Share:
Avoidable tragedy Lung cancer is still underestimated
Health experts say millions of people worldwide have lung cancer without knowing it. Over 80 percent of those affected die from lung cancer. At the World Lung Cancer Conference, thousands of experts will talk about this topic.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death
Although life expectancy with cancer has increased across Europe, around one in four people in the European Union still die from cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Europe. This disease is also so dangerous because it is often recognized late, because lung cancer symptoms are often not noticed. At the World Lung Cancer Conference in Vienna, some 6,000 experts will discuss this topic.
Almost 2 million people worldwide are diagnosed with lung cancer every year. However, according to experts, the problem of lung cancer is still underestimated. (Image: liukovmaksym / fotolia.com) An avoidable tragedy
Robert Pirker, Vienna-based pulmonary cancer specialist (MedUni Vienna / AKH) and President of the Congress said, "Lung cancer is the most important cancer in the world, according to a report from the APA news agency. He is an avoidable tragedy. "
At a press conference, he pointed to the still oppressive numbers: "Every year, lung cancer is newly diagnosed worldwide in about 1.8 million people. That is the population of Vienna. 1.6 million people, or about 85 percent of them, die from lung cancer. "
Do something about smoking
When it comes to lung cancer strategies, it is important to emphasize the need to do more to prevent smoking. Experts believe that about 85 percent of the diseases are related to tobacco use. That's why stricter anti-smoking laws are being called for again and again.
Not only because of the increased risk of various types of cancer, but also because smoking is considered to be a significant risk factor for numerous other diseases, such as smoker's or smoker's cough, asthma, chronic bronchitis and heart attack and stroke.
Stigmatization of the patients
However, experts at the World Lung Cancer Conference said at the launch of the congress that simple finger pointing to affected smokers stigmatizes patients and prevents adequate awareness among the population.
Giorgio Scagliotti, Italian pulmonary carcinoma expert and leading representative of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), who is responsible for the conference in Vienna, said: "Smoking as a traditionally recognized cause of lung cancer has made it easy to blame patients assign. Currently, however, the majority of lung cancer patients are people who have quit smoking. "
In his opinion, the removal of blame and more financial resources to fight the disease are required. (Ad)