Lung cancer: Early diagnosis like that of actress Ana Beatriz Nogueira increases chances of cure

BBC News Brazil

Actress Ana Beatriz Nogueira, 54, was diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing a CT scan to monitor a case of influenza. The scan detected a small tumor, which was recognized by specialists who examined it as early-stage cancer.

According to both oncologists consulted by BBC News Brasil, Camilla Fogassa, from Hospital Albert Einstein, and André Murad, professor at UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais), with the pandemic caused by the coronavirus and the increase in flu cases in recent years. months, more cases of lung cancer, like that of the actress, have been discovered incidentally.

“Patients end up having a CT scan to check whether the viruses have harmed the lung, and as the method is the one with the greatest sensitivity to identify lung cancer, the chances increase for early detection”, says Murad, who says he has followed some similar cases in your office.

Experts explain that, when this happens, it is possible to consider that the patient was relatively “lucky”, since detection in the initial phase is rarer. “Usually, when lung cancer begins to show signs, it is because the tumor is already more advanced”, says the UFMG oncologist.

Data from Inca (National Cancer Institute) indicate that only 16% of cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, for which the five-year survival rate is 56%.

“For these patients, the treatment is usually surgical, just to remove the lesion. Depending on the patient, it can be considered to include chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy in the sequence”, explains Fogassa.

These additional therapies may be indicated before surgery if the disease is “locally advanced”, that is, it is not yet metastatic (has not spread to various areas of the body), but has already formed lymph nodes in the mediastinum (thoracic region), or touches the chest wall or in a vessel.

For metastatic conditions, in addition to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, target therapy and immunotherapy can be used — more expensive treatments that are not available in the SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde).

“In cases of lung cancer, we are often able to identify the genetic alteration that causes the tumors, and we use the so-called ‘targeted therapy’ to attack only that. Immunotherapy is a treatment that teaches the body’s own lymphocytes to attack the cells that cause cancer”, says Fogassa.

The UFMG professor says that, a few decades ago, those who had the disease at an advanced level were not expected to live longer than nine months. Now, the most modern therapies increase life expectancy by years.

“It doesn’t work for everyone, but it has revolutionized the treatment of cancer. In immunotherapy, for example, a lymphocyte has a life of 50 years, so it’s ‘like riding a bicycle’, it never forgets how to fight cancer. the patient lives longer.”

Symptoms, most common at this stage of the disease, include chronic cough (present for more than a month), shortness of breath, bloody sputum and pain in the chest region.

FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO LUNG CANCER

Cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for the development of lung cancer. According to Inca, about 85% of cases are associated with the consumption of tobacco products.

Being a passive smoker (breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke), inhaling toxic gases such as radon, released from the ground in regions rich in ores such as uranium, and exposing yourself to environmental pollution also increase the risk.

TYPES OF LUNG CANCER

The oncologist at Hospital Albert Einstein points out that there are three main types:

> Adenocarcinomas: represent the majority of cases. These are more peripheral lesions, which cause less pain and are a little less related to smoking. This type of malignant tumor that can reach almost every organ in the body.

> Squamous cell carcinoma: closely related to smoking and usually appears closer to the airways, bronchi and trachea. Its presence makes the symptoms a little faster and it is a little more aggressive than adenocacinoma.

> Small cells: It represents rarer cases and is a very aggressive variation of the disease. Because it spreads quickly, patients usually find out when the condition is already advanced.