Reasons for high lung cancer mortality rate

What is the reason for the high mortality rate of lung cancer? The best time for treatment. In view of the high incidence of lung cancer in my country and some problems in current treatment. A famous lung cancer expert in my country said that although the treatment situation of advanced lung cancer is still severe, the clinical application of molecular targeted drugs has brought a turnaround in the treatment effect of advanced lung cancer patients. Lung cancer patients should have firm confidence and persist in treatment. We must believe that the continuous development of science will inevitably bring more fruitful results for the public to benefit from.

During the interview, Professor Zhi Xiuyi and Professor Li Longyun answered questions from reporters about lung cancer treatment.

1. Question: What is the main reason for the high mortality rate among lung cancer patients?

Expert: About 20% of lung cancer patients can undergo surgery immediately after diagnosis, while the other 80% do not have the opportunity for surgery, or even if they do, they will not benefit substantially. The efficacy of chemotherapy is also relatively limited, so the survival of patients is not ideal.

2. Question: What is the overall situation of lung cancer in my country at present?

Expert: The results of the third national population death cause survey released by the Ministry of Health in 2008 show that the incidence and mortality of malignant tumors have ranked first among the causes of death of urban residents in China, surpassing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and becoming the "number one killer" that endangers the health of urban residents in my country. Among them, lung cancer is the cancer with the highest incidence and mortality of malignant tumors. There are 350 million smokers and 540 million passive smokers in my country. In addition to the aging of the population, the accelerated process of urban industrialization, severe air pollution and environmental pollution, and unhealthy lifestyles, the incidence of lung cancer will continue to rise, and it has become a common and frequently-occurring disease that has entered the lives of the people. In Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and large and medium-sized cities, the mortality rate of lung cancer is as high as more than 25%.

3. Question: Is there an ideal treatment for patients with lung cancer that is already in the advanced stage when it is discovered?

Expert: We are not helpless for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. For patients who can tolerate chemotherapy, past experience shows that a platinum-containing double chemotherapy regimen can improve survival. However, the efficacy of platinum chemotherapy is not long-lasting, and patients will eventually progress. The efficacy of chemotherapy for retreatment patients is limited, and the toxic effects are obvious. In recent years, with the emergence of targeted therapy, a new treatment method, patients with advanced lung cancer have new options for treatment, giving patients the opportunity to improve survival. Targeted therapy drugs include monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Clinical trials have shown that some targeted drugs are significantly better than chemotherapy in second-line treatment.

4. Q: The situation of lung cancer is so serious, how should we deal with it?

Expert: First of all, we should strive for early detection and early diagnosis to obtain the best treatment opportunities, that is, strive for surgical treatment and strive to achieve five-year survival. Early diagnosis is very important. First, people should establish health awareness and insist on participating in health check-ups every year. Moderate and severe smokers should do health check-ups every year and have chest CT scans; second, if there are symptoms such as irritating dry cough, blood in sputum, or blood in sputum, you should be vigilant and go to the hospital in time for a chest X-ray or chest CT scan; third, it is recommended that the government conduct lung cancer screening in high-incidence areas and high-risk groups, early detection, early detection, and early treatment, so that the survival rate of lung cancer patients will increase.