G.Hardavella, Respiratory Physician (Pulmonologist) at the “Sotiria” Athens Chest Diseases Hospital and member of the Scientific Panel of FairLife L.C.C., delivers an optimistic message for lung cancer prevention.
Lung cancer screening is a valuable process that can save lives. It is a test used to detect lung cancer before any symptoms appear. Early detection of lung cancer will enable more effective treatment options for patients such as surgery, therefore resulting in radical treatment.
Dr. Hardavella full statement
In our country lung cancer is the most common type of cancer for both men and women. Around 10,000 people get diagnosed with lung cancer, each year in Greece.. Around 60-70% will survive their cancer for 5 years after they’re diagnosed..
DOES LUNG CANCER PRESENT EARLY SIGNS??
Lung cancer is often insidious, producing no symptoms until the disease is well advanced. Consequently, 7 out of 10 patients are diagnosed late in the course of the disease resulting in reduced chances of treatment.
CAN LUNG CANCER BE DETECTED EARLY?
Lung cancer screening is a valuable process that can save lives. It is a test used to detect lung cancer before any symptoms appear. Lung Cancer Screening will not stop lung cancer but it can detect it early Early detection of lung cancer will enable more effective treatment options for patient such as surgery, therefore resulting in radical treatment
WHAT IS SCREENING?
Lung Cancer Screening is a process during which eligible patients are offered an annual low dose computed tomography (CT) scan of their chest. The concept of lung cancer screening is similar to the concept of breast cancer screening where women have annual mammograms or cervival screening where women have annual smears. Lung Cancer Screening does not substitute smoking cessation which is an essential requirement to prevent lung cancer risk.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS LUNG CANCER SCREENING?
A large study on lung cancer in the US showed a 20.0% increase in lung cancer survival in patients that underwent annual lung cancer screening This essentially means that those who underwent annual low dose chest CT scans and were diagnosed with lung cancer at an early stage, they survived significantly more. Similar European studies showed a 20% decrease in lung cancer mortality in males and and up to 60% decrease in females.
WHO IS AT HIGH RISK?
People older than 50 years of age, (ex/current)smokers, people with previous asbestos exposure or exposure to other toxic substances in their workplace or underlying lung conditions, people who have someone in their family who had lung cancer.
CHEST CT SCAN RESULTS
The chest CT scan may not show any abnormality. In this case you have to consult with your doctor for the next scan should this be required. In 10% of the cases, a chest CT scan may detect a small nodule which is essentially a small lump in the lung. This will be assessed by your pulmonologist (respiratory physician) and you may be referred for further tests should this be required. Depending on the test results, this may be surgically removed. Should your pulmonologist decide this nodule (lump) does not raise any concerns, then you may need to be followed up or discharged..
PREVENTION…SAVES LIVES!
If you are over 50 years old, you smoke/used to smoke, if you have a family member who was diagnosed with lung cancer, if you are/have been exposed to toxic substances in your workplace or if you have an underlying lung disease, then contact your pulmonologist and they will guide you what the next steps will be.
