A pilot plan for the early detection of lung cancer in the Antofagasta Region which contemplates an investment of close to $2,000 million, financed by the Regional Government, will begin its execution in the communes of Tocopilla and Antofagasta.
The initiative will be implemented by performing low-dose computed tomography on the population, a test that allows the detection of suspicious pulmonary nodules and thus treat them early. Its objective is to reduce morbidity and mortality through early detection and treatment in the presymptomatic stage of lung cancer.
Tumors in patients from Antofagasta have different characteristics from those in other places in Chile and the world, explained specialists during the LatAm Forum “Act Today 2024”, organized by AstraZeneca, with the support of the British Embassy in Chile.
The deputy director of the Northern Oncology Center, Alejandro Santini, described during the meeting that, “compared to the Maule Region, the incidence rate of Lung cancer in Antofagasta is 7 to 8 times greater. There is no country in the world that has such a significant epidemiological difference from one region to another. In addition, we have 90% of patients who arrive with lung cancer in an advanced stage, where we have little chance of being able to cure. There is also an incidence of squamous cell lung cancer, which is a type of lung cancer that occurs in 40% to 50% of cases in Antofagasta and 20% in the rest of the world.”
One of the specialists behind the initiative, Dr. Carmen Schweitzer, head of the Department of Strategic Clinical Process Management of the Antofagasta Health Service, explained that “due to the high incidence of lung cancer and other cancers in the region, in a joint effort with the GORE, We are starting a project for early detection of lung cancer through CT scans in a certain target population. We hope to see a change in the epidemiology within three years. and begin to increase the percentage of users who are detected in a timely manner, we wait for stages I and II to make management much less invasive.”
For experts, there is also a multifactorial situation that affects the development of the pathology, such as the contamination of water with high levels of arsenic from the springs, which It would be a factor that promotes the appearance of this type of cancer, which is more aggressive and occurs mainly in people over 50 years of age.
According to figures from the Ministry of Health, the incidence rate of lung cancer nationwide is 22.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. However, in Antofagasta, in the case of men, this figure rises to 62.5. This region also has the highest mortality rate for this type of tumor: 27.62 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Jorge Fernández, executive director of Fundación Vi-Da, raised the patients’ perspective during the panel “Decentralization as a support for efforts to address lung cancer – multisectoral contributions.” On the occasion, he said that he values this type of initiatives because “As an organized civil society we have to educate patients who may detect these symptoms in a timely manner. It is very important that the patient receives a diagnosis on time because, unfortunately, we are arriving too late and the patient has little chance of surviving.”
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After moderating this panel discussion, Moisés Russo, oncologist and radiotherapist from the Arturo López Pérez Foundation (FALP), shared his conclusions: “In Chile, we have a great difference in different regions that require specific approaches, and the situation in Antofagasta is quite different from the situation in other regions. This phenomenon needs to be reversed through screening programs or through programs to prioritize diagnostic tests in people with symptoms or signs of lung cancer. But we have a structural problem in the system regarding being able to effectively take charge of early diagnosis, of the classification and timely treatment in the public network.”
In Latin America, more than 80% of lung cancer cases are detected in advanced stages and in Chile, according to Globocan figures, it was the leading cause of death among oncological pathologies in 2022 with 3,944 people dying.
Regarding the situation in the country, Dr. María Paz Saavedra, a pulmonologist at the Hospital del Tórax, explained that “Chile is in a very difficult situation, which ultimately translates into a crisis for the public-private system and which has no viable solution in the short term, “until there is an instance in which there is work that includes authorities from the Ministry of Health (MINSAL) in the different institutions that are dedicated to the management of patients with lung cancer. And, obviously, in civil society we have a tremendous gap because there is no adequate and reliable cancer registry.”
A similar situation was expressed by Dr. Diego Carrillo, oncologist and member of the Center for Cancer Prevention and Control (CECAN). “Although, in terms of incidence, lung cancer is the fifth most important pathology in the country, in terms of mortality, it is the first among oncological diseases.”
For the specialist, “it is a situation that we have to face in a very active way. It is very important that patients who suspect they have lung cancer have access to a study for a timely diagnosis. And when the diagnosis is made, it is essential that the systems work quickly and in a timely manner so that patients have treatment when they need it, because this is a disease with a serious prognosis and an extremely aggressive course,” he stressed.
Along these lines, Dr. María Paz Saavedra added that it is important to create pilot projects for lung cancer where “the feasibility of implementing screening in the Chilean population is evaluated, because all international studies are in populations other than ours.”
National and international experts and academics met at the meeting to exchange views and share best practices for early diagnosis in Chile, Latin America and Europe, as well as the various multisectoral efforts to better address the disease. The purpose of this is to establish the pathology as a public health priority so that detection is carried out in a timely manner and patients have access to early treatment, a situation that does not currently occur.
In this context, Patricia Biolchi, Medical Director of AstraZeneca Southern Cone, highlighted the importance of the instance focused on public-private collaboration in health. “It is important for the company to be part of these initiatives and generate opportunities for dialogue because we are another player within the health system. We must work together to concentrate our efforts and thus generate a positive impact for patients, because it is necessary for the treatment to arrive at the right time.“, said.
