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.
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Understanding Cancer and its Prevention

Awareness about cancer and its symptoms can promote prevention.

 All human bodies contain cells that grow, divide and then die. The life cycle of normal cells is termed ‘apoptosis’. This is the typical process of a cell’s programmed growth, development and demise. But when some cells begin growing uncontrollably and don’t die, it is called cancer. In short, all people possess cells, some of which may turn cancerous under certain conditions. To prevent cancer, it’s essential to know what conditions could trigger cancerous growth. 

Gene mutations are the primary cause of cancer, which generally occur after birth and are not inherited. Certain risks factors could trigger gene mutations. The main causes are carcinogens or cancer-causing chemicals, radiation, smoking, tobacco and alcohol consumption, viruses, chronic inflammation, obesity and incorrect diets, hormones and sedentary lifestyles.  

These causes could be broadly categorised into the following risk factors:

·         Biological: Inherited genetic disorders, age, gender and skin type.

·         Lifestyle-related: Lack of exercise, wrong diet and obesity.

·         Environmental: Exposure to UV radiation, fine particulate matter, etc.

·         Occupational: Workplace exposure or contact with carcinogens such as radioactive elements, various chemicals, asbestos, etc.

In preventing cancer, it is essential to lead healthy lifestyles. A six-times-a-week exercise regimen is crucial in ensuring good health and strong immunity. A varied diet that includes fresh, green, leafy vegetables and plenty of seasonal fruits is also important. Vegetables and fruits contain plenty of fibre, which is beneficial for the digestive and immune systems. Conversely, consumption of red meat and all foods containing saturated fats should be minimised. Alcohol intake should be avoided or minimised as well as smoking and tobacco consumption. Excess exposure to the hot sun should be avoided too.

Besides the above, it is important to have regular medical check-ups and cancer screenings. Cancer can be curable in the early stages or before the symptoms have become apparent. Cancer may have many diverse symptoms: a new mole or change in existing mole; an incurable sore; hoarseness or an incurable cough; a lump or thickening under the skin; painful urination; changes in bowel habits; difficulty in swallowing; unexplained weight gain or loss; unusual bleeding or discharge; blood in the urine or stool; extreme weakness or tiredness, etc. 

Do note, however, that most often the above symptoms may be due to other ailments, not cancer. But if the symptoms persist for more than two weeks, it is necessary to visit a doctor in best cancer hospital. The problem can then be diagnosed early and treated well in time. Remember that some early stages of cancer cause no pain. If some symptoms are apparent, it is safer to visit the doctor even if there is no pain. Prevention is truly the better, cheaper and safer option in overcoming cancer.

What are the different types of cancer?

Cancers are often described by the organ they originated from. However, some body parts contain multiple types of tissue. So for greater precision, cancers are additionally classified by the type of cell that the tumour cells originated from. These types include:-

#Carcinoma:

1) This refers to malignant neoplasm that begins in the epithelium (skin) or in tissues that line internal organs.

2) Carcinomas are divided into two major subtypes.

3) Adenocarcinomas generally occur in mucus membrane of an organ or gland.

4) Squamous  cell carcinoma originates in the squamous epithelium.

5) examples are skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancers, Basal cell carcinomas, Melanoma.

  

#Sarcoma:

1) This refers to Cancer that originates in supportive and mesenchymal tissues such as bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective tissues. Examples: Osteosarcoma or osteogenic sarcoma (bone)

2) Chondrosarcoma (cartilage)

3) Leiomyosarcoma (smooth muscle)

4) Rhabdomyosarcoma (skeletal muscle)

5) Mesothelial sarcoma or mesothelioma (membranous lining of body cavities)

6) Fibrosarcoma (fibrous tissue)

7) Angiosarcoma or hemangioendothelioma (blood vessels)

8) Liposarcoma (adipose tissue)

9) Glioma or astrocytoma (neurogenic connective tissue found in the brain)

10) Myxosarcoma (primitive embryonic connective tissue)

11) Mixed mesodermal tumour (mixed connective tissue types

 #Leukaemia:

1) Cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.
2) The disease is often associated with the overproduction of immature white blood cells. These immature white blood cells do not perform as well as they should, therefore the patient is often prone to infection. Leukaemia also affects red blood cells and can cause poor blood clotting and fatigue due to anaemia. Examples of leukaemia include:
3) Myelogenous or granulocytic leukaemia (malignancy of the myeloid and granulocytic white blood cell series)
4) Lymphatic, lymphocytic, or lymphoblastic leukaemia (malignancy of the lymphoid and lymphocytic blood cell series)
Polycythemia vera (malignancy of various blood cell products, but with red cells predominating)

#Lymphoma and myeloma: