Top 10 Facts About Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is one of the most serious diseases that affects both the men and women and it ranks 4th among the leading causes in India. If the cancer is detected early there are more chances for betterment of treatment plans and cure. Lung cancer awareness month is observed in the month of November to create awareness among the people about the dreadful disease and prevent the spreading of lung cancer to different vital organs that leads to the progressive stages and decreases the mortality rate.
10 Facts About Lung Cancer
Let’s keep reading about the interesting facts about lung cancer and it is important that one should know about the disease so that they can detect in earlier stages which minimizes the severity of the lung cancer.
1. Lung cancer not only affects smokers: As many of us know, smoking is one of the risk factors for lung cancer but it does not mean that it only affects smokers. It can also occur in the individuals who are exposed to air pollution, radon, second hand smoke and exposure to certain chemicals and asbestos can cause lung cancer in the person who doesn't smoke. It's important to remember the fact that there are many causative agents to cause lung cancer other than smoking.
2. Age factors: Many of us think that lung cancer does not affect younger individuals but it is not so. They affect individuals of all age groups. Irrespective of age, and whenever the symptoms prolong for a longer duration of time even after medication one should discuss about the condition to the doctor before it reaches progressive stages.
3. Early diagnosis is key for success treatment: Lung cancer is usually diagnosed in advanced stages which complicates the condition in many patients. Detection of lung cancer in the earlier stages can increase the chances of treatment options and betterment of cure. Early signs of lung cancer include persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, pain in chest, hoarseness, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite. If any symptoms prolong for a longer duration of time, consult the doctor.
4. Radon ranks 2nd for causing lung cancer: Although there are many causative agents for causing lung cancer, Radon plays an important role in causing lung cancer. Radon is a gas which is naturally available in the environment that can enter through the cracks in the home due to improper foundation. Radon causes lung cancer in non-smokers as well as the 2nd leading cause among all cancers. They can be prevented by taking necessary action to reduce the radon levels.
5. Different types of lung cancer: Lung cancer is mainly categorized into non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer that accounts for almost 80% of all lung cancer cases and they grow slowly over a period of years. In case of small cell lung cancer, they are rapid in growth which tend to spread quickly to different parts of the body in comparison with non-small cell lung cancer.
6. Treatment options for lung cancer: Nowadays, there are various advancements in treatment plans for treating lung cancer. Treatment options differ from person to person depending upon the type, age, gender, patient’s overall health condition and severity of the disease. The common treatment options for lung cancer are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy and these treatments are done as individual procedures or combined depending upon the condition of the disease.
7. Lung cancer is not curable: Lung cancer cannot be cured completely but they are treatable. Many of the lung cancer patients are diagnosed at the last stage of cancer which makes the treatment options complicated. Patients who have recurrence of lung cancer even after the surgical removal of the tumor, can be treated by chemotherapy sessions post surgery. They are recommended before and after the surgery to prevent the recurrence and to improve the survival rate of the patients with lung cancer.
8. Side effects are common: Usually side effects are very common in all the cancer treatments and they are manageable. Common side effects of medications used in lung cancer include nausea, vomiting, fatigue and pain. Usually, the side effects will be relieved and the patient will come back to the normal condition once the medication is stopped.
9. Diagnosis of lung cancer: Get diagnosed if any of the symptoms prolong for a longer duration of time. There are various diagnostic tests which include chest x-ray used to detect abnormal areas in lungs, computed tomography can give detailed cross-sectional view of the lungs. Screening tests and MRI scan gives a clear idea of any abnormality in the lungs and these tests are helpful in planning the treatment based on severity of the disease.
10. Prevention of lung cancer: Last but not least, there are several preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the mortality rate. General preventive measures include avoiding smoking and exposure to chemicals and radon, healthy eating habits, avoiding consumption of alcohol, and avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke can reduce the risk of lung cancer.
Get Diagnosing Early And Ensure Better Chances Of Cure
Lung cancer awareness programs are conducted every year in the month of November to make people understand and reveal facts about lung cancer. There are several treatment options available to reduce the mortality rate of the disease and lifestyle modification like regular exercise, quitting smoke and alcohol, avoiding continuous exposure to chemicals in the workplace can reduce the risk factors of lung cancer to a greater extent.
