New developments in lung cancer research with genetic testing, stereotactic body radiotherapy, linking targeted cancer drug delivery mechanism and immunotherapy could lead to more survival and recovery for the patients who have lung cancer, said renowned oncologist and Director at newly-inaugurated KIMS Cancer Center, Prof Dr Bidhu Kalyan Mohanti.
Speaking on the disease progression, detection, and the trend on the occasion of the World Lung Cancer Day, 2022, Prof Mohanti, who is heading the ultra-modern centre for cancer care under the city-based Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), said, “Overall lung cancer now ranks within the top five cancers in Odisha as it comes in the rank of five followed by stomach, mouth, breast and cervical cancers. However, in males, while stomach and mouth come in the top two ranks, lung cancer comes third.’’
The renowned oncologist, who has long years of experience in cancer management while serving at AIIMS Delhi and top Indian oncology centres in the country and abroad however, said “There is no population-based cancer registry in Odisha to know exactly how many are suffering from what type of cancers in the State. However, now the Government of Odisha has started the move to make it happen so that we can get a correct picture of the cancer burden and cancer types in near future.’’
Prof Mohanti, who is also a founding member of the Indian Association of Palliative Care, said lung cancer mainly affects people aged 50 years plus (in 80 percent cases).
On the survival of the lung cancer patients, he, however, informed that relating to other cancer patients like mouth, breast and cervix the survival rate is very less and 50 percent of the lung cancer
patients die within the first year of their diagnosis. Providing the reason for it, the expert said, “Our 70 to 80 percent lung cancer patients are detected very late and the diagnosis is done either at advanced Stage-III or Stage-IV. However, if someone is diagnosed very early then survival rate might be within 60 to 70 percent.’’