The later lung cancer is detected, the shorter the life expectancy? The survival rate at the end of the period dropped to "10% left"! "Group 2" are eligible for rapid screening
The later lung cancer is detected, the shorter your life span will be! Taiwan Health Promotion Administration: Survival rate dropped from 90% to less than 10%
Lung cancer is the cancer with the highest mortality rate in the world. Although the standardized mortality rate of lung cancer in Taiwan dropped by 14.6% from 2011 to 2021, it still ranks as the first cause of cancer death in Taiwan, accounting for one-fifth (19.4%) of all cancer deaths in 2021. The main reason why lung cancer patients have a low survival rate is that early-stage lung cancer has no obvious symptoms. People only seek medical treatment if they have significant symptoms, and most of them are diagnosed at an advanced stage. The National Health Administration stated that according to Taiwan’s cancer registration data in 2019, 1 out of every 2 diagnosed cases of lung cancer is already in stage 4. The 5-year survival rate for early-stage lung cancer (stages 0 and 1) reaches over 90%, but drops sharply to 10% for stage 4. The survival rates vary greatly between stages, which also shows the importance of early screening for lung cancer.
Starting from July 1, 2022, the Health Promotion Administration will subsidize free low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for groups at high risk of lung cancer every two years. From July 1 to September 19, 7,557 people in Taiwan have used this plan, including 4,200 (55.6%) men and 3,357 (44.4%) women; 4,470 (59.2%) of them have a family history of lung cancer. 2,753 people (36.4%) were heavy smokers, and 334 people (4.4%) were heavy smokers with a family history of lung cancer.
After 81 days of implementation, the program has identified 21 confirmed lung cancer cases, of which 95.2% (20 people) were early stage (stage 0 and 1) cases, and only 1 (4.8%) was stage 3 lung cancer, showing LDCT lung cancer screening can indeed help diagnose lung cancer early and allow people to receive treatment as early as possible to significantly reduce the risk of lung cancer death. If distinguished by risk factors, 18 people (85.7%) had a family history of lung cancer, 2 people (9.5%) were heavy smokers, and 1 person (4.8%) was a heavy smoker with a family history of lung cancer.
Lung cancer screening helps with early detection! If the “two high-risk groups” are eligible, examinations can be arranged
Taiwan Health Promotion Administration emphasizes that LDCT is currently the only screening tool with international evidence that it can detect lung cancer early. Therefore, eligible high-risk groups are encouraged to undergo regular screening for early detection and early treatment. Objects include:
Family history of lung cancer: Men aged 50 to 74 or women aged 45 to 74, whose parents, children or siblings have been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Heavy smokers: 50 to 74 years old with a smoking history of more than 30 packs per year, heavy smokers who are willing to quit smoking or have quit smoking for less than 15 years.
Currently, the Taiwan Health Promotion Administration has joined hands with 123 hospitals in Taiwan to promote the “Lung Cancer Early Detection Program”. Eligible people can make appointments and check up at hospitals contracted by the National Health Department for lung cancer screening. Among the people tested in this program, 11.7% had suspected abnormal lung nodules, and most of the lung nodules were benign. Academician Yang Panchi of the Academia Sinica also recommended that people whose test results are suspected to be abnormal must follow their doctor’s instructions for regular follow-up to observe whether there are new or changed nodules. As for those who have been diagnosed with lung cancer, they should cooperate with the doctor’s treatment plan and receive early diagnosis and treatment. In addition, the Taiwan Health Promotion Administration also reminds that LDCT can only detect lung cancer early and cannot reduce the incidence of lung cancer. By quitting smoking, reducing second-hand smoke, and developing healthy living habits, you can reduce the risk of lung cancer.
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