Professor Cristian Oancea, primary pulmonologist and manager of the Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Victor Babeș” in Timișoara, emphasizes that one in five cases of broncho-pulmonary cancer are not caused by smoking, but by other factors. “Every hour, at least one Romanian dies of cancer“, warns the doctor.
1 in 5 cases of broncho-pulmonary cancer are not caused by smoking – Photo Archive
“Indeed, 80% of broncho-pulmonary cancer is caused by cigarettes, but 20% is caused by exposure to biomass, i.e. burning coal or wood, exposure to radon – and here we are in fourth place in the European Union for this inert gas, but which is very carcinogenic and which we do not feel because it is colorless, odorless -, exposure to microparticles, polluting factors. So there are a lot of factors and genetic transmission is added to these lately. We must be aware that at least every hour, a Romanian dies of cancer”said Cristian Oancea, Thursday evening, on Medika TV, according to News.ro.
He explained that lung cancer mortality is increasing among women, adding that data suggest that breast neoplasms can metastasize to the lungs.
“We must be aware that only prevention policies, i.e. smoking cessation, and low-dose chest CT screening programs are the only aspects, at this time, with which we can reduce mortality“, added the doctor.
The pulmonologist noted that a low-dose CT scan of the chest emits the equivalent of four x-rays, while a normal-dose CT scan emits much more radiation. This low-dose method is more effective in detecting disease compared to radiography.
“The fact that we have given up smoking is very good, because it reduces the risk of cancer or heart attack. But 60% of patients with broncho-pulmonary cancer are ex-smokers, so the fact that you have given up smoking does not mean that the risk is zero. In our lungs are those carcinogens that over time develop those tumors. Unfortunately, the lung not having pain receptors, like the breast and the brain, these tumors grow, develop, and in 80% of cases patients come to us for an infectionit is”, said the doctor.
Dr. Cristian Oancea believes that the official data on broncho-pulmonary cancer are incomplete, because many elderly people, having symptoms of the disease, avoid investigations, remaining undiagnosed.
According to a new Eurobarometer, one in three Romanians smokes, which places us in 4th place in Europe in terms of the number of smokers. Tobacco causes 700,000 deaths every year and is the main preventable health risk in the EU. Long-term smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer, with almost 12,000 new cases diagnosed annually in Romania, of which only a quarter survive.
