Lung cancer: understand the challenges of treating the disease that killed Rita Lee

O lung cancer it is among the main causes of preventable deaths in Brazil and in the world. In Brazil, in 85% of cases, the disease is associated with smoking or tobacco products, according to the Ministry of Health.

Singer Rita Lee died on Monday (8). In 2021, the artist was diagnosed with lung cancer.

The National Cancer Institute (Inca) points out that the incidence rate has been decreasing since the mid-1980s among men and since the mid-2000s among women. This difference is due to the patterns of adherence and cessation of smoking found in different genders, according to Inca.

The Inca points out that smoking is the most important risk factor for the development of lung cancer. The mortality rate from 2011 to 2015 decreased by 3.8% per year in men and 2.3% per year in women, due to the reduction in the prevalence of smoking.

Inca researchers project a 28% drop in the probability of premature mortality from lung cancer in men aged between 30 and 69 years in Brazil, in the period from 2026 to 2030. Lung cancer in men stands out with a forecast drop of 28 % in the national cut.

“This tumor, in relation to the other 24 analyzed, is the one that comes closest to one of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, which aims to reduce by one third mortality among people aged 30 to 69 years due to non-communicable chronic diseases. transmissible,” said Marianna Cancela, researcher from the Inca Prevention and Surveillance Coordination (Conprev), in a statement.

Lung cancer symptoms

Persistent cough, with secretion or blood, and rapid weight loss without an apparent explanation can be signs of lung cancer. However, lung cancer can be a silent disease most of the time, diagnosed when it is already in an advanced stage, making treatment difficult.

“Many patients are asymptomatic. In cases where there are signs, the most common are cough, shortness of breath and sudden weight loss,” says oncologist Bruna Carvalho, from Hospital Marcos Moraes, in Méier, which belongs to Grupo Oncoclínicas, in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro. .

According to the doctor, lifestyle is directly related to the onset of lung cancer, as 80% of people who develop the problem are smokers or former smokers. Quitting smoking, says Bruna, is the best way to prevent the disease.

According to Roberto Abramoff, clinical oncologist at Hcor, if the patient is a smoker, the best way is to stop smoking and avoid passive exposure to cigarette smoke. “Although there are very effective methods, smoking cessation is still the best method to prevent cancer. Ex-smokers have between 20% and 90% less chance of developing a tumor. And if they develop, they can have a more effective result than those who follow the habit”, says the specialist.

Currently, there are numerous ways to quickly detect the existence of cancer. Tomography without contrast is the most indicated, mainly because the person receives a low dose of radiation, making it possible to visualize the existence of suspicious nodules or lesions and treat them early, which can lead to cure.

The five-year relative survival rate for lung cancer is 18% (15% for men and 21% for women). Only 16% of cancers are diagnosed at an early stage (localized cancer), for which the five-year survival rate is 56%.

Challenges in the treatment

The treatment of lung cancer requires the participation of a multidisciplinary group, formed by an oncologist, thoracic surgeon, pulmonologist, radiotherapist, interventional radiologist, nuclear physician, nurse, physiotherapist, nutritionist and social worker.

For adequate treatment planning, it is necessary to make a diagnosis and determine the evolution of the disease to define whether the cancer is located in the lung or if there are foci in other organs – the so-called metastasis.

For patients with localized disease, and particularly without enlarged lymph nodes in the region between the two lungs, treatment is surgical, followed or not by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. For those with disease located in the lung and lymph nodes, treatment is with radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the same time.

In patients who have metastases, treatment is with chemotherapy or, in selected cases, with medication based on targeted therapy, which is a new form of cancer treatment, often used in patients whose tumor has certain genetic characteristics.

According to Inca, these medications have been reserved for the treatment of advanced diseases. New studies are underway to select the group of patients that will best benefit from this treatment.

Sources: Ministry of Health, National Cancer Institute (Inca)

See pictures of Rita Lee’s career