Importance of Early Diagnosis in Lung Cancer

Dr. Murat Kıyık, a chest diseases specialist at Yedikule Training and Research Hospital and member of the Respiratory Health and Intensive Care Society (ASYOD), emphasised the importance of detecting lung cancer at an early stage, stating: "Through immunotherapy, targeted treatments, and precision radiotherapy applications, we are moving towards making lung cancer a treatable disease or converting it into a chronic condition. With targeted treatments, the disease can become chronic with just a few pills taken daily." The National Respiratory Health Congress (UASK 2022) with international participation, organised by the Respiratory Health and Intensive Care Society (ASYOD) in Antalya Belek, brought together numerous chest diseases and thoracic surgery specialists from Turkey and around the world. The congress discussed current information on diseases followed and treated by chest diseases specialists, new diagnostic and treatment methods, interesting cases encountered, and clinical problems faced by physicians in the field. Kıyık noted that lung cancer is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths both globally and in Turkey. "Emphasis on early stage" Responding to the question "Is lung cancer increasing," Kıyık said: "We can answer it this way. Is smoking increasing? Yes, unfortunately smoking is increasing. We are seeing increased smoking rates among children from age 11 onwards. First and foremost, it is necessary not to get cancer. Just as accident risk increases when you speed while driving, lung cancer risk increases if we smoke, work in certain occupations that can cause cancer, or when protective measures are not taken. Once cancer develops, our wish is to detect lung cancer at an early stage." "Survival and disease-free rates increased" Specialist Dr. Murat Kıyık, emphasising the importance of early detection when cancer cannot be prevented, stated: "Screening programmes exist worldwide. With low-dose lung CT scans, we aim to detect and treat cancer at an earlier stage. There are various interventions for treatment. Currently, there are extraordinary developments in lung cancer treatment. Ten years ago, lung cancer survival and disease-free rates were at 12-15 percent, today they have risen to around 25 percent. These rates are modest, of course, but we hope developments will continue. In early-stage lung cancer treatment, surgical tumour removal has been on the agenda for a long time, so there hasn't been much change in this regard." "Promising developments in treatment" Highlighting that patients often present at advanced stages, Kıyık said: "Through immunotherapy, targeted treatments, and precision radiotherapy applications, we are moving towards making lung cancer a treatable disease or converting it into a chronic condition. With targeted treatments, the disease can become chronic with just a few pills taken daily. Although these are long-term treatments and carry high costs, since they are preventive and therapeutic in nature, it is gratifying for us to have patients whom we have treated for 10-15 years. Immunotherapy strengthens body immunity and converts immune cells into those fighting cancer. These are promising. Like lung cancer, they are promising for other cancers as well, but they are expensive treatments. Their development, further combination therapies, and the rapid continuation of new research offer hope in cancer treatment," he said. "A new chapter opens" Describing what is experienced when encountering a patient with lung cancer, Kıyık said: "We see how the family is devastated, and the patient begins to question themselves. The patient initially enters depression, and their subsequent life changes completely. A completely new chapter opens in their life. We see them initially resisting, denying the disease, and then accepting it. Without falling into these situations, I wish smoking could be quit and protective measures could be followed." he concluded.