Lung cancer historical perspective
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Michael Maddaleni, B.S.
Overview
Today, lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, killing over 1 million people per year but it was not always that way. Approximately 150 years ago, lung cancer was actually a very rare disease. At the Institute of Pathology of the University of Dresden in Germany, lung cancer represented only 1% of all cancers seen at autopsy.[1]
Lung cancer steadily rose from this point on and in 1918 the percentage had risen to nearly 10% and by 1927, it represented more than 14% of all cancers. Around this time period, the disease had a life expectancy from about 6 months to 2 years and in most cases, the afflicted individual had had long term chronic bronchitis.[1]
Historical Perspective
- Prior to the introduction of cigarette smoking and industrial carcinogens, lung cancer was thought to be a rare disease. Of all tumors detected an autopsy, lung cancer accounted for only 1% of cancers in the 1800s.[1]
- The majority of cases of lung cancer were associated with occupational hazards. Death among miners was reported to be caused by Bergkrankheit (mountain sickness).[1]
- In 1924, radon gas was first reported to be a prominent cause of lung cancer among miners.[1]
- The association between lung cancer and smoking was not defined until the mid-20th century. The first reports between lung cancer and smoking were often confounded by gender, given that men were more likely to be smokers compared to women.
- The 1969 handbook Springer Handbook of Special Pathology is considered the landmark publication that highlighted the role of smoking in the development of lung cancer in over 25 pages.[1]
- Although chemotherapy had always been regarded to be ineffective in the management of lung cancer, cisplatin-based chemotherapy emerged in the 1980s and demonstrated modest efficacy in the reduction of turmo-related symptoms and improvement of quality of life.