Lung cancer is creating a significant burden, with the majority of patients in Vietnam being diagnosed at a late stage.
30 August 2026
By Báo Đầu tư – Vietnam.vn
Smoking remains the leading risk factor for lung cancer.
Lung cancer continues to be one of the biggest global health challenges, with approximately 2.5 million new cases each year. It is one of the most common and leading causes of cancer-related deaths, yet the majority of patients are still diagnosed when the disease has already progressed.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Thai Hoa, Head of Internal Medicine Department 2, K Hospital, stated that lung cancer is creating a significant burden on Vietnam’s healthcare system. GLOBOCAN data shows that lung cancer is among the cancers with the highest number of cases and is also one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Vietnam.
The average age of lung cancer patients is around 64 years old, with recorded ages ranging from 24 to 97. Men are more likely to develop the disease than women, and smoking remains the leading risk factor, especially in men.
Tobacco smoke contains many toxins and carcinogens. Prolonged exposure can damage lung cells, creating conditions for abnormal changes to accumulate and lead to cancer. The overall risk increases with the level and duration of smoking. Therefore, tobacco control is not only important for preventing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases but is also one of the key solutions to reduce the burden of lung cancer.
However, lung cancer doesn’t only occur in smokers. Experts note that the rate of lung cancer among non-smokers, including women, also needs attention. In this group, the disease may be related to many factors such as frequent exposure to secondhand smoke, working in environments with toxic chemicals, air pollution, PM2.5 fine dust, industrial fumes, and vehicle emissions.
Genetic factors and a history of chronic lung diseases such as tuberculosis, pulmonary fibrosis, or recurrent pneumonia may also be associated with increased risk. This suggests that lung cancer prevention needs a broader perspective, focusing not only on direct smokers but also on reducing exposure to risk factors in living and working environments.
One of the current concerns is the high rate of late diagnosis. It is estimated that approximately 70-80% of lung cancer patients in Vietnam are diagnosed at stage III or IV. At this stage, the chances of curative treatment are significantly reduced, while the treatment process becomes more complex and prolonged, increasing the burden on patients, their families, and the healthcare system.
Many lung cancer patients also suffer from cardiovascular, metabolic, or respiratory diseases. These comorbidities can affect the choice of treatment methods as well as the patient’s tolerance to intensive therapies.
Lung cancer is divided into two main groups: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 85% of all cases. Accurate identification of the histopathological type, stage, and molecular biological characteristics is increasingly important in selecting treatment methods.
Early detection is considered one of the factors that can make a big difference in prognosis. Representatives from K Hospital stated that studies show a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality rates in the group screened with low-dose CT scans compared to the group screened with chest X-rays. The rate of positive results in the low-dose CT screening group was also about three times higher.
Based on evidence of the effectiveness of low-dose CT, many international guidelines have included this method in screening recommendations for high-risk individuals. However, determining whether an individual falls into the screening group depends on age, smoking history, and specific risk factors, and should be done under the advice of a physician.
Screening is just one link in the process of improving treatment effectiveness. When a suspected lesion is detected, the patient needs further accurate diagnosis regarding the histopathology, stage, and molecular characteristics of the tumor. This forms the basis for selecting a treatment strategy appropriate for each patient.
It is known that in recent years, the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer has made significant progress with the development of immunotherapy and targeted therapies.
In suitable patients, immunotherapy has opened up further opportunities to improve treatment outcomes. For advanced or metastatic disease, the development of drugs targeting specific molecular alterations such as ALK and EGFR is helping a segment of patients prolong disease control and improve quality of life.
For non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations, new treatment strategies continue to be researched and added. The amivantamab regimen combined with carboplatin and pemetrexed, in addition to its role in some cases with exon 20 insertion mutations, also opens up additional treatment options for patients with EGFR Ex19del or L858R mutations after disease progression with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
For patients with ALK mutations, long-term follow-up results also show significant progress with targeted therapy. Data from the CROWN study, cited by experts, shows that approximately 55% of patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer treated with lorlatinib showed no disease progression after more than 7 years of follow-up.
These advances are gradually changing the approach to lung cancer, shifting from treatment primarily based on tumor location and stage to increasingly personalized therapy choices based on each patient’s biological characteristics. However, for patients to truly benefit, earlier detection, improved diagnostic and molecular biological testing capabilities, and expanded access to new treatment methods are essential.
After drinking alcohol for three consecutive days, a 30-year-old man developed acute hepatitis.
