1 August, 2025
In support of World Lung Cancer Day on 1 August, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which ERS is a founding member, stresses the importance of awareness and understanding of lung cancer risk factors, as well as the importance of early detection through lung cancer screening.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide for both men and women. In 2020, there were 2.21 million new lung cancer cases globally and 1.80 million deaths.
While smoking is the single greatest risk factor for lung cancer, accounting for 85% of all cases, other lesser-known risk factors include environmental exposures and genetics. Environmental exposure to radon, asbestos, arsenic, beryllium and uranium has been linked to lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer also increases with a history of cancer in another part of the body, age, family history, radiation to the chest area and lung diseases like COPD.
“By coming together as a community of respiratory experts, we can impact the future of lung cancer care,” said Guy Marks, President of FIRS. “Through global collaboration, we have the power to raise awareness of lung cancer risk factors and to encourage early lung cancer screenings. The earlier lung cancer is detected, the sooner a patient can begin treatment. Lives can be saved through earlier detection and, together, we can positively impact the outcome of a lung cancer diagnosis.”
In accordance with the 2021 guideline for lung cancer screening, anyone who is a current tobacco user or has a history of smoking and is 50 years or older, may be a candidate for a screening low-dose CT scan. This is a step that can potentially detect lung cancer in its earliest stages.
Lung cancer symptoms include a cough that does not go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, and lung infections that keep coming back. Tests that may be used to diagnose lung cancer include physical examination, imaging (chest x-rays, CT scans, and MRI), bronchoscopy, or biopsy.