Healthy breathing, unparalleled - 2021 International Lung Cancer Day and World COPD Day

2021 International Lung Cancer Day and World COPD Day

November 17, 2021 is a day related to "lungs". At that time, we will celebrate "International Lung Cancer Day" and "World COPD Day" at the same time. At the same time, the whole month of November is also "Global Lung Cancer Awareness Month".

"Global Lung Cancer Awareness Month" is a global initiative launched by the World Lung Cancer Alliance in November 2001. November of each year is designated as "Global Lung Cancer Awareness Month" and November 17 of each year is established as "International Lung Cancer Day", calling on countries around the world to pay attention to the prevention of lung cancer, raise people's awareness of lung cancer prevention and treatment, and popularize standardized diagnosis and treatment knowledge of lung cancer.

The World Health Organization proposed in 2002 that the Wednesday of the third week of November each year be designated as World COPD Day, with the aim of raising awareness of COPD and improving the current situation of under-diagnosis and poor treatment of COPD. This year's theme is "Breathing Health is Unparalleled".

About Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest incidence and mortality rate in China!

According to statistics, in 2020, there were 820,000 new cases of lung cancer and 710,000 deaths in my country. This means that every 5 minutes in China, nearly 8 people are newly diagnosed with lung cancer and 7 people die from lung cancer. What's more frightening is that this number is still growing.

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor with a poor prognosis!

Since early symptoms are not obvious, only 15% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed in the early stage. Most cases of lung cancer in my country are found in the late clinical stage, accounting for as high as 64.6%, which also leads to the age-standardized 5-year survival rate of lung cancer in my country being less than 20%.

Early diagnosis and early treatment are the most effective means of preventing and treating lung cancer!

The cure rate after surgery for carcinoma in situ (ultra-early stage) of lung cancer can reach 100%, for stage I (early stage) non-small cell lung cancer it can reach 80-90%, and for stage IV (late stage) it is only 5.3%.

Low-dose chest CT (LDCT) is the most important early screening method for lung cancer!

Low-dose chest CT increased the detection rate of stage I (early) lung cancer by 4.73 times, and reduced lung cancer-related mortality by 24.0%. Compared with chest X-rays, the detection rate of stage I lung cancer screened with low-dose chest CT increased by 83.0%, so chest X-rays cannot be used as a screening method for lung cancer.

Who needs early screening for lung cancer?

People aged 40 years and above with any of the following risk factors:

1. Smokers, especially those who smoke at least 20 packs per year, including former smokers who have quit smoking for less than 15 years;
2. People who are exposed to passive smoking (second-hand smoke) for a long time, living or working in the same room with smokers for ≥ 20 years;
3. People with chronic lung diseases such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and tuberculosis;
4. People who have long-term exposure to kitchen fumes, dust particles, or radioactive substances such as asbestos, beryllium, uranium, and radon;
5. People with a history of malignant tumors or a family history of lung cancer.

About COPD

COPD - the "hidden respiratory killer"!

COPD is the third most common chronic disease in China and the fourth most common cause of death among residents! There are about 100 million people suffering from the disease in my country, and the annual death toll has reached 1.28 million. In the past decade, the incidence rate has increased by 65.9%, the rate of people over 40 years old has reached 13.6%, and the mortality rate has reached 17.6%. The average economic burden rate of sick families has reached more than 33%, while the public awareness rate is only about 7%!

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a common chronic respiratory disease characterized by airflow obstruction. Commonly known diseases as "chronic bronchitis" and "emphysema" fall into this category. Its typical symptoms are long-term and recurrent coughing, expectoration, and wheezing. COPD is progressive and not completely reversible. If left unchecked, it may lead to cor pulmonale, lung cancer, respiratory failure, and even death.

Early diagnosis, early treatment and continuous management are the key!

When you have typical symptoms of COPD, such as persistent chronic cough, sputum, dyspnea, shortness of breath (especially after exercise), wheezing and chest tightness, you need to seek medical attention and receive professional treatment in a timely manner. General diagnosis of COPD includes: pulmonary function test, chest X-ray, blood gas analysis, etc. Treatment methods include general treatment and drug treatment. Follow the doctor's advice and cooperate with the doctor to effectively control and treat COPD.

How to prevent COPD?

1. Quit smoking. Smoking is the main cause of COPD.

2. Avoid or eliminate some inducing factors in life, such as air pollution, lung infection, cold weather, etc.;

3. Exercise appropriately to improve your resistance and lung function;

4. Maintain good living habits, combine work and rest, and have a reasonable diet;

5. Receive appropriate treatment and go to the hospital promptly when lung symptoms occur to prevent the disease from spreading.

Who are the high-risk groups?

1. People aged 35 years and above with major symptoms of COPD;
2. People with a history of smoking;
3. People with a history of exposure or contact with occupational dust, chemicals, or biofuels;
4. People with a family history of COPD.

The above groups of people need to pay extra attention to prevention and screening.

Cardiopulmonary Health Check

Cardiopulmonary Health Check - One-stop screening for the three major chronic chest diseases (lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary heart disease)

In response to the "Healthy China 2030" plan and call, Yimai Sunshine has designed targeted solutions for the screening of major chronic diseases with high incidence. Among them, the "Cardiopulmonary Health Check" imaging screening program launched for the three major chronic chest diseases (lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary heart disease) uses a low-dose chest CT scan combined with imaging artificial intelligence technology, which is economical, efficient, and low-radiation and suitable for the vast majority of high-risk groups, so that as many people as possible can benefit.

One low-dose chest CT scan + AI imaging analysis = early screening for coronary heart disease + early screening for lung cancer + early screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Caring for lung health, Yimai is taking action!