'Lung cancer claims 2.1 mn deaths globally every year'

Hamirpur: Lung cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers worldwide, claiming 2.1 million deaths globally every year, said Dr. Naresh Purohit, Advisor to the National Cancer Control Programme.

Speaking to UNl here after addressing a webinar organized by the Mandi-based Atal Medical Research University (AMRU) on Monday night, the epidemiologist and preventive oncology expert said that lung cancer accounts for 5.9 per cent of all cancers and 8.1 per cent of all cancer-related deaths.

Dr. Purohit, however, said lung cancer was preventable. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer by 24-36 times. The risk is 3.5 per cent in passive smoking.

He pointed out that the cancer burden in India was expected to increase to 29.8 million in 2025.

He said that exposure to second-hand smoke also increased the risk in non-smokers. The other risks include air pollution, previous radiation therapy, exposure to radon gas, exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens.

"Lung cancer affects both genders and may present with a myriad of symptoms. Though primarily seen in smokers, 10 to 15 percent of lung cancers occur in non-smokers as well," he said.

People with an increased risk of lung cancer must consider annual lung cancer screening, using low-dose CT scan. An X-Ray chest, CT chest or sputum cytology is advised depending on symptoms. Tissue biopsy is required for diagnosis, confirmation and identification of cancer, experts say. (UNI)