Tobacco and public health

Objectives: An inter active program for physicians and surgeons was used to focus their attention on current issues of lung cancer in the United State s. The issues examined were the risks for the development of lung cancer in smokers, spouses of smokers, recipients of second-hand or sidestream smoke , and the appropriate workup and treatment of patients with lung cancel. Design: Case presentation with interactive questions and answers. Patients: Six patients are presented whose cases demonstrate issues that ar e relevant and timely to the practice of thoracic surgery and oncology. Interventions: Treatment for the five case presentations is used for intera ctive teaching purposes. Conclusions: Lung cancer is epidemic in the United States, particularly amo ng women at the present time. Physician awareness of the environmental and other factors contributing to the disease should stay current with the popu lation variables that we are seeing in clinical practice.