The White August campaign aims to raise awareness about lung cancer, one of the deadliest types of the disease, which presents concerning rates in Brazil. According to estimates from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), the country is expected to register more than 32,000 new cases per year of trachea, bronchus, and lung cancer in the 2023-2025 triennium — with 18,020 in men and 14,540 in women.
According to pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist Dr. Jessica Polese, lung cancer is often silent and aggressive. “It is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide and is strongly associated with smoking. But what many people don’t know is that it can also affect people who have never smoked, as we have mentioned in various studies, and in the latest one, it was shown that air pollution also affects individuals' lung health,” she explains.
Initial symptoms include persistent cough, blood in sputum, chest pain, hoarseness, weight loss, and loss of appetite. “In smokers, an unusual cough, recurrent respiratory infections such as pneumonia, as well as frequent fatigue, are warning signs that deserve attention,” Dr. Jessica emphasizes.
The doctor also warns of a concerning factor: the rise in electronic cigarette consumption in Brazil. “There are cases of respiratory diseases occurring at younger ages that may worsen in the near future,” she points out.
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