Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in North America. With current available treatment only 10 to 13% of patients are cured of the disease. By the time patients notice symptoms and seek medical attention, the majority of them have advanced, incurable cancer.

However, if lung cancer is diagnosed early, the cancer can be eradicated in over 90% of patients.

The main focus of the Lung Health Study is to help identify new agents that may halt and/or regress the growth of pre-cancerous cells in the lungs. These growths can occur as a result of smoking and can gradually become more severe in time. Currently, there are no established treatments for precancerous changes in the airways. Various agents are under investigation, including herbal compounds and food supplements. The use of natural and/or synthetic compounds to treat precancerous cells in known as chemoprevention.

A team of research scientists, physicians and engineers at the BC Cancer Agency and the University of British Columbia has developed advanced devices, which may be useful in early cancer detection:

• An enhanced microscope called a microimager, which examines the DNA in sputum cells by scanning for malignancy associated changes. These changes may alert the physicians to suspected cancer or high-grade pre-cancerous cells
• The use of the Lung Imaging Fluorescence Endoscpe (LIFE) in combination with conventional bronchoscopy to enable physicians to visually differentiate normal lung tissue from pre-cancerous cells and/or early lung cancers

Who Can Join?

You can join if you are:

• a former smoker;
• between 45-74 years of age; and
• have smoked for at least 30 years or more.