Lung cancer remains one of the most dangerous types of cancer worldwide – primarily because it tends to be asymptomatic in its early stages and is therefore often diagnosed too late.
"We often detect lung cancer very late," warns Univ.-Prof. Dr. Clemens Aigner, Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna, in the ORF2 program “Mayr’s Magazine.”
Late diagnosis is one of the main reasons for the high mortality rate among lung cancer patients. According to Aigner, this makes it all the more urgent to establish targeted and structured screening programs for high-risk groups – similar to existing screening programs for breast or colorectal cancer.
Early diagnosis can significantly improve the chances of recovery, as many lung carcinomas are still treatable in their early stages. Public education on lung cancer risks and prevention is a key priority.
Full interview on ORF2: 2:12'-6:52'