Lung Cancer: Not Just a Smoker's Disease

The deadliest cancer

Lung cancer is responsible for 1.8 million deaths per year worldwide, making it the deadliest cancer. Smoking is the main risk factor (85% of cases), but 10-15% of lung cancers occur in non-smokers, often linked to radon, occupational exposure (asbestos), or pollution.

Often late symptoms

Persistent or changed cough, bloody sputum, shortness of breath, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. Unfortunately, these symptoms often appear at an advanced stage, hence the importance of screening for at-risk individuals.

Low-dose CT screening

Low-dose chest CT is recommended annually for people aged 50 to 80 with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (smokers or ex-smokers who quit less than 15 years ago). It reduces lung cancer mortality by 20%.

Therapeutic revolution

Immunotherapy (pembrolizumab, nivolumab) has transformed the prognosis of advanced cancers. Targeted therapies (osimertinib for EGFR mutations, alectinib for ALK rearrangements) offer prolonged survival. Smoking cessation remains beneficial at any time, even after diagnosis.