Cancer is a disease whose risk increases with time. But what happens when it develops in the lungs?
with approx 53,000 new cases in 2023 In France, lung cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in men and the 3rd in women. Its main risk factor is smoking: 80% of lung cancer is attributed to tobacco And all forms of tobacco are related (cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, hookahs, cannabis, etc.). Passive smoking The risk of cancer also increases. But this is not the only factor observed by doctors. With increasing age, the probability of developing cancer also increases. More time passes, more The number of lesions is likely to accumulate Cells proliferate. The risk of developing lung cancer increases significantly If you smoke, depending on how long you have smoked, at what age you started smoking, how many cigarettes are smoked per day and if you have other risk factors (personal or family history, exposure to irritants…). “The incidence of lung cancer remains quite late Because it is connected in most cases Exposure to tobacco of sufficient duration so that it can cause tumors, warns him Professor Jesus González, pulmonologist at the PT-Salpêtrière University Hospital and president of the French-Language Pneumology Society (SPLF).
It does not cause specific symptoms in the early stages.
“Tobacco smoking leads to the accumulation of tar DNA mutations. DNA changes during exposure to tobacco smoke can cause cells to turn into cancer cells.“, explains Dr. Maurice Perol, a medical oncologist specializing in thoracic cancer at the Leon Berard Center in Lyon. So it is a cancer that affects the most. People above 60 years of age. The National Cancer Institute (INCA) estimates the average age at diagnosis:
- 68 years old in man
- 66 years old in women
At first there are no specific symptoms
More cause of lung cancer is a Cancer in the elderly It is often Late diagnosis. Early diagnosis is difficult. “Sometimes lung cancer develops over several months or even a year or two, but It does not cause specific symptoms in the early stages. This often appears late. For years, the body resists until it can no longer do so. The lungs represent a volume of 6 liters, So we can imagine that for any discomfort, the tumor must already be large. This is why 3/4 of lung cancers are detected in France detected in the metastatic setting“, describes Professor Gonzalez.
A cough that persists and worsens, coughing up blood, persistent chest pain, sudden loss of appetite and weight, chronic fatigue, difficulty breathing, or recurrent bronchitis should occur. To consult your general practitioner who will perform an initial clinical examination and may then refer you to a specialist or prescribe tests if cancer is suspected.
- Panorama of Cancer in France Edition 2023 – Inca
- Screening for lung cancer in smokers – University Center for General Medicine and Public Health (Laussen)
