New Delhi: Lung cancer is a devastating illness that may have a profound impact on the lives of people affected. Lung cancer, the main cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, is increasing in India each year, accounting for 10% of cancer deaths. In terms of the absolute number of lung cancer cases, India ranks fourth in the world, with 81,000 cases and 75,000 fatalities in 2022. This is expected to quadruple by 2025.
In an interaction with News9Live, Dr. Aakaar Kapoor, CEO and Lead Medical Advisor: City X-Ray and Scan Clinic Founder and Partner: City Imaging & Clinical Labs, spoke about the repercussions of late diagnosis in lung cancer cases.
Everyone is susceptible to lung cancer. Unfortunately, due to a lack of symptoms in the early stages, many patients are discovered after their condition has advanced. Screening plays a crucial role in early detection of cancer when therapies are more likely to be effective. However, the screening rates for lung cancer are far lower than those for breast cancer.
Impact of early detection of lung cancer
Between 30% and 50% of cancer deaths are thought to be avoidable, mostly by addressing significant risk factors. Giving up smoking, for example, can significantly lower your risk of cancer, and other simple adjustments, such as limiting alcohol use and increasing physical activity, can also help. According to research, early detection significantly improves survival rates for a range of cancers. The 5-year survival rates for cancers with thorough screening (breast, colon, and prostate) are substantially higher: 91%, 66%, and 99%, respectively.
Lung cancer has the greatest fatality rate among all cancers. We now understand that screening for lung cancer saves lives. The prevailing consensus is that detecting it early provides the highest chance of survival. The average five-year survival rate for lung cancer when identified early is 70-90 percent, compared to 20% when detected late.
When cancer is detected early, it is usually smaller and more localized, making it easier to treat with less invasive techniques than surgery or radiation therapy. This means that patients will heal faster and may experience fewer side effects.
Early diagnosis and treatment assist patients to have a higher quality of life, enabling them to continue working, spending time with loved ones, and engaging in activities that they like.
Screening is beneficial
Early identification and implementation of screening programs have the potential to significantly enhance lung cancer care. Although treatment for advanced tumor stages, such as immunotherapy, is effective, it is also exceedingly expensive and places a substantial load on the healthcare system. As a result, the cost per saved life from a screening program is significantly lower. Early detection of lung cancer increases the likelihood of cure, and the impact of earlier, more regular lung cancer screenings saves lives. A low-dose CT scan is more successful than normal chest X-rays at detecting lung lesions, making it the gold standard for lung cancer diagnosis.
Research found that lung screening can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20%. Despite worries regarding radiation exposure, overdiagnosis, and false-positive findings leading to intrusive diagnostic procedures and patient stress, research has suggested that the benefits far outweigh the dangers.
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