Every year on August 1, World Lung Cancer Day is celebrated. The purpose of this Day – is to increase the level of public awareness about this disease, its impact on human and social health, risk factors, methods of its detection, prevention and treatment.
Lung cancer – is a collective concept that unites malignant epithelial tumors of different origins, histological structure, clinical course and treatment results. There are two main groups – non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Lung cancer is one of the most common types of malignant neoplasms (primarily among men) and the most common cause of death from cancer. It claims more lives each year than breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer combined.
Back in the early 20th century, lung cancer was classified as a rare disease, but today it accounts for about 13% of all cancer cases and a fifth of cancer deaths worldwide. And these numbers are constantly growing.
In Russia alone, according to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, over the past 10 years the incidence of lung cancer has increased by 20%, and more than 50 thousand new cases of the disease are detected every year. Moreover, in more than 70% of cases the disease is diagnosed in advanced stages (III and IV), and therefore every second patient dies within the first year after diagnosis.
Experts associate the increase in the incidence of this disease with the spread of factors that play a significant role in the development of the disease. First of all, – is tobacco smoking, the development of hazardous industries (uranium, radiation, asbestos) and the deterioration of the environmental situation.
All these data raise the need to develop and introduce new approaches to the treatment of lung cancer into clinical practice. One of the key discoveries of recent years is immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors, which has significantly increased the effectiveness of treatment. She uses drugs that enhance the immune system's natural ability to fight tumors.
Also, no one has canceled regular X-ray examinations, which are one of the main methods for diagnosing lung tumors and allow timely detection in the vast majority of patients. Fluorography is used as a screening method, which is usually carried out during preventive medical examinations.
It is important to remember that lung cancer is not only a serious medical problem, but also a social problem. Therefore, this international Day is timed to coincide with many educational medical events, press conferences, a forum, etc., at which leading oncologists share new developments in the treatment and prevention of cancer.
Let us remind you that World Cancer Day is celebrated annually on February 4th.
Article «Lung cancer – killer of citizens and robinsons»