World Lung Cancer Day 2025: A reminder of TB and Lung Health

Since 2012, World Lung Cancer Day is observed every year on August 1 to raise awareness about lung cancer. The World Lung Cancer Day observance commenced with the hope of creating awareness about lung cancer symptoms and risk factors and raise funds for more research. The aim was to educate people about risk factors, screening, treatment and outcome of lung cancer as well as overall lung health. This year’s theme of World Lung Cancer Day is “Stronger Together: United for Lung Cancer Awareness”. Every 2 minutes, a patient is diagnosed with lung cancer; that’s a whopping 643 people a day. However, with early screening, lung cancer’s 5-year survival rate jumps from 27% to 64%. Therefore, joining forces together on this day to create awareness is not only necessary but potentially life-saving.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a known risk factor for lung cancer, and overlapping symptoms often complicate diagnosis. Chronic inflammation from TB, particularly in the lungs, is thought to contribute to lung carcinogenesis. A meta-regression analysis conducted by Hwang et al.(2022)  revealed that the history of pulmonary TB is an independent risk factor for lung cancer, especially in younger patients diagnosed with pulmonary TB. Moreover, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis is a significant clinical challenge when tuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer present with similar symptoms such as chronic cough, weight loss, fever, and hemoptysis, especially in high-burden countries with high TB prevalence. Given the overlapping clinical and radiological features of both diseases, World Lung Cancer Day is an important opportunity to bring the discussion about tuberculosis (TB) on the table and raise awareness of its serious implications.  

Early screening plays a critical role in improving respiratory health and reducing the burden of severe lung diseases such as lung cancer and tuberculosis (TB). For lung cancer, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening in high-risk individuals, particularly long-term smokers, can detect tumors at an earlier, more treatable stage, reducing lung cancer related mortality by 20%. Similarly, timely TB screening and diagnosis are essential to prevent transmission, reduce complications, and distinguish TB from other respiratory conditions like cancer. Maintaining good respiratory health through preventive strategies, such as avoiding tobacco use, reducing exposure to air pollutants, and managing chronic respiratory conditions, can lower the risk of both TB and lung cancer.

To strengthen early screening programs and raising awareness about respiratory symptoms requires well-structured health care system that engages both public and private sectors.  The World Health Organization (WHO), along with partners such as the Stop TB Working Group on Public-Private Mix for TB Care and Prevention (PPM Working Group) continues to support countries in fostering collaboration between National TB programs and diverse public, voluntary, corporate and private health care providers for TB care in different settings.  These collaborative efforts echo the theme of this year’s World Lung Cancer Day and can lead to earlier intervention, better outcomes, and reduced mortality, which is the goal to observe a day like World Lung Cancer Day.