An unprecedented study demonstrates the importance of early tumor monitoring
For the first time, Brazilian society knows the size of the annual bill generated by lung cancers, including direct and indirect costs. According to the report The Economic Cost of Lung Cancer and the Importance of Screening and Early Diagnosis, conducted by Insper with the support of the biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, the largest share of spending, equal to 78%, is the result of the indirect impact of the illness.
Early mortality caused by lung cancer affects many people who are still fully productive. From the survey carried out on the basis of the numbers valid for 2019, it emerges that within the Unified Health System, between hospitalizations in intensive care, with various types of therapies and surgical interventions, a total of 127.5 were consumed directly from the public budget million R$.
While estimates of indirect costs, mainly resulting from lost patient productivity, are in the order of R$1 billion. “The data shows that lung cancer is very costly for the country, not only from an essentially economic point of view, but also from a social point of view”, says economist Vanessa Boarati, professor at Insper and one of the authors of the research. According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), approximately 32,500 cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the country in 2023.
Every year the disease kills around 28 thousand Brazilians and is the type of cancer with the highest number of victims among neoplasms. «Today the data shows that, if the patient is diagnosed at stage 1 (the initial stage, where the tumor is located), there is an 80% to 90% chance of recovery with just one treatment – surgical or radiotherapy -; already in In advanced cases the possibilities are much lower”, underlines Clarissa Baldotto, president of the Brazilian Group of Thoracic Oncology.
Economic and social information on the disease gains even more weight when combined with information from the healthcare sector. The scientific consensus formed in favor of preventive lung cancer screening is explained in a document prepared by the Brazilian Society of Pneumology and Physiology (SBPT), the Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgery (SBCT) and the Brazilian College of Radiology (CBR).
The project, the result of this consensus, according to Gustavo Prado, pulmonologist at the Instituto do Coração (InCor) and professor at the USP Faculty of Medicine, includes several fundamental aspects to fight lung cancer. “The idea involves not only the synthesis of the evidence in favor of the early diagnosis strategy, but also a structured plan that includes prevention, with treatment for smoking cessation, the delimitation of the population eligible for screening, the minimum structure, equipment and technical specifications of low-dose radiation tomography and, finally, how to interpret the results and refer patients with relevant findings in imaging examinations to a line of care for diagnosis, staging and treatment in specialized centers” , says the USP scientist.
Efforts to reduce lung cancer deaths are also extending to the private sector, says Karina Fontão, executive medical director of the multinational AstraZeneca. “We are carrying out actions whose objective is to increase the sustainability of the healthcare system, both through the creation of screening protocols and through the implementation of fundamental tools to allow early diagnosis.”
According to Boarati, professor at Insper, international experiences also help support the idea that Brazil implement a preventive breast cancer screening program. “It’s not an easy task. There are challenges, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be addressed.”
Due to the various bottlenecks that Brazilian public health presents, the Insper report also clarifies how each step must be taken, so that a gradual and safe implementation of the screening program can take place. “In the short term, the ideal would be to start from centers of excellence for the disease, better prepared and equipped to serve people. Another important point, even more so with the penetration of electronic cigarettes into society, is the intensification of anti-cigarette measures -anti-smoking campaigns”, claims Boarati.
How to improve the prognosis of Brazilian patients?
Lung cancer was discussed at the Saúde Summit 2023 in a panel held by Blue Studio sponsored by AstraZeneca. Titled Lung Cancer: How to Improve the Prognosis of Brazilian Patients, the panel discussed strategies for detecting the silent disease early. Mediated by the journalist Rita Lisauskas, the conversation saw the participation of Gustavo Prado, member of the Brazilian Society of Pneumology and Tisiology (SBPT), Marlene Oliveira, president of the Instituto Lado in Lado pela Vida, and Clarissa Baldotto, president of the Brazilian Oncology . Thoracic Group (GBOT)
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
