Aside from dizziness, Mr. Nam displayed no other respiratory symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.

A brain CT scan at Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, revealed multiple brain tumors, suspected to be metastatic lesions. Subsequent full-body screening identified a 5 cm tumor in the upper lobe of the right lung, along with numerous small nodules in both lungs.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Nghia, a Level I Specialist at the Thoracic - Vascular Surgery Center, noted that the tumor exhibited several suspicious characteristics, including irregular spiky borders and pleural retraction. A conventional needle biopsy was not feasible to determine if the tumor was benign or malignant. Its location between blood vessels and large air cysts presented a high risk of air cyst rupture, acute respiratory failure, and significant blood loss.

Following a consultation, doctors opted for endoscopic surgery to obtain a sample for a frozen section biopsy. Forty minutes later, results confirmed stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma, which had metastasized to both lungs and multiple areas of the brain.

Doctors then devised a multimodal treatment plan, incorporating systemic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and gene mutation testing for the patient.

Dr. Nghia (right) and his team performed endoscopic surgery to collect a biopsy sample from the patient. *Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital*

According to Globocan 2022, lung cancer ranks third in Vietnam for new cases, with over 24,400 diagnoses, and second for cancer-related deaths, accounting for 22,600 cases.

Lung cancer often progresses silently, meaning that by the time clear symptoms emerge, the disease has usually reached an advanced or metastatic stage, leading to a less favorable prognosis. Early detection through screening, however, allows for complete surgical removal of tumors, offering a high chance of successful treatment and cancer eradication.

Dr. Nghia recommends annual health check-ups for everyone. Screening for lung tumors is particularly advised for men over 50 with a history of heavy smoking, a family history of lung cancer, or exposure to dusty environments. Non-smokers aged 60 and above should also follow a doctor's guidance for screening. Low-dose lung CT scans are effective in detecting very small tumors, even those measuring 1-2 mm, enabling timely intervention.

Bao Anh

*Patient's name has been changed