International Respiratory experts Use World Lung Cancer Day to Stress the Importance of Screening, Risk Factor Awareness
NEW YORK, NY - Globally, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide for both men and women. In 2020, there were 2.21 million new lung cancer cases globally and 1.80 million deaths.
In recognition of World Lung Cancer Day on Aug.1, the American Thoracic Society
joins our Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) partners,
in stressing the importance of awareness and understanding of lung
cancer risk factors, as well as the importance of early detection
through lung cancer screening.
While smoking is the single greatest risk factor for lung cancer, accounting for 85 percent of all cases,
other lesser-known risk factors include the environmental exposures
and genetics. Environmental exposure to radon, asbestos, arsenic,
beryllium and uranium has been linked to lung cancer. The risk of lung
cancer also increases with a history of cancer in another part of the
body, age, family history, radiation to the chest area and lung
diseases like COPD.
“By coming together as a community of respiratory experts, we can
impact the future of lung cancer care,” said Guy Marks, President of
FIRS. “Through global collaboration, we have the power to raise
awareness of lung cancer risk factors and to encourage early lung
cancer screenings. The earlier lung cancer is detected, the sooner a
patient can begin treatment. Lives can be saved through earlier
detection and, together, we can positively impact the outcome of a lung
cancer diagnosis.”
In the United States of America, the 2021 guideline for lung cancer screening
from the American College of Chest Physicians, recommend that anyone
who is a current tobacco user or has a history of smoking and are 50
years or older, may be a candidate for a screening low-dose CT scan.
This is a step that can potentially detect lung cancer in its earliest
stages.
Lung cancer symptoms include a cough that does not go away, chest
pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss,
and lung infections that keep coming back. Tests that may be used to
diagnose lung cancer include physical examination, imaging (chest
x-rays, CT scans, and MRI), bronchoscopy, or biopsy.
Resources: ATS Patient Fact Sheets
About the Forum of International Respiratory Societies
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is an
organization 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 100,000 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).