In Argentina, the lung cancer represents the cause of the highest mortality among the different types of tumors, with 10,000 deaths annually. Every November 17, International Disease Day is commemorated, to raise awareness about risk factors and the importance of quit smoking.
Historically, men led the diagnoses, however, in recent years incidence rate shows increase in the women, “probably linked to a growth of smoking habit in the female population in recent decades,” points out Infobae the medical oncologist Florencia Tsoumember of the area of IAF Thoracic Oncologybased on the trends perceived when analyzing the 13,000 new cases that are diagnosed each year in the country.
He smoking continues to be the main risk factor in the development of lung cancer. Specialists emphasize that any amount of consumption increases the risk, and that is why the most important prevention measure is to stop smoking.
The American Cancer Society estimates that the air pollution in urban areas, especially near busy roads, contributes to 1% to 2% of deaths from lung canceralthough its impact is significantly less than that of smoking, it is an increasing risk factor among non-smokers.
As Infobae published, the lung cancer presents the mortality rate highest globally, followed by colorectal, stomach and breast cancer, according to estimates by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)an independent population health research organization linked to the School of Medicine of the University of WashingtonUSA.
In the doctor’s words Jose Luis Morerohead of the Pneumonology section and Coordinator of the Lung Cancer Early Detection Program at the Alexander Fleming Institute (IAF): “84% of lung cancers have a history of smoking. While those who smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day for 15 or 20 years are at greater risk, those who do not smoke daily and only consumed 6 or 10 cigarettes per month are at greater risk than those who never smoked.”
Morero emphasizes to Infobae the importance of quit smoking as soon as possible and points out that the risk decreases after 10 or 15 years having quit smoking.
Therefore, the prevention of lung cancer involves a double game between passage of time -linked to the natural risk of aging as a cause of cancer- and the bad habits adopted throughout their lives.
Over the years, toxic habits and environments, such as prolonged smoking or exposure to risk factors for environmental pollutionsignificantly increase the chances of developing cancer.
On the other hand, time can also become an ally when it is used to adopt preventive measures. Campaigns aimed at educate and sensitize adolescents are key, since prevent the initiation of tobacco use from an early age allows us to drastically reduce the risks accumulated over the years.
According to the American Cancer Societythe use of cigars or cigars, pipes and “light” cigarettes increases the risk of lung cancer as much as regular tobacco cigarettes, different studies even showed that those products flavored with menthol are potentially more harmful by facilitating deeper inhalations.
The early detection It is essential to improve the chances of survival in patients with lung cancer. Among the symptoms most common are the tossometimes accompanied by blood (hemoptysis), shortness of breath, weight loss, and chest pain.
“In some patients the diagnosis is made by a finding in a x-ray or tomography. However, neither the images nor the symptoms are unique to lung cancer. When faced with a patient with these characteristics, doctors always rule out other causes such as infectious, inflammatory diseases or other neoplasms,” explains the IAF medical oncologist. Carmen Pupareli.
According to the oncologist Delfina Peralta Tancothe low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) It is the most effective tool in detecting cancer in early stages. “This strategy is supported by various studies, including the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) in the United States and the Nelson Trial in Europe. Both were carried out in high-risk populations and demonstrated a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality”, explains the specialist.
The early detection using low-dose tomography is aimed exclusively at people with specific risk factors, such as smoking or chronic lung diseases. This method should be performed annually, accompanied by adequate medical follow-up and strategies to promote smoking cessation.
Once a patient is diagnosed with lung cancer, the disease progression depends largely on the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. According to the oncologist Diego Enriquefrom the Chest Tumors Area of the Alexander Fleming Institute, “the smaller the tumor and the lymph nodes that have not yet been involved, especially those located in the mediastinum, the greater the possibility of cure and the lower the risk of relapse. of the disease once operated.”
In recent years, the vaping gained popularity as a supposed alternative to quit smoking, but specialists warn about their risks and limited effectiveness.
According to the doctor The purpose“los electronic cigarettes and the vapers showed to be less effective than usual smoking cessation strategies, such as interviews, nicotine replacement, and medications.” Furthermore, Morero warns about the dangers associated with these practices since “hospitalizations have been recorded for serious pulmonary conditions linked to vaping toxic substances”.
Another relevant risk factor in non-smokers is radonan inert gas present in the Earth’s crust that can accumulate in basements. In this regard, the doctor Claudio Martinhead of IAF Thoracic Oncologyrecommends good ventilation in homes and work spaces as a preventive measure.
In recent years, treatments against lung cancer experienced significant advances and many patients can manage the disease for years and it can even become a chronic condition.
The doctor Martin points out that progress in precision therapies e immunotherapy transformed the panorama of oncological treatment: “They have evolved fantastically in recent years, and today they allow more patients to be cured or control their disease for years.”
Las precision therapies personalize treatment by identifying specific genetic alterations that favor tumor growth in each patient. This allows, in 40% of cases, to apply targeted medications that control the disease for prolonged periods.
Added to these advances are strategies such as drug-conjugated antibodies which already offer a promising alternative. These substances act as vehicles that deliver chemotherapy directly to tumor cells, which reduces side effects of conventional treatments.
The immunotherapyfor its part, uses the immune system of the patient to attack cancer cells. This approach is used independently or in combination with chemotherapy. “In this last year there have been important advances. Until now we used these medications when the tumors had already metastasized. However, the use of targeted therapies and immunotherapies improved results when used before or after surgery or after radiotherapy,” highlights Martin.
