Doctors sound warning about lung cancer
The incidence of lung cancer in China has increased by 465 percent over the past 30 years, giving the country the largest number of lung cancer patients in the world, local doctors said during a recent seminar. What's more, over 700,000 new lung cancer cases are identified in China every year.
Dr Han Baohui from Shanghai Chest Hospital said lung cancer is the most common cancer among men, and the second-most common among women. It's also the top cancer killer for patients of both sexes.
“There are no typical symptoms for people with early-stage lung cancer. About 75 percent of patients who come to the hospital with symptoms like coughing and chest pain are terminal-stage and have missed the chance for effective surgery. Their chance for five-year survival is less than 15 percent,” Han said.
Doctors said regular medical checks and low-dose CT scans for at-risk individuals are vital for early cancer detection.
High-risks individuals include those who are over 45 years old, smokers, have a history of lung disease and other cancers, or vocational exposure to hazardous materials.
“We have found an increase in female non-smokers for still-unknown reasons. Meanwhile, the incidence of one type of lung cancer common among male smokers has dropped, with may be due to a decrease in the number of people smoking," Han said.
Dr Han Baohui from Shanghai Chest Hospital gives a speech on early lung cancer detection and screening.
