To raise awareness during November’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month, President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), Dr. Satheesh Kathula, has emphasized the impact of lung cancer.
According to Dr. Kathula, a Hematologist and Oncologist, each year, 2.5 million people globally receive a lung cancer diagnosis, which remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with 1.8 million fatalities annually.
Dr. Kathula, emphasized that lung cancer is among the most preventable types of cancer. “Smoking is by far the largest risk factor, accounting for more than 80 per cent of lung cancers,” he explained adding, “but other risks include exposure to pollution, radon, asbestos, and infections like TB, HIV, or autoimmune disorders.”
He stressed that quitting smoking is the most crucial preventive step, along with minimizing exposure to pollution, radon, and asbestos. For individuals with a history of 20 pack-years of smoking, he recommended an annual low-dose CT chest scan, unless they have quit smoking for over 15 years.
Dr. Kathula added, “Despite the high risk, only 5 per cent of eligible individuals get screened for lung cancer, compared to 90 per cent of women who get mammograms for breast cancer. It is essential to encourage smokers to get screened, as early detection significantly improves survival rates.”
