Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer in Productive-Age Individuals: New Hope and Advantages
Lung cancer is no longer solely associated with older age groups or heavy smokers. Increasingly, doctors are diagnosing the disease in individuals aged 30 to 40, including those who are non-smokers and consider themselves healthy and active.
In response to this phenomenon, Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology at Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC) Singapore, Dr. Tanujaa Rajasekaran, stated that immunotherapy is becoming a primary choice for significantly improving survival rates, especially for those in their productive years.
“Personalized treatment allows us to select more effective and tolerable therapies, particularly for patients in their productive years who need to balance treatment with family and work responsibilities,” said Dr. Tanujaa during a discussion entitled “Shifting Demographics of Cancer in Indonesia: Lung Cancer in Productive Age” in Jakarta, Thursday (February 26, 2026).
Dr. Tanujaa explained that immunotherapy works by harnessing the patient’s own immune system. This therapy “awakens” white blood cells to effectively recognize and attack cancer cells. Based on her experience, this therapy is very effective for patients aged 30-50, both active and non-smokers.
Immunotherapy is a therapy that can improve patient survival for varying durations:
“If we are talking about stage 4 or metastatic cancer, immunotherapy is usually administered in the long term, as long as the cancer responds. If the cancer responds, we will continue it. If it stops responding, it is usually replaced with other drugs,” added Dr. Tanujaa.
Patients undergoing immunotherapy generally show signs of improvement within 6-8 weeks, such as weight gain and relief from chronic cough.
One of the added values of immunotherapy is the preservation of quality of life. Unlike other aggressive therapies, patients undergoing immunotherapy tend to be able to continue their daily activities and fulfill their responsibilities within their families and professionally.
With early detection and the selection of appropriate therapies such as immunotherapy, lung cancer in young adults is no longer an obstacle to having a long and quality life. (Ant/H-3)
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