Lung cancer is the tumor that causes the highest mortality in both men and women and survival depends, to a great extent, on the stage in which it is diagnosed. It is not easy to detect it early because it takes time to show its face or it does so through distant metastasis. For this reason, Polyclinic Gipuzkoa is launching a new program for the early detection of lung cancer. Dr. José Miguel Izquierdo, a thoracic surgeon at the Gipuzkoa Polyclinic and Laura Basterretxea, a medical oncologist at the same center, will speak today in a new Health Classroom about this dreaded cancer and the new program at the Gipuzkoa Polyclinic. The appointment is at 6 pm at the Aquarium.
What is the incidence of lung cancer in Gipuzkoa?
José Miguel Izquierdo: Approximately 60 new cases per year for every 100,000 inhabitants. About 450 new cases per year throughout the territory.
It is one of the most feared. Is it rightly so, is it the one with the highest mortality? Is it the most frequent?
Laura Basterretxea: It is the third most frequent in men (after prostate and colon) and in women (after breast and colon).
JMI: I would say that it is the tumor that causes the highest mortality among cancers, both in men and women.
How does early detection affect cure options?
LB: Survival is highly dependent on the stage in which the tumor is diagnosed. Early diagnosis is vital. Despite the therapeutic advances in recent years, the survival of lung cancer is around 15% and less than 5% if we only take those diagnosed in late stages. If detected early, survival is much higher.
What are the operations and what risk do they have?
JMI: Thoracic surgery consists of removing the tumor and the healthy lung tissue around it. Today we use a minimally invasive surgical technique that allows less postoperative pain and rapid return to social and occupational activities.
What sequelae are left for a person with a successful surgery?
JMI: There are practically no sequelae if only one lung lobe is removed, being able to return to a life similar to the one before the intervention.
Why can’t you operate in an advanced state?
JMI: Because the surgical act in these cases does not increase the overall survival of the patient.
What percentage of success are the operations?
JMI: Patients operated on in early stages achieve a 5-year survival of around 80%.
How can lung cancer be prevented?
JMI: The best prevention tool is to avoid tobacco use.
LB: In nonsmokers, important risk factors for lung cancer are exposure to secondhand smoke, exposure to ionizing radiation, and occupational exposure to lung carcinogens such as asbestos or asbestos. The types of radiation exposure that are important to the general population are environmental exposure to radon and radiation exposures in the medical setting.
Why does this cancer take to show its face and how does it do it?
JMI: In many cases, the first symptoms are due to the presence of distant metastases of the lung tumor. It does not reduce your ability to breathe. The patient may debut with a stroke because what he has is a brain metastasis.
LB: Symptoms are sometimes mistaken for an infectious clinic. The most central tumors that cause bleeding are those that are diagnosed earlier. Symptoms depend on the location and extent of the tumor in the lung and can be cough, dysphonia, dysphagia, or back pain.
What does the new screening program of Policlínica Gipuzkoa consist of?
LB: The first thing is a consultation to see if the early detection program is indicated. If so, that same day a low radiation CT scan and spirometry are performed. In 48 hours we know the results and we consult to organize a follow-up, determine if any other test is needed and encourage the cessation of tobacco use.
‘Survival depends, to a large extent, on the stage at which the tumor is detected. In the late phase it is less than 5% »
dra. LAURA BASTERRETXEA
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“Between 90% and 95% of the patients we operate on are smokers, although it is true that 5% have never smoked”
dr. Jose Miguel Left
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In which cases is it indicated?
JMI: It is recommended in smokers of accumulated tobacco consumption of approximately one packet a day for 30 years. Even in patients who have stopped smoking in the last 10 years.
LB: Regarding age, it is recommended for patients between 55 and 74 years old.
Does the early detection program in nonsmokers make sense?
LB: It doesn’t make sense.
Smoking is, therefore, the main risk factor for contracting this cancer …
LB: The risks of getting this type of cancer from smoking depend on the dose and increase markedly according to the number of cigarettes smoked daily and the number of years during which it is smoked. On average, current smokers face a risk of lung cancer about 20 times higher than non-smokers.
What percentage of your patients are non-smokers?
JMI: I would say that between 90% and 95% of the patients we operate on are smokers, although it is true that approximately 5% have never smoked.
Has there been a decrease in the incidence of cases as a result of the tightening of anti-smoking laws?
LB: In recent years there has been an increase in the number of lung cancer cases in the female population, observing a stabilization in the male population. The Spanish Anti-Smoking Law has failed to reduce the number of smokers. Lung cancer experts consider that current anti-tobacco measures are no longer effective in promoting the cessation of this habit and call for new strategies to encourage smokers to quit their addiction, as well as to prevent young people from using tobacco. new products and devices.
Are there effective treatments to quit smoking?
JMI: There are various therapies, but I would insist that the most important thing is not to start and that it is important to do pedagogy among the youth population.
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