2023-10-19 13:49:00
In Argentina, about 12 thousand people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. This number represents 9.3% of all cancers, according to statistics from the Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Smoking, in 85% of cases, is the direct cause of the development of this disease.
During a seminar for journalists on oncology organized by Pfizer, held in October in Panama, doctors warned about the increase in cancer worldwide. The data is alarming: by 2040, mortality from this disease is expected to double.
Among all types of cancer, lung cancer is one of the most common. During her presentation at the seminar, Dr. Rosario García Campelo, head of Medical Oncology at the University Hospital Complex of A Coruña, expanded on lung cancer and assured that there is a considerable increase in women diagnosed with the disease.
The dr. Rosario García Campelo, speaking in Panama. (The voice)
When asked about the main factor of this trend, García Campelo told La Voz: “The fundamental factor is tobacco. The later incorporation of women into smoking is the main cause of this increase in lung cancer in the female population.”
“Then we have a group of non-smoking women in whom we are also seeing a high trend in the development of lung cancer. A completely different subgroup of patients from a biological and molecular point of view, where we are analyzing what hormonal and environmental factors may play a role in justifying this increase,” she added.
Cigarette consumption among women increased. (DPA)
Prevention, key
Highlighting the fundamental role that prevention plays in this type of cancer, he stated: “For me it is key and I believe it is a pending issue in the majority of health systems in the world. Without going into details, because each country is different, I think that we are not doing prevention as well as we should.”
The oncologist insisted that “There is a very high number of tumors that can be preventable and that is where the individual factor comes in, the knowledge of the population of what they can do, how active they can be to prevent the development of cancer: alcohol , tobacco, sun exposure, diet, obesity, physical activity. “This type of thing depends solely and exclusively on oneself.”
“If we, together with health authorities, professionals, and the media, convey to the population the relevance and impact that prevention can have, in absolute numbers we would be taking giant steps,” he said.
“Lung cancer would be anecdotal if there were no tobacco”
The phrase belongs to Dr. Garcia Campelo. “I say it and I stand by it. 85% of patients who develop lung cancer are or have been smokers. Therefore, the exposure is clearly a cause-effect. It is not the only cause, of course. We can talk about others, such as hereditary risk. But the strongest and most powerful factor numerically is tobacco, and that is preventable,” she insisted.
When mentioning the incidence of the use of vapers, the oncologist added: “Although it is too early to accurately measure the effect of vaping on the risk of developing lung cancer, the entire scientific community is clear about it and we are sending signals of caution. that it is probably a risk factor.”
Cigarette consumption among women increased. (DPA)
Passive smokers, also a source of risk
Passive smokers, the oncologist explained, are within that group of non-smoking cases where the role of tobacco is being investigated. “We are analyzing all possible causes. Non-smokers usually tend to be women exposed to passive smoking. It is clear that it is a toxic agent, that the impact is less than direct tobacco consumption, but that it is there as a possible causal factor, especially in that population of non-smokers who develop lung cancer,” the doctor explained.
More facts about lung cancer in women
During her dissertation in Panama, Dr. García Campelo listed some key data about lung cancer in women:
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women in industrialized countries. The incidence of lung cancer in women in developing countries is increasing. Smoking is the most important risk factor for lung cancer. in women.In the United States, between 15 and 20% of lung cancers in women occur in women who have never smoked. Globally, this figure accounts for approximately half of all lung cancers in women. Lung cancer outcomes in women are better than in men.
Increased survival in women
Although the scientific community around the world is detecting an increase in cases of lung cancer in women, there is another encouraging fact: in the female gender, survival from this disease is greater.
In this regard, Dr. García Campelo explained: “The behavior towards the different therapeutic strategies in women seems to be superior. “Women seem to have better prognoses and respond better to certain therapeutic strategies than men.”
“The causes can be multiple and varied. Women in general have fewer comorbidities. In the end we are not just treating cancer, but a patient who has cancer and other diseases. “Women tend to have less cardiovascular and bronchopulmonary diseases, and that can positively impact the overall picture,” she added.
In closing, he added: “We are also highly interested in the response to drugs based on gender. Hormonal factors that may be influencing women to respond differently, for example, to immunotherapy, than men. We are seeing this. The why is what we have to elucidate.”
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