ANU BiH Symposium: Lung cancer is no longer just a "smoker's disease", environmental pollution also has a big impact

ANU BiH Symposium: Lung cancer is no longer just a "smoker's disease", environmental pollution also has a big impact At the meeting at the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the organizers pointed out the growing significance of air pollution as a risk factor. Prof. Dr. Sc. Gordan Srkalović said that the disease was recently considered the "disease of smokers", but now almost a third of the sick are non-smokers. "Recently we called lung cancer the disease of smokers. However, it has been established that almost one-third of the sick are non-smokers in recent times. This is directly related to environmental pollution," said Prof. Dr. Sc. Gordan Srkalović, He added that fine particles of pollution, less than 2.5 microns, can penetrate deep into the lungs and in genetically susceptible people are linked to the development of carcinoma. "About three-quarters of patients with lung cancer present at the time when the disease has already advanced," warned Prof. Dr. Sc. Semir Vranić, a correspondent member of ANUBiH and a pathologist focused on biomarkers and cancer. He noted that symptoms such as coughing up blood, weight loss, weakness, or anemia often appear in the advanced stage, which is why prevention and screening are designated as a priority. As an example of early detection, the Croatian model of low-dose CT screening for high-risk groups was mentioned, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are already initiatives in the Canton Sarajevo and discussions about expanding such an approach to other parts of the country. Experiences from the LIFEGATE project, in which BiH has a leading role, and the Croatian Sybil program were also presented, with the emphasis that screening must be linked to prompt diagnostic procedures and continued treatment. Academician Lidija Lincender-Cvijetić reminded how much therapy has advanced in recent decades: "Diagnosis, therapy, and technology are advancing at an incredible speed." However, participants assessed that this progress in BiH is not accompanied by equal access to modern drugs, targeted therapies, and new generation sequencing. They concluded that the place of residence should not determine the quality of treatment and called health institutions, ministries, and funds to establish sustainable financing models for the entire patient journey, from prevention to therapy monitoring. Experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the United States of America, and Qatar participated in the symposium. Among the participants were Prof. Dr. Sc. Zoran Gatalica from Reference Medicine, Phoenix, Prof. Dr. Sc. Gordan Srkalović from the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center, Doc. Dr. Sc. Krešimir Tomić from the University Clinical Hospitals of Mostar, Prof. Dr. Sc. Semir Vranić from Qatar University and ANUBiH, Prof. Dr. Sc. Shruti Jolly from the University of Michigan, Doc. Dr. Sc. Kristina Krpina from KBC Zagreb, Doc. Dr. Sc. Dalma Udovičić-Gagula from KCUS, Prof. Dr. Sc. Šefika Umihanić from UKC Tuzla, and Dr. Mirko Kolak from JZU Hospitals of Trebinje.