‘Lung cancer remains leading cause of death among men’

In the hospital-based cancer registry (HBCR) , lung cancer was consistently ranked amongst the top five cancers among men, constituting about 7.5 per cent of all cancer cases in Chennai. The study also stated that patients received correct diagnosis only in the advanced stage of disease, with 69.3 per cent in stage IV and 21.8 per cent in stage III. It also noted that more than 75 per cent patients received delayed diagnosis, either due to self-medication or not consulting any physician.

Commenting on the study, author Dr Arvind Krishnamurthy said that the reason for misdiagnosis is often lack of awareness. In a country like India where the incidence rate of TB is very high, lung cancer can be misdiagnosed as TB. Thus, further investigations such as sputum test, x-rays and low dose CT scan needs to be ensured to eliminate possibility of misdiagnosis, moving beyond just initial diagnosis and offering the patient the right treatment at the right time,” he said.

Tobacco and smoking remain the number one risk factor for lung cancer even today. Second-hand smoking and exposure to carcinogens has also increased lung cancer incidence and mortality.

“While tobacco use remains the biggest risk attributed to lung cancer, the alarming rise in the incidence of lung cancer among non-smokers in India is worrisome. Non-smokers are 20-30 percent more likely to develop lung cancer if they are exposed to second-hand smoke at home or at work. Apart from this, there are multiple risk factors, including environmental, hormonal, genetic, indoor pollution, coal stove smoke and more, all contributing to the incidence of lung cancer in never-smokers,” added Dr Arvind.