A collective is campaigning for “lung cancer screening using low-dose scanners”.
- Survival has increased significantly in lung cancer with a 26.6% drop in 2-year mortality between the years 2000 and 2020.
- However, 60% of individuals remain diagnosed at the metastatic stage which is generally considered non-curable.
- The “Together we lungs” Collective is mobilizing to raise public awareness “on the screening of this pathology by low-dose scanner”.
While lung cancer remains the deadliest in France, collective “Together we lungs” mobilizes to raise public awareness “on the detection of this pathology by low-dose scanner”.
The European Council published a recommendation in December 2022 inviting Member States to “study the feasibility and effectiveness of low-dose CT screening”, with particular attention to “identification and targeting of high-risk profiles”. In France, as part of the ten-year strategy against cancer, INCa has committed itself from the beginning of 2022 to the development of a pilot program for organized lung cancer screening.
Lung cancer: 60% of individuals remain diagnosed at the metastatic stage
The preliminary results of the KBP-2020-CPHG study show that in 20 years, survival has increased significantly in lung cancer with a drop in 2-year mortality of 26.6% between the years 2000 and 2020 (this reduction even reaches 34% in patients benefiting from treatment). “Unfortunately, 60% of individuals remain diagnosed at the metastatic stage which is generally considered non-curable. Screening for lung cancer makes it possible to increase the proportion of patients treated early, therefore eligible for curative treatments, which increases the chances of recovery and survival”, estimates the collective in a press release.
“Screening by low-dose chest CT also makes it possible to consider screening for other pathologies such as pulmonary emphysema or coronary calcifications (a marker of cardiovascular risk). Screening must also be systematically associated with smoking cessation “In fact, a person who stops smoking tobacco at the age of 50 sees their risk of developing lung cancer reduced by 50% over the course of their life.” specify the activists.
Lung cancer: 82% of smokers in favor of screening
According to the 2021 cancer barometer published by INCa, 82% of smokers daily routines would be favorable to participation in a lung cancer screening program. Nearly a third of those questioned even declared having already taken an X-ray or CT scan of the lungs (46% at the request of a health professional, 32% on their own initiative).
In France, lung cancer is the 3rd most common cancer with 52,777 new cases diagnosed in 2023, including 33,438 new cases in men and 19,339 new cases in women.
Collective “Together we lungs” is made up of oncologists, pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, radiologists, pathologists and patient associations. His ambition: “eliminate lung cancer as a cause of death”.
