Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making waves in the medical field, offering new hope in the fight against lung cancer. Dr. He Jianxing, director of the National Center for Respiratory Medicine, highlighted the significant potential of AI in enhancing lung cancer screening and diagnosis during a recent meeting in Beijing.
“AI can effectively take over repetitive and labor-intensive tasks inherent in lung cancer screening,” said Dr. He. “This allows doctors to focus on more advanced tasks and integrate technologies from different fields.” He emphasized that while AI won’t replace doctors, it serves as a powerful tool to support them.
The meeting marked the 40th anniversary of the Cancer Foundation of China (CFC) and brought attention to advancements in lung cancer awareness and treatment. Experts noted that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, an initiative promoting global consciousness about the disease.
China is witnessing a surge in AI applications within medicine. In July, researchers from Air Force Medical University, Tsinghua University, and AI software provider SenseTime unveiled “PathOrchestra,” the country’s first large pathology model. This AI model can examine more than 20 human organs, including the lungs, breast, and liver.
Lung cancer remains the deadliest cancer worldwide. According to China’s National Health Commission, approximately 1.06 million new cases were reported in China in 2022. Globally, over 2.5 million people were diagnosed, and more than 1.8 million died from the disease that same year.
Experts at the event also expressed concern over rising lung cancer rates among women in China. Dr. Qiao Youlin, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, observed that smoking, once uncommon among Chinese women, is becoming more prevalent. “Women have begun to view smoking as a fashion statement,” he noted.
Statistics from 2020 reveal that while the smoking rate among Chinese men decreased by 14.5% over the past decade, it more than doubled among women, increasing from 1.5% to 3.3%.
The meeting also focused on topics like tobacco control and the importance of early lung cancer screening. Since its establishment in 1984, the CFC has made significant strides in patient care, international collaboration, and support initiatives for those affected by cancer.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
