Lung cancer: Environmental pollution as main cause

The pollution indexes that Mexico City has presented in recent days make it necessary to raise awareness of the relationship between environmental pollution and lung cancer, the low-dose, high-resolution chest tomography (CT) is the most effective way to detect it.

Environmental pollution: a risk factor

In October 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that environmental pollution can cause lung cancer. Until then it was considered a risk factor but studies by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), in the words of researcher Kurt Straif, declared that environmental pollution is as dangerous as exposure to asbestos, tobacco, radiation, etc. A thoracic surgeon can diagnose and treat this condition properly.

The combustion of hydrocarbons such as gasoline and diesel suspend microscopic particles that can be deposited in the lungs. This is the conclusion of the panel of experts obtained after reviewing more than 1,000 studies on this topic.

Some of the most polluted cities on the planet are in Asia, specifically China and India, but other cities such as Mexico City are not far behind, where the pollution indexes of the last few days have set off the alarm bells and activated phase I of the environmental contingency.

The most frequently found pollutants in the air are divided into:

Primary, which are those products of combustion such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and suspension of heavy metals such as lead (Pb).

Secondary pollutants are those that are formed from the interaction of primary factors with other compounds, resulting in compounds even more harmful than the primary ones. These include ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), among others.

What can be done in this regard on contingency days?

The ideal is to avoid, as far as possible, prolonged exposure to ambient air in places with the highest concentration of pollutants. Of course, this is difficult to do since, for example, one can choose whether to smoke or not, whether to expose oneself to toxic materials or not, but it is difficult not to expose oneself to the air we breathe.

Ideally, outdoor activities, outdoor commerce, sports, etc. should be suspended.

Decrease the use of motor vehicles by using public transportation, carpooling, etc.

Even restrict industrial emissions.

What is recommended to the general population to prevent lung cancer?

At present, low-dose, high-resolution chest tomography (CT) is the most effective screening method for detecting lung cancer. As it is a high-cost study, it cannot be applied to the population on a massive scale; therefore, the population at risk must be detected and the test must be performed on them in particular.

How is the population at risk for lung cancer detected?

A very simple questionnaire will show who are the ideal candidates for CT scanning:

1.- Patient over 50 years of age

2.- Smoking more than 30 packs per year.

3.- Environmental exposure to environmental pollutants, radiation, radon, asbestos, etc.

Suffering from an immunosuppressive state due to primary diseases (arthritis, cushing's disease, collagenopathies, etc.), or secondary diseases due to the administration of immunosuppressive drugs (chemotherapy, steroids, etc.).

5.- Having a first-degree relative (parents, siblings or grandparents) with cancer of the airway, lung, larynx, mouth, etc.).

If the respondent presents 2 or more of these risk factors, he/she should see a lung cancer specialist for an early detection study.

Who is the best physician to perform primary screening tests?

The physicians best suited to treat lung cancer are:

• Medical Oncologist

• Thoracic Surgeon

• Pneumologists specializing in thoracic oncology.

Is it curable?

Early detection is fundamental for the effective treatment of this neoplasm. Within the stages of lung cancer, stages I and II must be treated surgically and later with adjuvant treatment with chemo and/or radiotherapy. Minimally invasive techniques are ideally the best for stage I tumors.

Stages III and IV should be treated in a multidisciplinary manner, where a team of specialists (Medical Oncologist, Thoracic Surgeon, Pneumologist, Rehabilitator, Psychologist, Nutritionist, etc.) should make an individualized treatment plan for each patient.

Early detection and treatment can save your life!