Why It’s Important to Know That "Lung Cancer Can Affect Everybody"

While it has a reputation as a “smoker’s disease,” lung cancer can affect anybody, Dr. Ioana Bonta, explained in an interview with CURE.

“It's important to know that lung cancer can affect everybody, not only smokers. And in fact, according to the American Cancer Society's new statistics, approximately up towards 25% of the patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer, they actually never smokers,” Bonta, a board-certified physician in medical oncology and internal medicine, explained.

Bonta sat down for a conversation with CURE to discuss lung cancer and its impact on a wide range of patients. She serves as an adjunct clinical assistant professor at Morehouse School of Medicine, Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, Georgia Cancer Specialists.

Transcript

How does the perception of lung cancer as a smoker’s disease impact the diagnosis and treatment of non-smokers with the disease?

There are a lot of myths about clinical trials that circulate. Some of the most common ones are that clinical trials are a last resort for patients, or that enrolling in a trial means you will only get a placebo instead of real treatment. Another misunderstanding is that participating in a clinical trial requires you to leave your regular doctor, your cancer team, or the care providers you trust.

Part of our work involves addressing these myths. Clinical trials are often the first line treatment for many diseases today. They focus on treating the patient where they are and ensuring the care they receive is high level, not substandard. Many patients in trials receive additional care in terms of follow up and management. Also, many trials do not use placebos. Instead, they compare the new interventional therapy with the current standard of care.

We work with patients to help them understand this. A big part of this is talking to patients early. We have been working with many of our providers to make sure we are discussing clinical trials not only at the exact time a patient might need to enroll, but at the time of diagnosis or even before. This helps patients understand that clinical trials are not a last resort; they are an integral part of our healthcare infrastructure. Often, when patients enroll, it is not because we do not know if a drug works. Rather, we are ensuring it is safe and can be applied to a wider audience, and that patients are receiving a high level of care throughout the process.

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