In line with the Mois Sans Tabac this November, the Monegasque government is launching a potentially life-saving scheme that will offer free lung cancer screenings for heavy smokers over the age of 50 in the Principality.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, claiming 1.82 million lives in 2022. It is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and the second most common in women, with the vast majority of cases occurring among current and former smokers.
In an effort to combat this disease, Monaco’s government is providing heavy smokers aged 50 and over the opportunity for screenings as part of its Mois Sans Tabac campaign this November.
Highlighting the importance of early detection, Christophe Robino, Monaco’s Minister of Health, emphasised the stark statistics, stating in an interview with France3 Côte d’Azur, “On average, the probability of survival is 20% at five years when the tumour is detected in time; when it reaches Stage 4 (with metastases), survival rates plummet to less than 5%.”
The initiative targets Monaco residents who are beneficiaries of the Principality’s social security system and have a smoking history of at least one pack per day for the past two decades or more.
“We estimate that around 15,000 individuals could be eligible for this screening,” the Minister noted, “but not all will necessarily qualify, especially if they are occasional smokers.”
Eligible individuals will be contacted by post and asked to provide a record of their smoking habits. Those identified as “heavy smokers” will then receive an invitation for an x-ray to detect any potential lung lesions or issues. If any irregularities are found, they will be referred to a specialist for further testing.
In addition to screenings, participants will be encouraged to quit smoking.
Monaco already implements measures to reduce smoking rates, such as prohibiting smoking in restaurants and other indoor areas. Future bans will extend to smoking in the presence of minors, as well as a potential complete ban on smoking on beaches and the sale of “puffs”, the flavoured e-cigarettes particularly popular among young people.
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Photo source: National Cancer Institute, Unsplash