Following a series of drinking sessions related to work, a 30-year-old man experienced fatigue, pain in his right lower abdomen, bloating, and dark urine. Tests revealed his GGT levels had risen to 1,087 U/L, approximately 18 times the normal limit, indicating potential alcohol-induced liver damage even in a young person.
A 30-year-old male patient presented to MEDLATEC General Hospital after experiencing a feeling of tightness in the right lower rib area for about a week, accompanied by fatigue and insomnia. Prior to this, due to the nature of his work, the patient had consumed large amounts of alcohol for three consecutive days.
About a week after the drinking sessions, the body began to show a series of unusual symptoms such as dull aching pain in the right lower rib area, bloating, abdominal distension, aches and pains, itching all over the body, loose stools, and dark urine.
At the time of examination, the patient was alert, responsive, with pink skin and mucous membranes, no edema, and no subcutaneous bleeding. The abdomen was soft, not distended, the liver and spleen were not palpable, and there was no abdominal wall reaction or peritoneal irritation. External manifestations did not indicate a very serious condition, but laboratory results indicated significant liver damage.
The patient’s GGT level reached 1,087 U/L, approximately 18 times higher than the normal limit. This is one of the indicators commonly used to assess liver damage, and it can be particularly elevated in people who consume a lot of alcohol. The ALT and AST liver enzyme levels were also slightly elevated, at 55 U/L and 49 U/L respectively.
Liver elastography revealed grade I fatty liver degeneration. However, liver stiffness was at level F0, and no fibrosis was observed. Low-dose CT scan of the lungs showed no abnormalities in the lung parenchyma or significant lesions.
Based on the patient’s history of heavy and continuous alcohol consumption, along with the results of the examination and paraclinical tests, the doctor diagnosed the patient with acute alcoholic hepatitis. The patient was instructed to completely stop drinking alcohol and all alcoholic beverages, follow the prescribed treatment, and return for a follow-up appointment after one month.
This case once again demonstrates that alcohol-related liver damage is not just a story for those who have been drinking for many years. Continuously consuming large amounts of alcohol over a short period can also place a significant burden on the liver, especially given the continued prevalence of alcohol consumption in social gatherings, parties, and work settings.
According to MSc. Dr. Pham Thi Que, a specialist in Gastroenterology at MEDLATEC General Hospital, the use of alcohol in business meetings or celebrations should be viewed with caution. Drinking excessively and continuously can increase the risk of liver damage, including acute alcoholic hepatitis.
Alcoholic hepatitis is a condition in which the liver is inflamed and damaged due to excessive alcohol consumption. The disease can be acute or chronic, with varying degrees of severity. Some people have few or no symptoms, while others may progress to liver dysfunction, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.
Warning signs may include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or fever. During examination, an enlarged liver, tenderness, or enlarged spleen may be detected. In more severe stages, patients are at risk of developing ascites, edema, bleeding, or hepatic encephalopathy. Long-term alcohol abusers are also prone to malnutrition because alcohol reduces appetite, while a significant portion of the body’s energy comes from alcoholic beverages.
The risk of alcohol-related liver disease depends on several factors, primarily the amount and duration of alcohol consumption. Medical data cited by hospitals indicates that individuals who consume more than 160 grams of alcohol per day, equivalent to approximately 500 ml of 40% proof liquor, continuously for 7 days, are at risk of alcoholic hepatitis. If this continues for many years, the risk of developing cirrhosis increases significantly.
Besides alcohol consumption, gender, genetic factors, nutritional status, and pre-existing liver conditions can also impact the risk of liver damage. Women are considered more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. Obesity, poor diet, iron accumulation in the liver, or co-existing viral hepatitis can also complicate liver damage.
Acute alcoholic hepatitis, if detected early, treated appropriately, and with cessation of alcohol consumption, can be controlled. However, if alcohol consumption continues, damage can recur and progress from fatty liver disease and hepatitis to cirrhosis. Once severe cirrhosis has developed, the risk of liver failure and liver cancer also increases.
Notably, alcohol is not the only factor threatening liver health. Hepatitis B and C viruses remain significant causes of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Vietnam is still among the countries with a high burden of liver disease, while a significant number of people infected with hepatitis viruses remain undetected, unmanaged, and untreated.
More options for treating fractures in growing children.
After suffering a severely displaced fracture of the upper humerus following an electric bicycle accident, a 14-year-old girl underwent closed reduction and fixation of the bone through two skin incisions of only about 5 mm. This minimally invasive technique not only reduces surgical scarring but, more importantly, limits soft tissue damage, preserves the periosteum, blood supply, and growth plate in children.
The Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, University Medical Center, Vietnam National University, Hanoi – Linh Dam Campus, recently admitted and treated 14-year-old patient D.HA., who suffered a right shoulder injury following an electric bicycle accident. After the accident, the child experienced significant pain, swelling, deformity of the shoulder area, and almost complete immobility of the right arm.
X-ray results confirmed that the child had a fracture of the upper end of the right humerus, with significant displacement of the fracture site. For a 14-year-old child, this injury requires not only restoration of the bone’s morphology and function but also maximum protection of the long-term development potential of the skeletal system.
Before being transferred to the University Medical Center, Vietnam National University, Hanoi – Linh Dam Campus, the child had been examined at another medical facility and advised to undergo open surgery with a long skin incision. The family was particularly worried because the child was still in a developmental stage. Besides the aesthetic concerns due to the surgical scar, the family was primarily concerned with choosing a treatment method that could minimize soft tissue damage and unnecessary impact on bone development.
Dr. Nguyen Huy Phuong, Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, stated that treating fractures in children and adolescents differs significantly from that in adults. Children’s skeletal systems are not yet fully developed, with growth plates at the ends of long bones playing a particularly important role in the development of bone length and morphology.
Therefore, the goal of treatment is not simply to return the fracture to its proper position and create stability. Doctors must also calculate how to minimize damage to soft tissue, periosteum, and the blood vessels supplying the bone, and avoid unnecessary interventions in the growth plate area.
In open surgery, depending on the type of injury, the surgeon may need to create a sufficiently wide access incision and dissect the soft tissue to expose the fracture. This technique is necessary in many cases, but it also involves a greater degree of intervention in the tissue surrounding the bone.
Meanwhile, children possess significant biological advantages such as thick periosteum, good blood supply, and high bone healing and remodeling potential. Therefore, if the fracture morphology, degree of displacement, and related factors are appropriate, minimally invasive closed reduction techniques combined with bone fixation can help maximize the child’s natural recovery potential.
After evaluating the X-ray images and the characteristics of the patient’s injury, the team decided to perform closed reduction combined with fixation using an elastic intramedullary nail (ESIN), specifically a Metaizeau nail, with the assistance of a C-arm fluoroscopy system.
Instead of directly opening the fracture site, the surgeon made only two skin incisions of about 5 mm in the distal end of the humerus. From these two locations, two elastic pins were inserted into the medullary canal.
Under the control of a C-arm system, the surgeons performed fracture reduction, restored the bone axis, and then inserted pins through the medullary canal to the upper end of the humerus to maintain the reduction. The entire surgery took approximately 60 minutes.
Dr. Nguyen Huy Phuong believes that the value of this technique lies not only in creating two smaller incisions. The important point is that the surgeon does not have to directly open and dissect the fracture site, thereby limiting soft tissue damage, preserving the periosteum and blood supply around the fracture site – factors that play a crucial role in the bone healing process in children.
The process of inserting the pins and fixing the fracture is controlled by a C-arm system, which helps the team determine the position and direction of the instruments while minimizing impact on the growth plate.
Post-surgery, X-ray examinations showed that the fracture was well realigned, the bone axis was restored, and two intramedullary nails maintained the fracture in the correct position. The child had a favorable postoperative course, with gradually decreasing pain levels, and began receiving appropriate exercise guidance.
By the third day after surgery, the child was able to actively move their right arm, both shoulders were symmetrical, and the two small incisions were healing well. For the patient’s family, the fact that the child could move again so quickly without having to undergo a long incision significantly reduced their previous anxieties.
However, doctors note that early mobilization results are only one of the initial positive signs. The child still needs regular monitoring with examinations and X-rays to assess the bone healing process, the ability to maintain the reduction results, and the development of the upper end of the humerus in the future.
In particular, minimally invasive does not mean it can be applied to all pediatric patients. Not all cases of proximal humerus fractures in children require surgery, and not all cases that are indicated for surgery are suitable for elastic intramedullary nailing.
The choice of treatment method must be based on many factors such as the child’s age, degree of displacement, fracture morphology, growth plate condition, soft tissue damage, and the feasibility of fracture reduction. In cases where appropriate indications exist, closed reduction combined with minimally invasive fixation can help limit soft tissue dissection, preserve the biological environment around the fracture, reduce the size of the surgical scar, and facilitate the recovery process.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/tin-moi-y-te-ngay-308-hut-thuoc-la-van-la-yeu-to-nguy-co-hang-dau-cua-ung-thu-phoi-d688962.html