Lung cancer – epidemiology, clinical symptoms and social consequences

Malignant neoplasms are the second (after heart disease) leading cause of death in Poland. We can observe the changes of incidence and mortality due to cancer associated with cigarette smoking. There are convincing evidences that the exposure to tobacco smoke cancerogenes significantly increases the risk of many neoplasms including cancers of the larynx, mouth, upper throat, oesophagus, urinary bladder. Approximately 85-90% of all histological types of lung cancer are associated with active and passive smoking. In Europe lung cancer accounts for more than 30% of all cancer deaths. Poland still belongs to the countries with very high lung cancer incidence and lung cancer mortality. Lung cancer is currently most frequently new diagnosed neoplasm in males and the second most frequent cancer in females. In both genders 1-year and 5-year survivals time are one of the shortest in Europe. Recently the number of deaths among women caused by lung cancer exceeded the number of those who died from breast cancer. Despite many prophylactic activities, new diagnostic and treatment trials and improved supportive care, the prognosis remains very poor. Lung cancer has one of the lowest long-term survival rates of all cancers, and is the most common cause of cancer death. Patients face unfavorable life-expectancy and experience a lot of physical and psychological problems. They are the large group of cancer patients who usually received palliative care. This publication provides a review of basic information about epidemiology, histological and clinical classification, management strategies and role of good symptom control in advanced phase of lung cancer.