Lung health associations encourage global awareness and early detection for World Lung Cancer Day
August 1, 2022
Glenview, IL - In support of World Lung Cancer Day on August 1, the
Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which the
American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) is a founding member,
stresses the importance of symptom awareness and early detection to
diagnose and treat lung cancer.
While lung cancer is not the most prevalent cancer (second to breast
cancer), it is the most common cause of cancer death. With more than
2.2 million new cases of lung cancer in 2020 and 1.8 million deaths,
globally, lung cancer is responsible for 1 in 4 cancer deaths.
According to the World Health Organization, lung cancer kills more
people yearly than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.
“World Lung Cancer Day is an opportunity for the members of the
Forum of International Respiratory Societies to collectively bring
increased symptom awareness to not only lung cancer but to lung
health in general,” says Alexandra Alexandropoulou, Deputy Director
for the Forum of International Respiratory Societies. “Knowing the
signs of lung disease—lung cancer, COPD, asthma, TB, infection,
etc. —will help lead to proactive health care visits, earlier
testing, more timely diagnoses and overall reduced global
mortality.”
To recognize lung cancer earlier, it is crucial to be aware of the
symptoms. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are:
-
Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)
-
Chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing,
coughing or laughing
-
Hoarseness
-
Loss of appetite
-
Unexplained weight loss
-
Shortness of breath
-
Feeling tired or weak
-
Recurring infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
-
New onset of wheezing
In addition to knowing the signs of lung cancer, equitable access to
screening options worldwide is vital for reducing lung cancer deaths
through early detection and treatment.
“The earlier lung cancer is diagnosed, the quicker treatments can begin
and the less likely it is to spread,” says CHEST President David
Schulman, MD, MPH, FCCP. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care
providers saw more and more individuals delaying routine care out of
precaution. The truth is that delayed care can have devastating effects
when treating lung diseases like lung cancer.”
To identify and diagnose lung cancer in its earlier stages, it is
recommended to seek lung cancer screening with a low-dose tomography
(also known as low-dose CT or LDCT) where available. If the individual
is an eligible smoker or a former smoker, lung cancer screening is
recommended even if they are not experiencing any signs or symptoms.
About the Forum of International Respiratory Societies
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies
(FIRS) is an organisation comprised of the world's leading
international respiratory societies working together to improve lung
health globally. The goal of FIRS is to unify and enhance efforts to
improve lung health through the combined work of its more than 70,000
members globally.
FIRS comprises the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST),
American Thoracic Society (ATS), the Asian Pacific Society of
Respirology (APSR), Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT),
European Respiratory Society (ERS), International Union Against
Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Pan African Thoracic Society
(PATS), the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the Global
Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).
About the American College of Chest Physicians
The American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST) is the global leader
in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases. Its
mission is to champion advanced clinical practice, education,
communication and research in chest medicine. It serves as an essential
connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 19,000+ members
from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical
care and sleep medicine. For information about the American College of
Chest Physicians, and its flagship journal CHEST®, visit
chestnet.org
.