cancer, and really quite drawn out for me with the lung cancer," Ms Tyler said.

"Lung cancer is very lonely, and breast cancer isn't."

Where are the nurses?

Cancer Council NSW senior researcher Nicole Rankin was co-chair of the steering committee for the Lung Foundation report and said there was a range of reasons for the high number of people not receiving treatment.

"It's a combination of factors in that some patients choose to refuse treatment, and some patients don't get a clear enough diagnosis early on to really know what the best course of treatment is for them," she said.

"There's also a real shortage of clinical nurse specialists.

"We know for breast cancer, for example, there's over 500 nurse specialists available across Australia, including in regional and rural areas.

"In lung cancer that's just not the case — there's fewer than 20 as far as we know."

Dr Rankin said better diagnosis and education around treatment options could help reduce the number of people not receiving treatment.

"We think it's an alarming figure because we shouldn't have people missing out on active treatment if they're eligible," she said.

The Lung Foundation report makes a number of recommendations to improve care and understanding around the cancer, including: