Lung cancer still the biggest killer

As November's lung cancer awareness campaign continues, medical experts are calling for more emphasis to be given to raising people's attention to the possible causes of the disease, and how it can be prevented.

Lung cancer remains the world's leading cause of death with around 4,000 people dying of the disease daily. In China, that incidence is rising each year and last year lung cancer claimed more than 450,000 lives, according to the health department figures.

Experts say lung cancer is closely connected to a person's lifestyle, with smoking being the No 1 cause. But family history plays a significant part in many cases, as does exposure to cancer-causing agents in the workplace, or in the air outside.

Jiang Gening, a thoracic surgeon at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, said: "It's very important for people to understand and identify the risk factors, and the symptoms of lung cancer. Early detection and treatment will increase the chances of survival."

The primary symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain and shortness of breath.

"It's very understandable that people become fearful when they are told they have a tumor. But to adopt a positive mental attitude and follow a doctor's treatment closely are also very important," said Xu Linyou, a thoracic doctor from Anhui province, who himself was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in 2011, and told that he had just 100 days to live.

Now successfully treated, Xu said his experience shows other cancer patients they have to believe they can survive the disease.

"I now understand my patients better than before. I tell them how important a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude are to their recovery. I can bring them hope from both my surgical abilities and my personal experience," Xu told an audience on Health Talk, an Internet-based platform focused on sharing health issues and knowledge.

In 2008, the China Charity Federation and Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals Ltd jointly launched a medicine donation project to provide financial aid and free drugs to cancer patients.

By the end of last month, the project had established medicine-aid donation stations in 40 cities across the country and a total of 4.4 billion yuan ($719 million) of aid had been handed out to some 15,000 patients suffered from late-stage lung cancer.

"Our goal right from the start has been to maximize the support patients get, especially those from disadvantaged groups," said Hu Yeping, an official at the China Charity Federation.

"We have also adjusted the application process to allow patients to receive their medicine more quickly."

wanghongyi@chinadaily.com.cn