On August 1, celebrating the International Day of Lung Cancer, an evergreen rhododendron was symbolically planted in front of the Latvian Oncology Center of Riga East Clinical University Hospital for the purpose of raising public awareness. The plant has thus been chosen as a testament to the hope and belief that the positive changes in the treatment and diagnosis of lung cancer over the last two years will continue.
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“We, the Society of Lung Cancer Patients and Loved Ones, try to look at events and various developments in life positively, keeping in mind that we have, we succeed, we do and we will continue to do even more,” says Gals.
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According to him, for several months a year, this evergreen rhododendron will bloom – there will be beautiful flowers, which will symbolize that in the future lung cancer patients will be provided with even better care and treatment process.
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“It is very important for patients to be able to believe that they will really get the treatment they need
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and thus encourage people to seek help from doctors earlier, “Gals emphasizes, noting that this could significantly increase the number of surviving lung cancer patients.
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Imants Paeglītis, Chairman of the Board of the Eastern Hospital, is satisfied with the current cooperation with oncology patient support associations, which has been aimed at improving the treatment conditions for patients. “At the same time, this symbolic event confirms the patients’ trust in our hospital doctors, who do their best to help every patient treated in our hospital,” Paeglītis emphasizes.
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As explained by Iveta Kudaba, Chief Specialist of Oncology at the Eastern Hospital, Head of the Chemotherapy and Hematology Clinic Day of Chemistry, one of the most important conditions for effective diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer is, first of all, public health, which includes prevention of lung cancer. .
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Timely and early diagnosis is also important, as lung cancer is difficult to diagnose,
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explains the specialist. Due to its hidden clinical course, it is often detected at a late stage. The third important aspect that has already been discussed is specific treatment, which means that a particular method of treatment is applied to a particular patient.
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“This year has been marked by the availability of new medicines for lung cancer patients,
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both targeted and immunotherapy are still provided, appropriately applied to patients with already specific lung cancer mutations, “notes Kudaba.
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Māris Apšvalks, the chief specialist of thoracic surgery at the Eastern Hospital, urges people to understand the dangers of smoking and to quit this activity. The specialist emphasizes the importance of preventive measures, pointing out that only an informed person will be able to assess the risks and make sensible decisions that will protect against the disease.
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Although people who have not smoked and do not smoke also develop lung cancer, the main risk group is and remains people who smoke, notes Apšvalks. “It may sound too instructive, but I think it’s never a bad idea to recall the harsh truth that lung cancer is difficult to detect, diagnose in time and difficult to treat,” says the specialist.
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The hospital’s representative Ilga Namniece explains that in the Eastern Hospital, lung cancer treatment takes place in three hospitals – the Center for Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, the Latvian Oncology Center and the hospital “Gaiļezers”. In order to improve patient care, the Multidisciplinary Council of Physicians for Pulmonary Oncology Patients has started working at the Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Center, in which 309 patients have been consulted since the beginning of the year.
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As of last year, the state is also paying for positron emission computed tomography examinations for patients with lung cancer.
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Both examination methods and surgical operations in Latvia are becoming less invasive and patients recover faster after them.
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As of March this year, the list of state reimbursable drugs has been supplemented with important drugs for the treatment of lung cancer, which can prolong the patient’s survival for several years, as well as significantly improve the quality of life, explained the hospital.
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In Latvia, lung cancer is detected in more than 1,000 people every year. Two-thirds of patients die within the first year of diagnosis.
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Lung cancer can be diagnosed by X-ray, computed tomography or bronchoscopy. However, in the first stages, it may not cause any noticeable symptoms. It is most often detected only in the third or fourth stage, when symptoms such as – reduced ability to work, shortness of breath, persistent cough, bloody sputum, hoarseness, sweating, weight loss, chest pain – breathing, eating, coughing, enlarged lymph nodes in the armpits and neck, headache, bone pain, increased tiredness.
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