The lung cancer it is the second most common cancer affecting both women and men. In the year 2021, according to data from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncologyin Spain there was 29,549 new cases of lung cancer. It is the type of cancer with the highest mortality in the world. In our country some 23,000 people die each year from lung cancer. Oncologists warn that this tumor It is increasing in women, in young people and in non-smokerss. According to the latest data from the Gecp Thoracic Tumor Registry, 35% of the cases where lung cancer is most frequently diagnosed continues to be in the 60 to 70-year-old group. However, in recent years, in people between 40 and 50 years has increased by 6%. Margarita Majem, an oncologist at the Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona and vice-president of ICAPEM, affirms that the diagnosis of lung cancer in non-smokers It is more and more frequent in our country. “15% of all lung cancers detected in Spain already occur in non-smokers, two out of three cases are women, probably due to environmental and genetic factors,” says Majem. Experts point out that in the last decade the incidence of this tumor has increased by 17%, and diagnosis is currently more frequent in young women.

Tobacco is the enemy of lung cancer

It is time to fight actively and raise awareness both among citizens and institutions. For this reason, one of the messages launched is to end smoking, especially in the youngest groups. Mariano Provencio, president of Gecp, confirms that “the traditional and electronic cigarette It is the enemy and the main cause of this type of tumor”. Resources for research into this type of cancer and its early detection are essential in the fight against cancer. Today, the average time between the diagnosis of the disease and the Start of treatment is one to three months.. 77% of patients receive chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapies, 44% radiotherapy treatment and 23% surgery.