Pulmonary cancer is one of the most common types of cancer with almost 12,000 new cases diagnosed annually. It remains one of the main causes of cancer death, with a 19% weight (over 10,000 deaths registered annually). Currently, 3 out of 4 patients are present at the doctor in advanced stages of the disease.
Cancer in Plămăni, detected in advanced stages Photo: Archive
“Pulmonary cancer continues to occupy in Romania the first place as mortality, when we talk about an oncological disease, and the second place as an incidence. Every year, over 12,000 new cases of oncological disorders are detected in our country.” He claims the pneumologist, Dr. Cristian Oancea, manager of the Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pneumophysiology “Dr. Victor Babeș” in Timisoara.
“Statistically, at world level there are 643 people who find out this sad news every day. From the perspective of lung cancer the future does not sound good, without clear and precise interventions. Thus, it is expected that by 2040 the incidence will increase to 67%, and today, and in developed countries the survival of patients at 5 does not exceed 20%”, draws the attention of pneumologist Beatrice Mahler, in a Facebook page post.
According to the specialist, the screening of lung cancer is one of the solutions. Screening criteria applied in many states determine that any smoker over 55 years old who has smoked more than 1 package per day for 20 years, even though he has given up less than 15 years old, can perform a low -dose CT.
The specialist made a list of people to be supervised are:
-SPERS EXPOSED TO RAIN POLLUANTS IN THE AIR BREAKS,
-family members where there is an increased incidence of lung cancer.
Symptoms you need to be careful about:
-You have for more than a month, or in the last month the character of the cough has changed,
-You have an important, involuntary weight loss, and you do not have a craving.
-You are at a minimum effort,
-You have thoracic pain for several days in a row,
-You have hemoptysis, in other words, spit blood when you cough.
Over 80 percent of lung cancer cases detected in advanced stages of disease
A unique study in Romania, conducted at Victor Babeș Timișoara Hospital, shows that over 80 percent of lung cancer cases, detected in advanced stages of the disease.
The hospital for infectious diseases and pneumophysiology Dr. Victor Babeș Timișoara conducted a retrospective study on lung cancer, using artificial intelligence. The study was conducted together with the Polytechnic University of Timisoara.
Retrospective analysis included a sample of 4,206 patients diagnosed with lung cancer over 12 years, who were consulted at Victor Babeș Timișoara Hospital. The data were processed through several algorithms to identify relevant models and to stratify the population according to various clinical and demographic factors.
“The study extends over a long period, of 12 years, but, from the analysis of the data, we found that in the last 5 years there has been a dramatic increase, of 80%, of the number of patients diagnosed with an oncological disease. Our analysis shows that this increase reflects real epidemiological changes, which exceed the simplicity in the health system. Region, especially of improving diagnostic capabilities.
We managed to set up an ultra-performing imaging hub at Victor Babeș Hospital, which includes: two CT, two MRIs, one of which 3 Tesla, which helps us very much in the imaginary diagnosis of oncological diseases. If we speak in absolute figures, we have 5145 hospitalizations with the diagnosis of primary pulmonary neoplasm, between 2013-2024, and 4206 unique patients who were treated within the hospital.
In addition, we are talking about almost a doubling of cases in the last two years, I mean 2022-2024, when I registered 624 cases/year, compared to the period 2013-2020, when 345/year were diagnosed. And for 2025 the figure is increasing. The projection for this year is 700 new cases. It must be said that the study was eliminated from the pandemic period, for two years, when the hospital treated especially Covid 19 “, says prof. Univ. dr. Cristian Oancea, primary pneumologist.
The study has managed to identify distinct phenotypes of patients by unattended automatic learning methods and to characterize contributing factors, including demographic changes, changes in the medical system and geographical variations.
For example, from the analysis of comorbidities, it turned out that in the case of the COPD the direct impact is between 44 and 80 percent, and asthma has an influence of up to 15 percent. Another respiratory disease, emphysema directly impacts up to 42 percent, and the bronchectations between 18 and 31 percent. However, all figures are correlated in various proportions with pollution.
“Unfortunately, we have not yet reached the tip, because we are talking about exposures to various factors, smoking, asbestos, and so on, from 1990-2000. We expect the number of lung cancers to continue, in a high percentage, until 2035”, warns Dr. Oancea.
Ion Iliescu was suffering from lung cancer
Ion Iliescu, an emblematic figure of the recent history of Romania, died on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 3:55 pm, at 95, the Government of Romania and the Emergency Clinical Hospital “Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu” announced. The former president was admitted for two months, and for three days he was in a coma. The health status of the former president has been significantly damaged in the last 48 hours. Ion Iliescu was in a critical state, characterized by the progressive installation of multiple organ dysfunctions. He was suffering from lung cancer.
The state funerals of the former president of Romania, Ion Iliescu, will take place on August 6 and 7, 2025, at the Cotroceni Palace and at Ghencea 3 in Bucharest. State organized ceremonies include a moment of public silence, a religious ceremony and a funeral with military honors. The burial will take place in a private setting, in the presence of the family and the close ones.
The day of August 7, 2025 was declared a national mourning day on the territory of Romania, in memory of the former President Ion Iliescu. All central and local public institutions and public authorities will fly the flag of Romania in Bern, the government said.
