Textbook of Lung Cancer PDF

Preface

Since the publication of the first issue of this textbook in 2000, the epidemiologic features of smoking have undergone continuous changes and the worldwide intensification of the battle against tobacco consumption is changing the geographic pattern. In the USA, some western European countries, and Australia, the incidence of lung cancer is decreasing among males, while the disease continues to increase among females. In the southern and eastern parts of Europe, lung cancer is on a rapid rise, and a similar pattern is seen in highly populated countries like China, Indonesia, and Japan. Other regions of the world, such as the Middle East, Africa, and South America, show the same dismal picture.

Worldwide, the annual number of new cases of lung cancer is estimated at more than one million and is expected to increase to ten million in 2025. Fortunately, the political efforts to reduce the use of tobacco are getting increasing attention in many countries and the statistics are now showing the first positive results.

Among the epidemiologic changes we also see a change in the histopathologic pattern, with a relative decrease in squamous cell carcinoma and a rise in adenocarcinoma. Lately, important new information as regards the biology of lung cancer is emerging, including new treatment approaches. The result is a slow, but steady improvement of the overall management of lung cancer based on an increasing use of combined modality therapy, consisting of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy applied concurrently or sequentially in early stage disease. Furthermore, new techniques are gaining ground, both within surgery and radiotherapy, and targeted medical therapy is being offered to more and more patients.

The textbook brings up-to-date information about lung cancer, based on worldwide experience, for the use of the many physicians involved in this field.