In our country, it is estimated that 6,786 people died of lung cancer in 2020.

“Yet lung cancer, like many other types of cancer, could be prevented. It is worth noting that approximately half of cancer cases could be prevented with basic lifestyle changes” notes Dr. Eleni Galani, Pathologist – Oncologist, Deputy Director of the 2nd Oncology Clinic Metropolitan Hospital and adds:

“In lung cancer the first risk factor is proven to be smoking, so the change would be to stop smoking. Over 80% of lung cancer cases are due to smoking. The second risk factor is obesity, which is linked to more than 10 different types of cancer. Proper nutrition as well as increased physical activity have been found to be a key shield against cancer. Also, preventive screening tests such as mammography, colonoscopy, Pap test and the vaccine against the wart virus contribute significantly to the reduction of deaths from cancer. But today, in addition to adopting a culture of prevention, we have other very important weapons in our hands for the battle against cancer, in all its stages. Let’s look at all our weapons in detail,” he continues.

Prevention of lung cancer through lifestyle

The first thing we need to get out of our lives is smoking. In fact, since it is still too early to talk about the safety and possible side effects of alternative forms of smoking (vaping or heating tobacco), and since they also involve nicotine and/or various chemicals, the best of all for our health would be to avoid any form of smoking. Also in our diet we should avoid foods that have preservatives, as well as super processed foods in general. We should also limit alcohol consumption, as it puts a heavy burden on the body and is positively correlated with an increase in the incidence of cancer. If we include exercise in such a lifestyle, then we have a “package” of prevention”, points out the expert.

Screening for smokers (and ex-smokers)

An effective screening for smokers (and ex-smokers who have stopped smoking for less than 15 years) has been developed in recent years. “This is the so-called low-dose computed tomography, which has the potential to diagnose lung cancer at an early stage. Annually performing a low-dose CT scan without contrast for people over 50 appears to significantly reduce lung cancer mortality. This, because its detection at an early stage increases the possibility of a complete cure, unlike cases of lung cancer that are diagnosed at an advanced stage, so there we are not talking about a cure but about prolonging life,” he explains.

New treatments

“Today, in addition to chemotherapy, patients and oncologists have at our disposal a series of new, smart treatments. We have the ability to “look” at what is “broken” in the gene, find it and target it with the so-called targeted therapies, which in some cases are also very friendly, they are e.g. oral pills, and they give the patient not only life extension but also quality of life, what we call quality survival. Another powerful weapon at our disposal today in addition to targeted therapies is immunotherapy. Immunotherapy, or rather immunotherapies, seem to make a difference in the prognosis and survival of patients with lung cancer,” concludes Dr. Galani.