PARADIGM SHIFT: Hope rises as lung cancer treatment evolves
Sitha Maliwa
Lung cancer has long carried a grim reputation, often associated with late diagnoses and limited treatment success. Its symptoms can be subtle, like a persistent cough, and are frequently mistaken for minor ailments. As a result, many patients only receive a diagnosis once the disease has reached an advanced stage, making effective treatment more challenging.
In South Africa, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The most significant risk factor remains tobacco use, with 33.4% of males and 8.3% of females over the age of 15 identified as tobacco consumers. Other contributing factors include a family history of cancer, poor diet, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ionising radiation, HIV infection, occupational hazards, and expo...