Dr. Anatoly Semkov graduated in medicine from Medical University Varna in 2011. In 2018 he obtained a specialty in Thoracic Surgery from MU-Sofia. In 2020 he defended his thesis. Since 2017 he has been an assistant professor and since 2022 - chief assistant professor at the "Department of Pulmonary Diseases" at MU - Sofia.
He has participated in specializations with leading doctors in the field of thoracic surgery in Slovenia, Turkey, China, Austria, etc.
His main professional interests include lung cancer, pleural and chest wall diseases, and minimally invasive techniques for diagnosis and treatment. He practices at the Clinic of Thoracic Surgery at St. Ivan Rilski - Sofia.
From April 13, 2024 Dr. Anatoly Semkov will perform examinations in the MC "Alpiko"- Vratsa.
We talk to Dr Semkov about lung cancer, which remains the leading cause of death among cancers.
Dr. Semkov, lung cancer remains the leading cause of death among cancers, why?
It is common knowledge in our guild that, worldwide, lung cancer shows a steady trend to lead the ranking of cancers causing death.
According to the latest WHO data, about 3,300 people die from this disease in Bulgaria annually, or 24 people per 100,000 population, which ranks us 32nd in the world in lung cancer mortality.
The reasons for this statistic and in particular Bulgaria's place in it are many - the socio-economic status of the population, the high percentage of smoking which is a leading risk factor, the timing of diagnosis, the age structure of the population and many others.
How does the disease progress?
As I mentioned, the disease is a leading cause of cancer mortality not only in Bulgaria and therefore there are objective reasons related to the course of the disease.
Practically, there are no specific early symptoms. Manifestations are usually present when the cancer process is already advanced and may vary depending on the location of the tumour and its histological type.
The most common alarming symptoms are the appearance of blood in the sputum, a change in the appearance of chronic smokers' cough, chest pain and shortness of breath. Often initially, lung tumours can mimic an inflammatory process, which however does not resolve after the standard treatment for such conditions.
When such symptoms occur, patients should seek advice from their general practitioner, at whose discretion investigations and possible consultations with other specialists should be carried out.
As I mentioned, symptoms are usually late in manifestation, so prevention remains the most effective, and countries developing screening programs for early diagnosis through periodic low-dose scans of at-risk groups have the most success in fighting this disease.
Is there a cure?
I should also emphasize that lung cancer in itself is not a death sentence.
With timely diagnosis at an early stage, radical removal of the tumor is possible, with subsequent therapy if necessary. Leading the way in modern medicine is the team approach, in this case the interaction between general practitioners, pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists and of course, last but not least, pathologists, who have the task of typifying the process and enabling therapists to provide the most effective treatment.
Practically all treatment options are currently available in Bulgaria, according to the protocols accepted in the world, starting with surgical treatment in suitable patients at an early stage, going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy and ending with the already available options of targeted and immunotherapy - the latter depend a lot on the type of tumor and the presence of certain genetic mutations in its cells.
Very often patients ask me if they can be prescribed treatment based on the blood tests and the scanner data. This cannot be done - effective therapy requires taking material for examination from the tumour, i.e. biopsy, even when radical surgery is not possible.
To be honest, in the 15 years or so that I have been dealing with this disease on a daily basis, the treatment options have expanded a lot, as has the ability of modern therapies to lead to higher survival rates and better quality of life for patients, and again I stress - early diagnosis is the key. A cancer detected early can be cured radically, to the extent of determining neither the patient's life expectancy nor his quality of life.
No matter how dynamically medicine develops, no matter how high technology enters, the doctor-patient contact and the teamwork between doctors remain crucial.
From 13 April this year you will consult patients from the Northwest in the MC "Alpiko" in Vratsa
In this sense, I am glad that I will have the opportunity to consult patients in Vratsa, as we have had to work together with colleagues from the city, as well as from other cities in Northwest Bulgaria, and I have always found good interaction.
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