[Focus] Together against lung cancer, said WCLC 2016 President
Channel: CNS
Date: 2016-06-07

Dr Robert Pirker is the President of 17th IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2016) in Vienna, Austria later this year (official conference website is: http://wclc2016.iaslc.org). Dr Robert Pirker is also the Professor of Medicine and Program Director for Lung Cancer, Department of Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. He was on the International Committee of IASLC Asia Pacific Lung Cancer Conference (APLCC 2016) which recently concluded in Chiang Mai, Thailand (13-15 May 2016: www.aplcc2016.com).

Dr Pirker said in this exclusive video interview with CNS that for low income countries primary prevention of lung cancer is of utmost public health importance. As tobacco is a major risk factor for lung cancer, tobacco control is a public health imperative!

He also speaks about lung cancer in non-smokers. Approximately 70% of lung cancer cases are smoking related – though it depends upon where you live! In Central Europe over 80% of lung cancer cases are tobacco related. In some parts of Asia lung cancer in non-smokers is also considerable. But tobacco is a known cause of lung cancer and that is why tobacco control can help decrease this epidemic of lung cancer.

Lung cancer screening by evidence-based tools such as low dose CT scans is one promising strategy. High rate of false positive results with low dose CT scan is a major concern. Scientists need to find answers to questions such as how can we reduce high rates of false positivity? Another strategy could be to limit screening to those who may be at higher risk such as heavy smokers. 

There are significant scientific advancements made in lung cancer treatments. We have chemotherapy for years, targeted therapies are becoming more available, immunotherapy and other novel treatments are very promising but perfectly in combination with biomarkers so that we can predict patients who will benefit most from these treatments. 

If not everybody who needs lung cancer care gets access then it raises lot of ethical problems. How can we decrease development cost that is another challenge.

Lung cancer is one cancer which has one of the highest symptom load – so patients of lung cancer have a lot of symptoms and palliative care becomes so much more important.

APLCC 2016: For more information, please see APLCC 2016 official website: www.APLCC2016.com | Follow APLCC 2016 on Twitter: @APLCC2016 and Facebook.com/APLCC2016
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Focus, is a CNS video series on current global health and development priorities. This is episode 61.
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