Stylized image representing lung health, smoking cessation, and Latin American countries.

Early Detection is Key: How CT Screening Can Save Lives from Lung Cancer in Latin America

"Discover how low-dose CT screening and smoking cessation programs are revolutionizing lung cancer prevention in Latin America, offering hope and improving outcomes in a region facing unique challenges."


The importance of detecting diseases early cannot be overstated. While preventing diseases by getting rid of risk factors is key, finding and treating diseases early on while people aren't showing symptoms is also important [1]. There are well-established rules for deciding when it makes sense to screen a population for a particular disease [2]. These rules include making sure that the disease is a big health problem and that it can be treated effectively in specialized centers. It's also important to really understand the disease and to be clear that treating it early is better than treating it after it has become advanced. Plus, screening should be an ongoing effort, not just a one-time event [3].

Fortunately, the results of the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) [4] showed that lung cancer meets all the requirements for a population screening program. Because of this, it's now accepted as an official policy in the United States and many other developed countries.

In Latin America (LA), many countries are dealing with a shift in the types of diseases they face. Instead of mostly infectious diseases, they're seeing more chronic conditions, like different kinds of cancer. More and more new cancer cases are being found in less developed countries, and it's predicted that over 60% of all new cases will be in these areas by 2030. This is happening because cancer rates are going up and people are expected to live longer around the world [5]. Most of these countries are also seeing lung cancer rates increase. However, there's often a sense of silence around the disease, as if it's something shameful and seen as a death sentence.

The Double-Edged Sword: Smoking Cessation and Early Detection

Stylized image representing lung health, smoking cessation, and Latin American countries.

It's clear that lung cancer prevention needs to focus on helping people quit smoking. Most developed countries have taken steps to follow the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) [6]. So, controlling tobacco use is a key part of any lung cancer prevention plan. This should include organized actions to make it easier for people to get into effective programs that help them quit smoking for good [7,8].

In the United States, 400,000 people die each year from smoking-related causes, and 8.6 million suffer from illnesses caused by tobacco. Globally, there are 4.8 million deaths linked to tobacco use, making it the world's leading preventable cause of death. Treating tobacco addiction needs a skilled team that can work with people individually or in groups, depending on what smokers want and how big the healthcare team is. Both of these ways have been shown to help more people quit smoking [9].

  • Systematic actions: Facilitate access into effective program
  • Multidisciplinary approach: Skilled approach is needed for prevention.
In Brazil, and in most Latin American countries, lung cancer is usually found at an advanced stage in about 90% of cases. Low-dose CT (LDCT) screening is another way to prevent lung cancer, by finding the disease early enough to prevent death in over 20% of those screened. Unfortunately, differences in income and problems with the healthcare system make it hard to have effective LDCT screening programs everywhere.

The Future of Lung Cancer Prevention in Latin America

To tackle this, regional efforts are starting to change things within the public and private healthcare systems. The goal is to improve the quality of care and make primary and secondary prevention for lung cancer better in Brazil. The Brazilian early lung cancer detection program (BRELT1) is the first prevention program in South America with published results in 2016.

We've learned that a good program needs a strong structure and constant feedback between medical and non-medical staff to achieve its goals. BRELT1 started in 2013 to find people at high risk for lung cancer using LDCT screening and a full smoking cessation program. It was created to standardize lung CT screening at our facility. Careful planning, starting with clear goals, has led to focused actions with ways to measure performance, find weak spots, and encourage teamwork between different specialists to use resources better. A big problem in Brazil is the high number of granulomatous diseases, which is common throughout the region.

Latin American countries should work to adapt cancer screening plans to their own situations, taking advantage of the benefits that have already been seen in developed countries using the same methods. With smart strategies, more lives can be saved from lung cancer in Latin America. By combining efforts to help people stop smoking with new technologies, the region can make big progress against this deadly disease.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4172/2472-1018.100e104, Alternate LINK

Title: Lung Cancer Prevention In Latin America In The Era Of Ct Screening

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Journal of Lung Diseases & Treatment

Publisher: OMICS Publishing Group

Authors: Ricardo Sales Dos Santos, Juliana P Franceschini

Published: 2016-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

What are the main strategies being used in Latin America to combat lung cancer?

Lung cancer screening programs, particularly using Low-Dose CT (LDCT) scans, are a means of early detection, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. Smoking cessation programs, guided by the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), are crucial for preventing new cases of lung cancer. Together, they offer a dual approach to reducing the burden of lung cancer.

2

What pivotal study led to the acceptance of lung cancer screening programs, and why is this important?

The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) demonstrated that lung cancer meets the criteria for population screening, leading to its acceptance in the United States and other developed countries. This is significant because it provides a scientific basis for implementing lung cancer screening programs, potentially saving lives through early detection and treatment.

3

What is the best strategy for treating tobacco addiction?

Treating tobacco addiction requires a multidisciplinary approach involving skilled professionals who can provide support through individual or group sessions. Systematic actions that facilitate access to effective programs are essential to help smokers quit successfully. These efforts align with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

4

What makes the Brazilian early lung cancer detection program (BRELT1) significant for lung cancer prevention in South America?

The Brazilian early lung cancer detection program (BRELT1) is significant because it is the first prevention program in South America with published results. This initiative aims to improve the quality of care and enhance primary and secondary prevention efforts for lung cancer in Brazil, potentially serving as a model for other countries in Latin America.

5

Why is early detection of lung cancer so challenging in Latin America, and how can Low-Dose CT (LDCT) screening help?

In Latin America, lung cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Low-Dose CT (LDCT) screening can improve outcomes by detecting the disease earlier. However, differences in income and challenges within the healthcare system hinder the widespread implementation of effective LDCT screening programs. Addressing these barriers is crucial for reducing lung cancer mortality.

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