Israeli Experts Warn of Lung Cancer Symptoms Ahead of Early Screening Program Launch

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with approximately 2.2 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths annually. In Israel, between 2,500 and 3,000 new lung cancer cases are diagnosed each year, with an overall survival rate of 20%-25%. Experts from Ziv Medical Center emphasize that about 70% of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, which significantly reduces treatment success.

Dr. Ihab Ashkar, a lung disease specialist at Ziv Medical Center, explains that early lung cancer often causes no symptoms because the deep lung tissue and bronchi do not transmit pain, allowing tumors to grow unnoticed. He warns that persistent symptoms such as a new or changed chronic cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest or shoulder pain, prolonged hoarseness, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or loss of appetite should prompt immediate medical evaluation.

While smoking is the primary risk factor, other contributors include passive smoking, air pollution, radon gas, asbestos, heavy metals, and ionizing radiation. Notably, 15%-20% of lung cancer patients have never smoked, with some cases linked to genetic mutations that enable targeted therapies.

To improve early detection, Ziv Medical Center will launch a low-dose CT chest screening program in September 2026 for heavy smokers and former smokers aged 50-80 who meet health basket criteria. Early diagnosis allows for personalized treatment plans involving surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted biological therapies, which can often lead to cure if the disease is caught early, according to Dr. Moataz Spadi, head of lung cancer at Ziv.

This initiative aligns with World Lung Cancer Day, underscoring the critical importance of awareness and early screening to reduce mortality from this deadly disease.