A Multicenter Study to Assess a Systematic Screening of Occupational Exposures in Lung Cancer Patients

Abstract

Occupational lung cancer cases remain largely under-reported and under-compensated worldwide. In order to improve the detection and compensation of work-related lung cancers, we implemented a systematic screening of occupational exposures, combining a validated self-administered questionnaire to assess occupational exposures and a specialized occupational cancer consultation. After a pilot study, the present prospective, open-label, scale-up study aimed to assess this systematic screening of occupational exposures in lung cancer patients in five sites in France by associating university hospitals with cancer centers. Patients with lung cancer were sent a self-administered questionnaire to collect their job history and potential exposure to lung carcinogens. The questionnaire was assessed by a physician to determine if a specialized occupational cancer consultation was required. During the consultation, a physician assessed if the lung cancer was occupation-related and, if it was, delivered a medical certificate to claim for compensation. Patients were offered help from a social worker for the administrative procedure. Over 15 months, 1251 patients received the questionnaire and 462 returned it (37%). Among them, 176 patients (38.1%) were convened to the occupational cancer consultation and 150 patients attended the consultation. An exposure to occupational lung carcinogen was identified in 133 patients and a claim for compensation was judged possible for 90 patients. A medical certificate was delivered to 88 patients and 38 patients received compensation. Our national study demonstrated that a systematic screening of occupational exposures is feasible and will bring a significant contribution to improve the detection of occupational exposures in lung cancer patients.

Survival of bronchopulmonary cancers according to radon exposure

“…This monocentric study was conducted at the Center Léon Berard (CLB), a comprehensive cancer center in Lyon, France, affiliated with the National Federation of Cancer Centers Unicancer ( 10 ). Patients included in the study had histologically confirmed lung cancer, were treated at the CLB, and were prospectively integrated in the PROPOUMON ( 11 , 12 ) database between March 25, 2014 and August 31, 2020. Non-inclusion criteria were residence outside the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, unknown addresses, missing data for the covariates, and refusal to participate in the study.…”

An Integrated Cancer Prevention Strategy: the Viewpoint of the Leon Berard Comprehensive Cancer Center Lyon, France

“…To improve detection of occupational cancers and their compensation, a systematic screening of occupational exposures, combining a self-administered questionnaire and specialized occupational cancer consultation has been implemented since 2009, in collaboration with the Lyon University occupational health services. We have demonstrated that this systematic screening and outreach process can improve compensation for occupational lung cancer and that it can be used in other comprehensive cancer centers ( 17 ).…”

Patterns in medical surveillance of workers exposed to lung carcinogens

“…Of these, 176 were selected following the responses for a specialist consultation. Only 150 people showed up for this consultation and 88 of them (7% of the initial number of participants) were diagnosed with occupational lung cancer [11]. Screening questionnaires are applied, in general, to reduce the number of exposure-workers within a target group to then carry out radiological/ low dose chest CT screening.…”