From island sanatorium to today’s lung cancer figures

By Marlis Zoschke

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago… That’s how fairy tales begin these days. Yet it was no myth that Tenerife was once discovered as a remedy for people suffering from asthma, bronchitis and other (respiratory) conditions.

The doctors could only prescribe medication to relieve the symptoms; unfortunately, however, they could not prescribe a stay on Tenerife, where sometimes as little as 14 days was enough to make it easier to breathe again.

There were only a few hotels along the coast. New towns such as Las Americas hadn’t even been planned yet. Yet even back then, the climate helped to improve people’s well-being. Many holidaymakers soon began visiting the secluded south of Tenerife twice a year, travelling as far as Los Gigantes in the west of the island.

People also had good experiences with osteoarthritis. They would bury themselves in the black sand and effectively treat themselves that way. There was no other option, as apart from a vet and a paediatrician, there was no medical care to be found far and wide. People with more serious illnesses often flew to La Palma.

Lung cancer widespread in the Canary Islands

But now lung cancer appears to have taken hold in the Canary Islands and is the leading cause of death. Cancer is responsible for an ever-increasing number of deaths. Yet this is no consolation for other countries or those affected.

Doesn’t anyone wonder what’s wrong with that? It has been proven that smoking is a major risk factor for developing lung cancer. Unfortunately, it is also a type of cancer that is difficult to treat. I know 15 people in my immediate circle who have died from it within a relatively short period of time.

Lung cancer as a secondary consequence of emancipation?

I attribute the fact that many women in the Canary Islands also develop lung cancer to the sense of emancipation that came with smoking in public. Nobody complained any more; there was hardly any absolute obedience to men left.

But today there are even more reasons: e-cigarettes are not harmless either, as they contain nicotine – just like tobacco cigarettes. Flavourings encourage the absorption of nicotine into the lungs, says Reiner Hanewinkel from the German Cancer Aid expert committee. And the now high levels of particulate matter pollution are also considered a risk factor.