April 5th was National Day Against Lung Cancer, a disease that has begun to gain ground on the peninsula.
Lung cancer has become a growing concern for specialists in the Yucatán Peninsula due to its alarming upward trend, especially among young people who start smoking at increasingly younger ages.
According to the latest epidemiological surveillance report from the Federal Ministry of Health, between January 1st and March 22nd of this year, 27 cases of lung cancer have been reported in the Yucatán Peninsula.
This figure represents a 77 percent increase compared to the six cases recorded during the same period last year, all of whom have already been diagnosed and are beginning treatment.
At the peninsular level, Yucatán leads the list of lung cancer cases, with 20 patients diagnosed so far this year. Campeche follows, reporting five cases in the same period, while Quintana Roo is in last place with only two confirmed diagnoses.
It’s worth noting that, together, the three states of the Peninsula finished the year 2024 with a total of 58 cases of lung cancer. However, in just the first 80 days of 2025, 46 percent of that figure has already been reached, indicating an acceleration in the number of diagnoses and suggesting the possibility that cases will surpass the previous year’s figures if the trend continues.
Increasing tobacco use among young people is a cause for concern
According to pulmonologist Enrique García, the behavior of lung cancer has changed in recent years, causing serious effects in increasingly younger age groups, a situation that has raised red flags for specialists.
“We have seen an increase in cases, especially in younger people who start smoking at an earlier age. Medical guidelines gave us protocols for people over 75 years old, who were more prone to this cancer, but now they have moved from 55 to 74 years old. We are seeing patients with severe lung damage before the age of 30, something that was very rare a decade ago,” he said.
The specialist explained that lung cancer occurs when alterations occur in the genetic material of lung cells, which begin to multiply uncontrollably thanks to the consumption of toxic substances contained in cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
“The DNA of our cells tells us when to grow, divide, and die. But when these instructions are altered, cells begin to multiply uncontrollably and refuse to die when they should. This leads to tumors that invade healthy tissue and can spread to other organs.”
“Cigarette smoke contains highly carcinogenic substances. When these substances come into contact with the lungs, they cause almost immediate changes in the tissue. At first, the body can repair the damage, but with each exposure, the cells become increasingly altered, until they can become cancerous,” he explained.
The pulmonologist warned that lung cancer can also occur in nonsmokers, better known as “passive smokers,” although these cases are less common.
“There are those who have never smoked or been exposed to secondhand smoke and still develop the disease. In these cases, there may be no clear cause, but they represent a minority,” he commented.
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In both cases, lung cancer can develop silently, without presenting symptoms for several years. Generally, it’s not until the advanced stages of the disease that the body begins to show clear signs of its presence, which makes early diagnosis difficult and reduces the chances of effective treatment.
In this regard, the specialist called on state authorities to strengthen prevention and awareness campaigns about the seriousness of lung cancer, especially among the younger population. He also invited citizens to reflect on tobacco use and the serious long-term consequences this habit can have on health.
Lung cancer risk factors
Tobacco use
Exposure to tobacco smoke
Family history of lung cancer
Exposure to previous radiation therapy
Exposure to radon gas (natural decomposition of uranium in soil, rocks, and water)
Exposure to asbestos
Consumption of dietary supplements containing Beta-carotene
Symptoms
A cough that won’t go away
Chest pain
Coughing up blood, even small amounts
Hoarseness
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Bone pain
Headache
Unintentional weight loss
Loss of appetite
Swelling in the face or neck
Number of lung cancer-related deaths in the peninsula
Yucatán 20
Campeche 5
Quintana Roo 2
TYT Newsroom
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