CÂNCER DE PULMÃO: DESAFIOS DA EQUIDADE NO ACESSO AO DIAGNÓSTICO E TRATAMENTO NO CONTEXTO DA SAÚDE PÚBLICA BRASILEIRA.

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in Brazil and worldwide, representing a challenge that extends beyond the clinical sphere and encompasses social and political dimensions. This article analyzes barriers that compromise equity in access to early diagnosis and treatment within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Findings highlight three axes of inequality: geographic, economic, and informational. Peripheral and rural regions face limited access to exams and therapies, while the high cost of modern treatments, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies, hinders their incorporation into SUS due to bureaucratic and budgetary constraints. Informational inequality is reflected in the lack of effective educational campaigns, which delays early care-seeking, especially among populations with low educational levels. Additionally, technological gaps of up to a decade compared to international guidelines are observed, with infrastructure concentrated in major capitals. The study emphasizes equity as a structuring principle of public policies and proposes strategies such as strengthening primary care, expanding regional reference centers, adopting telemedicine, and implementing patient navigation programs. In conclusion, tackling lung cancer requires integration between science, public policies, and society as a collective project of social justice.