India is seeing an increase in the incidence of lung cancer, especially among women and younger age groups, note medical experts. “Most of the lung cancer cases being diagnosed – are in Stages III and IV – an already advanced state. Amongst them, only 20-30% are getting diagnosed in Stages 1 and II while the rest are going undetected,” informs Dr Vinod K Ramani, a preventive oncologist from Sammprada Hospital, Bengaluru.

Medicine has yet to find a definitive cure, but what makes it tougher is that lung cancer traditionally attacks during the 4th and 5th decades of life. Dr Shivacharan P.V. highlights that the highest proportion of cases being recorded – are in the age group of 55 to 64 years, with a survivability limit of 5 years or more for about 20-25% of them and 10 years for 10-15%.