By Dr Niraj Bhatt


To raise awareness about the challenges and threats related to lung cancer, every year, August 1 is observed as World Lung Cancer Day. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), lung cancer is prevalent and more people succumb to deadly disease than from colon, breast and liver cancers combined.


Nearly 10 million deaths, or nearly one in six deaths, were caused by cancer in 2020, making it the top cause of death globally. Lung cancer, like other cancers, arises when the regular processes of cell division and growth are hampered, resulting in abnormal, uncontrollable growth. The cells develop into a tumour-like mass. 


The development of lung cancer can take several years. The most frequent risk factor for lung cancer is cigarette smoking. Numerous individuals who are exposed to cigarette smoke or some of its constituents will have long-lasting pathological changes in their lungs. The lung may grow a malignant tumour because of these modifications.


25% of people who have never smoked are diagnosed with lung cancer cases worldwide. It is unclear what exactly caused these incidents. Lung cancer affects two out of three adults over the age of 65. Some symptoms that can be seen in the early stages of lung cancer include persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, repeated respiratory infections and unintentional weight loss.


Screening For Lung Cancer


Imaging and diagnostic procedures are used in lung cancer screening to find the disease before symptoms develop. Individuals between the ages of 50 and 80, those who smoke now or gave up smoking during the last 15 years and those who smoke 20 packs or more per year should have annual lung cancer screenings.


For lung cancer screening, your doctor will take your age, smoking history, previous exposure to toxic substances, and other variables into consideration. Low dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) scan is a painless, minimally invasive process.  There is no need for specific preparation, but if you have a respiratory infection on the day of your scan, you will need to reschedule. You will lay still on your back on the CT machine table with your arms lifted above your head prior to the scan. An X-ray machine is used to capture images of the chest and lungs as the table is slowly moved through the CT machine's centre. Less than a minute passes during the actual scan. LDCT is a form of radiography scan that produces internal images of the chest using x-ray technology. The LDCT of the chest is excellent in making the earliest diagnosis of lung cancer.


Screening can help by providing benefits such as:



  • Screening for lung cancer helps identify the disease in the early stages when it is curable and prevents death. Eighty per cent of lung cancer can be detected in its early stages by screening.

  • Smokers will be encouraged to lead better lives by being screened for lung cancer. Regular screening may influence one to choose a better lifestyle and adopt healthy habits. It might function as an alert to let you know how things are right now.

  • Early signs and confirmation of impending risks will extend a bigger helping hand and help the patients to be ready for therapy, even though people's free will cannot be controlled.

  • Early diagnosis of lung cancer through screening will aid in treating patients sooner. Radiation and chemotherapy will concurrently experience less of a rush. Early treatment will reduce the likelihood that chemotherapy and radiation therapy will be necessary. Because there is a chance that regular lung cancer screening will reduce the likelihood of any cancer therapy, many people will be encouraged to either stop this habit, which will automatically protect them from the risk of cancer, or it will prevent them from developing the full severity of the disease.


Although lung cancer can be fatal, those who are diagnosed with it early have more chance of surviving. Those who are at a high risk of lung cancer may want to think about being screened regularly. This can aid in the early detection of symptoms and enable therapy prior to the spread of the malignancy. Anyone who is concerned about their chance of developing lung cancer should get advice from a medical expert.


The author is a Consultant – Oncology, Hemato Oncology Clinic, Vadodara.