Lung cancer in young people such as Freek Rikkerink (32) is very rare. Every year on average eight Dutch men between 30 and 34 years old are diagnosed. Because there are initially few symptoms, the disease is often discovered late.
Freek, from the musical duo Suzan & Freek, shared on Instagram on Tuesday that he has lung cancer and that there is no chance of healing due to metastases.
Most of the time older people get lung cancer. In 85 percent of the cases, the disease is also caused by smoking. But occasionally the disease finds young people, such as earlier blogger Eva Hermans-Kroot, skater Paulien van Deutekom and now Freek.
According to figures from Dutch Cancer Registration (NKR), between 1989 and 2023, on average, on average, less than eight men between 30 and 34 years old were diagnosed with lung cancer. For comparison: in 2023, 189 men were told that they had seedbar cancer.
In a slightly wider group of young men and women (between 18 and 39 years old), lung cancer was diagnosed on average 76 times a year in the period between 1989 and 2023. But it remains extremely rare. “All cancer diagnoses within that age group were only 2 percent lung cancer,” says researcher Henrike Karim-Kos.
There are no nerve endings in the lungs
That does not mean that lung cancer is a very radical diagnosis at a young age. “Certainly because half of the patients already have metastases at the time of the diagnosis,” says Marjon Kranenbarg of the Integral Cancer Center Nederland (IKNL). That is because there are relatively few symptoms or complaints at an early stage. As a result, lung cancer is often discovered late.
Lidia Barberio, director of Long Cancer Netherlands, agrees. “There are no nerve endings in the lungs,” she says. “That means that you will only notice something when the lung cancer is at a late stage. And then they are still quite general complaints.”
Possible complaints are persistent fatigue or a cough that just won’t disappear. If lung cancer is discovered early, it is often by chance. For example with a CT scan after an accident or a heart test.
It is not known which form of lung cancer Freek suffers. But most of the time it is about a type where a mutation is the cause. Then a cell will share unrestrained.
Against that type of cancer, targeted therapy is often used: instead of chemo or immunotherapy you take a pill at home. “With a mutation you generally have a better chance of living a few years longer than with a form caused by tobacco addiction,” says Barberio.
Lung cancer patient who climbs the Alpe d’Huez by bicycle
A small bright spot after the lung cancer diagnosis is that patients can sometimes lead an active and even sporty life for years. “You think of people who are in an oxygen bottle, but the treacherous thing is that you can’t see anything on the outside,” says Barberio. She has lung cancer patients who climb the Alpe d’Huez by bike or do spinning every week.
But the patients do live with the uncertainty that it can suddenly get worse. At some point the cancer becomes more resistant to the medication and therefore no longer works properly. Then it can deteriorate fast.
According to Long Cancer Netherlands, a population screening is currently only useful for people over fifty who have smoked long and a lot. According to Barberio, all young people screening is not a realistic option due to limited availability of scans and the exposure to radiation at the moment. Although that could change in the future if research becomes less invasive and cheaper.
Lung Cancer in Young People Like Freek Rikkerink (32) is very weird. On Average, Eight Dutch Men between the ages of 30 and 34 Are Diagnosed Each Year. Because there are initially few symptoms, the disease is of discovered late.
Freek, from the musical Duo Suzan & Freek, Shared on Instagram on Tuesday that he has lung cancer and that there is no chance of recovery due to metastases.
Lung Cancer Usually Affects Older People. In 85 percent of cases, The Disease is also caused by smoking. But occasionally the disease affects Young People, Such as blogger Eva Hermans-Kroot, Skater Paulien van Deutekom and Now Freek.
Accordance to Figures from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NKR), Between 1989 and 2023 An Average of Just Under Eight Men between the Ages of 30 and 34 Were Diagnosed with Lung Cancer Each Year. For Comparonon: In 2023, 189 they were tolerate they had testicular cancer.
In a Slightly Larger Group of Young Men and Women (Between 18 and 39 Years Old), Lung Cancer was diagnosed An Average of 76 Times per year between 1989 and 2023. But it remains extremely weird. “Or All Cancer Diagnoses Within That Age Group, Only 2 percent Involved Lung Cancer,” Says Researcher Henrike Karim-Kos.
There are no nerve endings in the lungs
That does not alter the fact that lung cancer is a very drastic diagnosis at a young age. “Especally because half of the patients alreaty have metastases at the time of diagnosis,” Says Marjon Kranenbarg of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Netherlands (IKNL). This is because there are relatively few symptoms or complaints in an early stage. As a result, lung cancer is of discovered late.
Lidia Barberio, Director of Lung Cancer Netherlands, AGREES. “There are no nerve endings in the lungs,” She Says. “That mean you only notice something when the lung cancer is in a late stage. And then they are still fairly general complaints.”
Possible complaints are persistent fatigue or a cough that just won going. If Lung Cancer is discovered early, it is or by chance. For Example, Duration a CT scan after an accident or a heart examination.
It is not Known What Form of Lung Cancer Freek Suffers From. But in Young People it is usually a type in which a mutation is the cause. Then a Cell Starts dividing Unrestrained.
Targeted therapy is of used against that type of cancer: Instead of Chemo-OR immunotherapy, you take a pill at home. “With a mutation, you generally have a better chance of living a number of years longer than with a form caused by tobacco addiction,” Says Barberio.
Lung Cancer Patient Who Climbs The Alpe d’Huez by Bike
A Small Bright Spot After The Lung Cancer Diagnosis is that Patients Can Sometimes Lead An Active and Even Sporty Life for Years. “You think of people sitting on an oxygen Bottle, but the treacherous thing is that you can’t see anything on the outside,” Says Barberio. She Knows Lung Cancer Patients Who Climb The Alpe d’Huez by Bike or Do Spinning Every Week.
But the patients live with the uncertainty that things could sauddenly get worse. At a Certain Point, the Cancer Becomes More Resistant to the Medication and It No Longer Works Properly. Then it can Deteriorate Rapidly.
Accordance to Lung Cancer Netherlands, A Population Screening is Currently Only useful for people about fifty who have smoked a lot for a long time. Screening All Young People is not a realistic option at the moment due to limited availability of scans and exposure to radiation, accordance to barberio. Althegh that could change in the Future IF Research Becomes Less Invasive and Cheaper.