Management of long-term lung cancer survivors in Korea

ABSTRACT

Lung cancer survivors need to undergo continuous care by primary care physicians after acute treatment. The health problems of lung cancer survivors are associated with their treatment for example, severe pain, respiratory difficulty, poor quality of life, or pneumonitis. They also have various comorbidities, such as stroke, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or psychological problems. Surveillance of lung cancer survivors is based on an annual chest CT with routine physical examination. Incidence of second primary cancer in lung cancer survivors is reported to increase in the remnant lung, head and neck, kidney, bladder, thyroid, stomach, and breast. Therefore, lung cancer survivors need to undergo regular health examination for early detection of cancer. Smoking status, weight change, drinking behavior, and vaccination, especially influenza and pneumococcal vaccination, should be assessed whenever the patient meets a clinician. The primary care physician would be expected to take on the role of managing the health problems of Korean lung cancer survivors comprehensively, including physical and psychosocial problems, from screening to survivorship care.