World Lung Cancer Day Date in the current year: August 1, 2024

Lung cancer is a malignant lung tumor that results from an uncontrolled growth of cells in the lung tissues. The overwhelming majority of all lung cancers are carcinomas, i.e. tumors that develop from epithelial cells. Other types of lung cancer, such as lymphomas and sarcomas of the lung, are extremely rare. Because of this, lung cancer is often referred to as lung carcinoma.

Long-term tobacco smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer. It is responsible for the development of the tumor in 85% cases of the disease. However, about 15% of people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked in their lives. In these cases, lung cancer is caused by other factors such as second-hand smoke, exposure to radon or asbestos, or air pollution. In about 8% of cases, lung cancer is caused by genetic factors.

Most lung cancer symptoms are non-specific. They include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, coughing up blood, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, fatigue, fever, and weight loss. In about 10% of cases, people with lung cancer have no symptoms at all and are diagnosed accidentally during a routine check-up.

Due to this, lung cancer is often diagnosed at late stages and therefore has a high mortality rate. The five-year survival rate for lung cancer patients is 10 to 20% in most countries except for Japan, Israel and South Korea, where outcomes are generally better. According to statistics, lung cancer is the most fatal cancer globally in both men and women. It is responsible for approximately 25% of all cancer deaths, killing 1.8 million people each year.

The choice of the treatment method for patients with lung cancer depends on the specific cell type of the cancer, the spread of tumor cells, and the patient’s general well-being. Common treatments include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, bronchoscopy, and palliative care. For the treatment to be effective, patients must quit smoking before they undergo the treatment.

World Lung Cancer Day is observed every August 1 to raise awareness of this type of cancer and the importance of screening and timely diagnosis. World Lung Cancer Day events are organized by multiple lung cancer and respiratory societies across the world. Their main goals are to educate people about lung cancer and its key risk factors, raise awareness about the global impact of this type of cancer, highlight the importance of lung cancer screening, and support lung cancer patients.

How can you observe World Lung Cancer Day? First of all, it is a great occasion to learn more about this type of cancer even if you don’t smoke because, sadly, anyone can get lung cancer even though certain factors do increase the risk. You can also observe the day by committing to living a healthier lifestyle, donating to a lung cancer patient organization, and raising awareness on social media with the hashtag #WorldLungCancerDay.