Mexico’s Battle Against Preventable Lung Cancer Puffs Up Mexicanist
go to original December 9, 2023

A call to combat tobacco use and implement effective screening programs for a healthier Mexico. (Uki Eiri/Pixabay)

In Mexico, lung cancer casts a formidable shadow, claiming thousands of lives every year, with survival rates remaining dishearteningly low. Horacio Tovalín Ahumada, an academic at the Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), sheds light on the grim reality of this disease and emphasizes the critical need for awareness, prevention, and timely intervention.

Every year, approximately 9,000 new cases of lung cancer emerge in Mexico, with only around 1,000 survivors due to late detection. What's more concerning is that lung cancer is the second most common cancer among adult men over 40, and its prevalence among women has surged to become the fourth most frequent neoplasm. Tovalín Ahumada warns that the trends indicate a convergence in risk and incidence between both genders, reminiscent of cardiovascular diseases.

An overwhelming 85 percent of lung cancer cases in Mexico are attributed to exposure to tobacco smoke, a preventable risk factor. Tovalín Ahumada underscores the imperative to quit smoking, emphasizing that tobacco is the most potent carcinogenic agent willingly exposed to by humans. The National Health Survey revealed that in 2020, 36 percent of adults were at risk, either current or former smokers.

The remaining 15 percent of lung cancer cases are linked to occupational exposures, including radiation, asbestos, diesel, silica, and uncontrolled atmospheric compounds. While quitting smoking is a crucial step, addressing workplace hazards is equally vital, necessitating increased vigilance and control measures.

Tovalín Ahumada expresses concern over the rising popularity of electronic cigarettes, particularly among the youth. While they contain fewer harmful substances than traditional cigarettes, their use may facilitate the transition to smoking. The expert advocates for stricter regulations, even a potential ban, on these devices to safeguard public health.

Read the rest at Mexicanist

Related: Mexico Supreme Court Reverses President's Decree Against E-Cigarettes (Meridiano)