India just launched its most comprehensive lung cancer screening program to date as the country grapples with the terrible impact of widespread air pollution. The nation is known for having a large number of smokers too.
This announcement comes as Lung Cancer Awareness Month draws to a close. The initiative was brought forth by the private healthcare provider Apollo Cancer Centres (ACC). It will focus on screening subjects with low-dose CT scans.
Like other programs around the globe, it will prioritize people ages 50 to 80 and those with a history of smoking.
“Lung cancer is frequently detected only at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited,” ACC Dehli oncologist, Dr SVS Deo, said. “By combining precision diagnostics with patient-focused treatment, this programme offers the best chance for recovery and significantly improves survival rates.”
Deteriorating air quality in India recently inspired the nation’s Commission for Air Quality Monitoring to implement stricter measures to reduce smog and protect residents. They include enhanced construction emission monitoring and requesting that schools conduct more classes online, among other things. The main focus is the Dehli-National Capital Region, a densely populated and heavily polluted area.
Some have compared a day of breathing Dehli air as being equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes. India aims to reduce its pollution by 40 per cent in comparison to 2017 levels within the next two years — an ambitious and difficult goal to achieve.
Listen to your lungs—they’re trying to tell you something.
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in India, often due to late diagnosis. To address this, Apollo Cancer Centres presents the #LungLife Screening Program for early detection @AhmedabadApollo pic.twitter.com/hjZFogFN9j— Neeraj Lal (@NeerajLal16) November 29, 2024
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Air pollution causes 2 million premature deaths per annum in India
That’s about 5,400 people every day who fall victim to the toxicity present in the air.
The primary causes are vehicle and construction emissions, coal power plants, factories, farmers burning crop residue or stubble and inefficient dust control measures.
Some say that the air quality in Dehli-NCR has been steadily getting worse for the past 24 years. One doctor thinks this will lead to a lung cancer epidemic in the coming decades.
“That is precisely the reason why lung cancer is increasing in incidence, it is occurring at a younger age, it is increasing in women and it is increasing in the non-smoking population,” thoracic surgeon, Dr. Arvind Kumar, explained in an interview with IndiaSpend.
“In fact, I reckon that in the next two decades, India will probably see an epidemic of lung cancer.”
Kumar says nearly half of the lung cancer patients he sees have nevered smoked a day in their life.
A lung cancer awareness program was held today in the nation’s city of Varanasi, just under 500 miles southeast of Dehli.
Lung Cancer Awareness Program held today at Tata Memorial Centre, Varanasi with 250+ patients and caregivers.
Every step forward is a step toward hope.
Together, we can fight, raise awareness & inspire@Bipinesh Great work#CancerSupport #FightCancer #IndiaDetectsToDefeat pic.twitter.com/3oEmwP7PFo
— Dr Akhil Kapoor (@drakhilkapoor1) November 29, 2024
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