Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer deaths in Malaysia. In fact, 95% of lung cancer patients die within 5 years of diagnosis. 90% of lung cancer is a result of cigarette smoking. The occurrence of lung cancer is also high among non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke (passive smoking).
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What does the Lung do?
The two lungs of the body are located in the cavity formed by the rib cage. The lungs form part of the body's respiratory system supplying blood with oxygen inhaled in from the outside air, and disposing waste carbon dioxide when air is exhaled.
The lungs are kept clean by the sweeping action of tiny hair-like stuctures called cilia, that line the air passage and sweep out foreign particles and mucus. An early sign of damage to the lungs is a breakdown of this cleaning action which can be caused by cancer.
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs. These cells lose control of their orderly division, and produce a growth called a tumour.
If a tumour is benign, it is not cancerous and will not spread to other parts of the body. A malignant tumour, on the other hand, is cancerous and can invade neighbouring tissues and organs or break away and spread through the bloodstream or lymph channels.
When the cancer spreads through the lymph channels, it can cause enlarged glands. When is spreads through the bloodstream, it may invade other organs, especially the liver, bone, brain or the other lung. Cancer that spreads is the same disease and has the same name as the original (primary) cancer. This means, lung cancer that spreads to the brain (or another region) is called metastic lung cancer even though the new tumour is in the brain (or another organ).
What causes Lung Cancer?
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Tobacco smoke contains some 4,000 different chemicals. Of these, many are carcinogens - harmful substances that damage cells. Over time, these cells can become cancerous. The more a person smokes, the higher the risk of getting cancer - not just of the lung, but also cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, larynx, bladder, kidney, cervix and pancreas.
There is also increasing evidence that environmental tobacco smoking (passive smoking) contributes to lung cancer in non-smokers. Exposure to other carcinogens in the workplace, such as asbestos, also increases the risk of lung cancer. The risk is especially high for workers who smoke. Work and safety rules should always be carefully followed to reduce any exposure to workplace carcinogens. Workers who are exposed to high levels of radon, a radioactive gas, also have an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Other occupational exposures that have been associated with lung cancer include processing of steel, nickel, chrome and coal gas.
Signs and symptoms of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer usually does not cause symptoms when it first develops. Doctors sometimes discover lung cancer in a person with no symptoms after the individual has a chest x-ray for another medical reason. However, lung cancer is usually found after the growing tumour causes symptoms to appear.
The most common symptoms are: Persistent cough
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Hoarseness of voice
Bloodstrained sputum
Repeated bouts of pneumonia or bronchitis
Loss of weight and appetite
If you have any of these symptoms, you must have them checked by your doctor. However, it is also important to remember that these symptoms also occur in illness other than cancer.
Diagnosis
Several tests are available to confirm the presence of lung cancer. These include chest X-ray and CAT scan, sputum cytology test and use of a fibre optic bronchoscope - a narrow flexible tube inserted down the airway to allow the doctor to look into the lungs.
Like most cancers, the earlier lung cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of a recovery. However, for lung cancer, the symptoms may not appear until the disease is quite advanced. This is why only about 5% of lung cancer patients survive the diagnosis. Doctors are still working on an accurate screening method to detect lung cancer early.
Treatment
Lung cancer can be treated by three main methods namely: surgery - removal of part or all of the lung
radiotherapy - the use of radiation treatment to destroy cancer cells
chemotherapy - the use of drugs that kill cancer cells
The type of treatment depends on the size, extent of spread and histology (type of cell) of lung cancer. In the early stages, surgery may be used to remove the cancer. Radiotheraphy may also be used to slow the growth of the cancer and relieve pain and other symptoms. Chemotheraphy can be suggested for patients with small cell carcinoma. Sometimes, a combination of treatments is recommended.
Prevention of Lung Cancer
This can be achieved when you: Avoid smoking
* Smokers should quit smoking and non-smokers refrain from picking up the habit or breathing in cigarette smoke. Even if you smoke a few cigarettes a day, you are destroying the natural defences of millions of your lung cells. Quitting smoking is the only way to stop the damage.
Improving industrial hygiene
Are filter/low tar cigarettes safe?
No. The risk of developing lung cancer is not reduced by using filter or low tar cigarettes.
What about cigars and pipes?
Smoking a pipe or cigar will put you at an even greater risk than cigarette smoking.
The Good News When You Do Quit Smoking
Stop smoking now and you will see how your body starts recovering minutes after the last smoke.
20 mins Your blood pressure and pulse rate drops to normal. Body temperature of hands and feet rises to normal.
8 hours Carbon monoxide level in the blood returns to normal. Oxygen level in the blood rises to normal.
24 hours Chance of heart attack starts to decrease.
48 hours Nerve endings start to grow back. Ability to smell and taste improves.
72 hours Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier. Lung capacity increases.
2 weeks to 3 months Circulation improves. Walking becomes easier. Lung function increases up to 30%
3 months For men, sperm will return to normal and the number of sperms will increase. For women, fertility level will improve.
1 - 9 months Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease. Body's overall energy level increases
2 to 5 years Risk of heart attack decreases to that of a non-smoker.
10 years Lung cancer rates drop to about that of non-smokers. Risk of other cancers (mouth, larynx, oesphagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas) also decreases.
How to Quit Smoking?
You must have thought about wanting to quit smoking. You may have tried once or twice without any success. But don't lose heart, all it takes is a little determination.
This is how you can do it: Inform your friends and family of your intention to quit smoking. Their support and encouragement will make it easier.
Get rid of all your cigarettes, matches, lighters and ash trays.
Involve yourself in a hobby or outdoor activities such as swimming, walking, jogging, etc. to occupy your mind.
Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol, coffee and other drinks that may stimulate the need to smoke.
Learn to say no to offers of cigarettes from others. Keep away from cigarete smoke.
Eat more fruits and vegetables.
If you feel the urge to smoke, take a deep breath, drink cold water or go for a shower. