According to the first results of the Cascade study, women have a greater risk of developing lung cancer than men, with equal tobacco consumption.
At equal tobacco consumption, women would be more at risk of developing lung cancer than men. This is confirmed by the first results of the Cascade study, conducted for a year on women aged 50 to 74 in several large French cities.
As part of this research, several dozen smokers or former smokers have already been saved, because they are taken care of quickly thanks to this early detection. This is for example the case of Christelle, whose lung cancer was discovered barely six months ago, and which is already ancient history: “I am very very goodshe says, they took the tumor out, got rid of it, kicked it out. Two months later, everything is fine!
An AI to help with screening
Christelle had no symptoms, but this former smoker who consumed up to two packs a day heard about the Cascade study and then volunteered. Result: lung cancer detected and treated very early. Professor Marie-Pierre Revel is at the head of this research: “The results are that we have a higher cancer rate than expected. We think that, for an equivalent exposure to tobacco, women are more at risk than men of developing lung cancer”.
Above all, this study tends to show that artificial intelligence software can support the radiologist for a second reading of the screening scanner. A safety reading useful even to hyper-specialized services, such as that of Professor Marie-Pierre Revel: “It’s rare, but it can happen that we missed a lesion, especially when we saw something that caught our attention more. This role of second reader is really very important.”
Volunteers still needed
This artificial intelligence could eventually help all radiologists in France to detect lung cancer, that is to say very small tumors, early. Until then, this study is continuing and doctors are still looking for women between the ages of 50 and 74, former or current heavy smokers, ready to be screened (one packet per day for 20 years, or two packets per day for 20 years) , in the regions of Paris, Rennes, Béthune and Grenoble. As Christelle says, “We have to do it! What are we risking? Nothing at all, apart from being diagnosed with cancer early and then having surgery and being at peace afterwards. We shouldn’t hesitate”.
To participate in the study, you can call 06 15 06 58 35 or send an email to [email protected]