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Residents of Timișoara, in western Romania, can undergo free spirometry tests on a special tram as part of the #GrijădePlămâni (CareForLungs) campaign.

For five days, from December 9 to 13, 2024, a team of doctors from the “Dr. Victor Babeș” Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pneumophthisiology in Timișoara will perform free spirometry tests in a specially equipped tram operating on lines 8 and 9 will run, according to a press release.

The test is a simple, non-invasive method of measuring lung capacity, essential for the early detection of respiratory diseases. Spirometry is used to diagnose and monitor respiratory conditions such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pulmonary fibrosis, according to Dr. Cristian Oancea, pulmonologist and manager of the clinical hospital “Victor Babeș”.

“The test provides important information about lung function, including airflow and respiratory volume. It is an important tool for detecting obstructive or restrictive conditions and for monitoring the progression of respiratory diseases. This data is especially crucial for patients in categories at high risk for lung cancer, such as smokers or those with a history of chronic lung disease, he said.

The #GrijădePlămâni campaign, launched in Timișoara in September 2023, also aims to draw attention to lung cancer. The condition is one of the most common forms of cancer, with nearly 12,000 new cases reported each year. It also remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, accounting for 19% (over 10,000 deaths recorded annually). Currently, three out of four patients visit a doctor in an advanced stage of the disease. When lung cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, it is easier to treat, with more treatment options and higher survival rates.

In addition to free spirometry testing, the campaign promotes the use of an online risk assessment test for lung cancer based on frequent symptoms and key risk factors identified by respondents. This test helps users assess their risk of lung cancer and is available on the grjadeplamani.ro platform, which almost 6,000 people already have access to. According to users’ answers, one in two users is a smoker.

The campaign is supported by the Timișoara Public Transport Society (STPT), which supplied the specially equipped tram. “It is an honor for us to be part of an initiative that brings health closer to people. The Health Tram is an example of how the community can actively contribute to prevention and education,” says Constantin Cocheci, CEO of STPT.

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(Photo source: Dominic Fritz on Facebook)