Lung cancer is currently one of the leading causes of cancer death in Vietnam, with approximately 25,000 new cases each year. Notably, more than 70% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed at a late stage, making treatment difficult and costly.
Based on clinical experience, Associate Professor, Doctor Do Hung Kien (Deputy Director of K Hospital) stated: Only about 20% of lung cancer patients come to medical facilities in the early stages, while the rest are in the late stages. Among the late stages, stage 4 accounts for about 40-50%; stage 3 accounts for about 25-30%. Patients come late when they already have symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, or even when metastasis has already occurred (bone pain, headache...).
Delayed diagnosis also creates many difficulties for treatment and the healthcare system, as the diagnostic and treatment process takes longer compared to the early stages. Meanwhile, in the early stages, the chances of a cure are high, and the treatment time is short. On the other hand, early diagnosis significantly reduces costs for patients and the burden on society and the healthcare system; patients in the early stages can more easily reintegrate into society and work; while in the late stages (stage 4), treatment is prolonged, but only aims to control the disease rather than cure it, placing a huge burden on the healthcare system.
In Vietnam, early detection is primarily due to individual awareness, routine health checkups through organizations, or incidental visits. When detected early (stages 1 and 2), the main treatment methods are surgery, combined with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and adjuvant targeted therapy… with the goal of curing the disease and minimizing treatment time.
According to statistics, in stage 1, the 5-year survival rate (cure) is 70-90%; in stage 2, it decreases to about 50-60%; in stage 3, it is only 10-36%; and in stage 4, it is only about 10%. For doctors, if treatment is started early, within the same timeframe, two to three times the number of patients can be treated compared to late stages, because late stages require multimodal treatment, combining many methods, and a very long treatment period.
From the above analysis, it is clear that early detection not only reduces the burden on patients' families but also directly helps doctors and medical staff reduce the treatment burden. Medical experts affirm that lung cancer can be detected early if people undergo regular screenings, especially for high-risk groups.
With the advancement of science , many countries around the world have implemented screening programs using chest X-rays combined with artificial intelligence (AI) applications to support early disease detection, contributing to reducing the burden of treatment on the healthcare system.
Dr. Le Thai Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention ( Ministry of Health ), stated: Cancer has been included in the National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases since very early on. However, developing a comprehensive strategy for screening and early detection of all non-communicable diseases is still a relatively new approach. The goal of screening is not only to detect the disease but also to help people better understand their own health status. However, the biggest difficulty currently is the uneven capacity of the healthcare system, both in terms of human resources and equipment.
Experience from many countries shows that for early lung cancer screening, community-based screening using X-rays combined with AI can be implemented. AI can assist doctors in making diagnoses faster and more efficiently, but it cannot completely replace the role of doctors; therefore, the need for human resources remains crucial. Besides community screening, targeted screening should be implemented for high-risk groups: those over 50 years old; smokers; those whose occupations involve frequent exposure to chemicals, toxic gases, polluted environments, occupational diseases, or asbestos… “Currently, the rate of lung cancer patients is increasing, and the goal is to reduce the number of new cases while increasing the rate of early detection. We need a comprehensive national program, instead of fragmented activities at individual hospitals or specialized groups,” Dr. Le Thai Ha stated.
In the context of the health sector striving to implement Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025, of the Politburo, which directs the shift in focus from concentrating on medical examination and treatment to proactive disease prevention, the implementation of screening and early detection programs for diseases, including lung cancer, is essential. The Law on Disease Prevention also stipulates that every citizen should have a regular health check-up or screening at least once a year, which serves as a basis for promoting early screening.
A national screening program is a major aspiration of clinicians. Prevention aims to reduce incidence, while early detection aims to reduce mortality. In cancer, these two goals always go hand in hand, but with different approaches. The best approach is prevention to avoid contracting the disease altogether, but if you do contract it, early detection is crucial, and once diagnosed, optimal, appropriate treatment with guaranteed adherence is essential.
Prioritizing screening for high-risk groups is a viable and effective solution in the short term. Gradually building a national lung cancer screening program, linked to national target programs and strategies for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, will be the foundation for realizing the long-term goal: reducing lung cancer mortality rates and improving the quality of life for the Vietnamese people.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/can-chien-luoc-phu-hop-ung-pho-ung-thu-phoi-post957733.html
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