With 1.8 million deaths per year, lung cancer is the most deadly cancer worldwide, by 2030 it could even kill 2.45 million people per year. That says the Foundation against Cancer, which wants to draw attention to the disease on the occasion of the World Day for Lung Cancer this Sunday.
Lung cancer is also the most deadly form of cancer in our country, with almost 6,500 deaths per year. It is also the third most common cancer in Belgium, with 8,815 new cases diagnosed in 2018. The disease mainly affects men over 65 years of age, but there is a clear increase in the number of lung cancers in women from the age age 55, warns the Foundation against Cancer.
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for developing lung cancer. According to the Cancer Foundation, 9 out of 10 cases of lung cancer worldwide could be avoided even if tobacco were banned. If you smoke, but stop, the risk is greatly reduced, it is said. Tobacco prevention expert at the Cancer Foundation Suzanne Gabriels argues for an ambitious anti-tobacco plan from a political angle.
Screening
In addition, the Foundation also advocates a screening program for lung cancer, as is also the case for breast, colon and cervical cancer. Because when lung cancer is discovered late – which is unfortunately the case in two thirds of the cases – there is a poor prognosis for recovery, especially for heavy smokers. The Foundation against Cancer asks the Ministers of Health to work on a systematic screening for this group.
Finally, much research is still needed to further increase the effectiveness of treatments against lung cancer. In addition to surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other targeted treatments have recently been added, but these are very expensive and do not work for all patients.
The Foundation against Cancer finances research teams with money from donors. Between 2010 and 2018 there were eight for lung cancer, for a total amount of more than one million euros.
Lung cancer is also the most deadly form of cancer in our country, with almost 6,500 deaths per year. It is also the third most common cancer in Belgium, with 8,815 new cases diagnosed in 2018. The disease mainly affects men over 65 years of age, but there is a clear increase in the number of lung cancers in women from the age age 55, warns the Foundation against Cancer. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for developing lung cancer. According to the Cancer Foundation, 9 out of 10 cases of lung cancer worldwide could be avoided even if tobacco were banned. If you smoke, but stop, the risk is greatly reduced, it is said. Tobacco prevention expert at the Cancer Foundation Suzanne Gabriels argues for an ambitious anti-tobacco plan from a political angle. In addition, the Foundation also advocates a screening program for lung cancer, as is also the case for breast, colon and cervical cancer. Because when lung cancer is discovered late – which is unfortunately the case in two thirds of the cases – there is a poor prognosis for recovery, especially for heavy smokers. The Foundation against Cancer asks the Ministers of Health to work on a systematic screening for this group. Finally, much research is still needed to further increase the effectiveness of treatments against lung cancer. In addition to surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other targeted treatments have recently been added, but these are very expensive and do not work for all patients. The Foundation against Cancer finances research teams with money from donors. Between 2010 and 2018 there were eight for lung cancer, for a total amount of more than one million euros.
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