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World Lung Cancer Day is celebrated every year on August 1. This important health awareness day commemorates the ongoing fight against one of the most widespread and deadly cancers. According to the World Health Organization, lung cancer claims more lives each year than colon, breast and liver cancers combined, and despite advances in prevention, screening and treatment, this cancer remains a major challenge for health systems.
According to data from 2022, approximately 1.81 million people died of lung cancer worldwide, with 2.48 million new cases, making it the most common cancer in the world and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with Italy accounting for 34,000 new deaths per year.
The main cause is tobacco smoke (even passive smoking), but it can also occur in people who have never smoked (15% of cases), but environmental pollution, exposure to chemicals such as asbestos, radon, exhaust gases, as well as genetic predisposition.
The journey to understand and fight this cancer has been a long one. In the early 19th century, it was an extremely rare disease, affecting less than 1% to 2% of the population. But by the mid-20th century, it had become the leading cause of cancer death in men in many countries. Initial theories pointed to air pollution and exposure to toxic gases during World War I. However, it was not until the 1940s and 1950s that scientific studies began to clearly establish the link between smoking and lung cancer, marking a turning point in public health, leading to widespread anti-smoking campaigns and a gradual decline in smoking rates in many countries.
In the United States, for example, mortality rates have been steadily decreasing, thanks to advances in treatments and growing public awareness of the dangers of smoking. Early diagnosis through screening programs has also played a crucial role in improving outcomes for many patients. This shows that primary and secondary prevention are just as important as innovations in treatment, and that the idea of launching screening programs (as has been done for breast, uterine and colorectal cancers) can impact not only the health of citizens but also the health of the country. Savings for the healthcare system: The social costs of lung cancer in Italy are estimated to be around €2.5 billion per year.
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