Monday, April 8, 2019

The Perils of Lung Cancer

Fast facts about lung cancer:
·         It’s the number one cause of cancer deaths in men and women worldwide.
·         Cigarette smoking is the main risk factor.
·         Exposure to second-hand smoke (passive smoking) can also cause lung cancer.
·         There are two types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), which grow and spread differently.
·         The most aggressiveand rapidly growing, SCLC constitute around 20% of lung cancers.
·         Treatment can involve a combination of surgery, radiation,chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
·         Its general prognosis is poor because doctors find lung cancer only at an advanced stage.
·         Five-year survival is around 54% for early-stage lung cancer localized to the lungs, but only about 4% in advanced, inoperable lung cancer.
·         Smoking cessation is critical in preventing its development.
·         Lung cancer tumours can be benign or malignant (cancerous).
·         Benign tumours can usually be removed and don’t spread to other body parts.
·         But malignant tumours often grow aggressively locally where they emerge.
·         Tumour cells can also enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, then spreading to other sites in the body (metastasis).
·         Since lung cancer spreads or metastasizes very early after forming, it is one of the most difficult cancers to treat and extremely life-threatening.
·         While lung cancer can spread to any organ, certain areas – the adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bones – are most vulnerable.
·         Primarily a disease of the elderly, almost 70% of those with lung cancer are 65-plus, with less than 3% occurring in people under 45 years. The median diagnosis age: 70 years.
·         Uncommon before the 1930s, it rose dramatically after tobacco smoking soared.

Lung cancer causes and risk factors:
Smoking
·         Around 90% of cases arise from tobacco abuse.
·         Tobacco smoke has 4,000-plus chemical compounds, many carcinogenic (cancer-causing).

Passive smoking
Inhalation of tobacco smoke by non-smokers (living or working with smokers) is an established risk factor leading to a 24% rise in risk for developing lung cancer.

Asbestos fibres
These are silicate fibres that can persist in lung tissue for a lifetime after exposure to asbestos.

Familial predisposition
All smokers don’t eventually develop lung cancer,indicating other factors(e.g. individual genetic susceptibility) may play a role in causing lung cancer.

Lung diseases
Having certain lung diseases (notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD) is linked with ahigher risk for developing lung cancer even after excluding the effects of concomitant cigarette smoking.

Prior history
Lung cancer survivors run a higher risk of developing a second lung cancer than the general population has of developing a first lung cancer.

Air pollution
Vehicular, industrial, and power plant pollution inflates the chances of developing lung cancer in exposed persons.

Diesel exhaust
Diesel engine exhaust contains carcinogenic gases and soot (particulate matter).

Signs and symptoms
Symptoms are varied depending on the location and tumour spread. Warning signs are not always present or easy to spot. In some cases, there may be no pain or other symptoms. A lung cancer victim may have:
No symptoms: In up to 25% of cases, lung cancer is first discovered on a routine chest X-ray or CT scan as a solitary small mass.Such patients often report no symptoms when the cancer is found.
Cancer-related symptoms: The cancer growth may interfere with breathing, leading to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood (haemoptysis). If cancer invades nerves, it can cause shoulder pain or paralysis of the vocal cords leading to hoarseness. Invasion of the esophagus may lead to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).
Metastasis-related symptoms: Lung cancer spreading to the bones may produce excruciating pain at the sites. Cancer spreading to the brain may cause neurologic symptoms,including blurred vision, headache, seizures, or symptoms of stroke such as weakness or loss of sensation in some body parts.
Non-specific symptoms:These include weight loss, weakness and fatigue. Depression and mood changes are also common.

When to consult a doctor
Consult a Doctor of Cancer if symptoms associated with lung cancer exist, particularly if there is:
·         A new persistent cough or worsening of an existing chronic cough
·         Blood in the sputum
·         Persistent bronchitis or chronic respiratory infections
·         Chest pain
·         Unexplained weight loss and/or fatigue
·         Breathing difficulties (shortness of breath or wheezing).

Treatment and prevention
This mainly involves surgeryto remove the cancer, chemotherapy, or radiation, as well as combinations of the treatments. Targeted therapies and hypnotherapy are used as well. The treatment mode will depend on the location and extent of the tumour, besides the patient’s overall health. Considering the gravity of the disease, prevention is best. Avoiding tobacco products and exposure to second-hand smoke is crucial. Screenings for early detection may be advised for high-risk individuals.
Get more help at https://nayatihealthcare.com/