Lung cancer: Insidious disease claims thousands of victims every year!

Lung cancer: Insidious disease claims thousands of victims every year!

Lung cancer is one of the most dangerous and insidious tumors in the world because it often remains undetected for a long time. Over 1.8 million people die from this disease every year, which results in more deaths than from breast, colon and prostate cancer combined. In Austria, around 4,000 people become ill every year, and most of them lose the battle against this disease vol.at reported.

Late diagnosis represents a challenge. Only around 20% of lung cancers are detected in an easily treatable early stage. An early diagnosis can increase the 5-year survival rate to up to 90%. The Austrian Society for Pulmonology (ÖGP) is therefore in favor of an Austria-wide lung health prevention program (LGVP). A central element of this program would be systematic screening for risk groups, including long-term smokers and people with occupational exposure to harmful substances.

Early detection and modern therapies

The screening should be carried out using low-radiation computed tomography (low-dose CT), which international studies have confirmed as effective in reducing the mortality rate. It also enables early detection of other serious illnesses such as COPD or cardiovascular diseases. The LGVP will also include smoking cessation programs and education about nicotine use, including vaping.

Various factors play a role in the prognosis of lung cancer, including the type of cancer, the stage at diagnosis and modern treatment methods. Approximately 124,730 deaths from lung cancer are expected in the United States by 2025. However, the number of new cases shows a slight decline, which can be attributed, among other things, to early detection and preventive measures acibademhealthpoint.com explained.

Statistics and gender distribution

In 2022, 23,655 women and 32,922 men in Germany were diagnosed with malignant lung tumors. The death rate was also alarmingly high at 18,349 women and 26,614 men. The age-standardized rate of new cases is 31.8 for women and 48.9 for men per 100,000 people. It turns out that the 5-year survival rate is 25% for women and 19% for men, highlighting the different results between the sexes.

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, with approximately 90% of men and 60% of women developing it due to active smoking. Secondhand smoke and environmental factors such as high levels of radon or air pollutants also play a role, according to the website krebsdaten.de shows.

Overall, combating lung cancer requires a comprehensive approach. Prevention and early detection programs are essential to offer affected people the best possible chance of recovery and to significantly reduce mortality. The interdisciplinary exchange between specialists from different disciplines is crucial for a successful outcome in the treatment and care of lung cancer patients.