Senior doctors were seen discussing the causes and effects of lung cancer at VIP Summit 2019 – a one-day conference organised by KRIMS Hospitals, Nagpur, to mark World Lung Cancer Day (on February 4). The conference was based on Interventional Pulmonology, which is a relatively new branch of pulmonology, which deals with advanced machinery used to perform minimally invasive procedures for diagnosis of lung cancer and other diseases.

UK-based senior doctor and Interventional Pulmonologist Dr Mohammad Munavvar was invited as the special guest and faculty at the VIP Summit. The delegates attending the conference included doctors from Nagpur and Madhya Pradesh. Apart from Dr Munavvar, other speakers at the summit were Dr Ashok Arbat, Senior Pulmonologist, KRIMS Hospitals and Dr Sameer Arbat, Interventional Pulmonologist, KRIMS Hospitals.

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During his address to the people present, Dr Munavvar spoke on advanced Interventional Pulmonology techniques such as EBUS and indwelling pleural catheter. While Dr Ashok Arbat spoke on medical thoracoscopy, Dr Sameer Arbat spoke about cryobiopsy. The lectures were followed by a workshop where delegates got to use advanced diagnostic machines.

Based on the discussion at the conference, here are some facts about lung cancer:

? Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among males and females in India and the world.

? In India, lung cancer constitutes 6.9% of all new cancers and 9.3% of all cancer deaths.

? Smoking is the main risk for lung cancer.

? 85% of lung cancer cases in India are diagnosed at an advanced stage that is not treatable by surgery.

? Lung cancer is often misdiagnosed and treated as tuberculosis till the right diagnosis is made.

? Smoking incidence has been seen on a steady decline in western countries but is increasing in India.

Also present at the conference were Dr Radha Munje (HOD, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital), Dr Sushant Meshram (HOD, Government Medical College and Hospital) and Dr Rajesh Swarnakar (Secretary, Indian Chest Society).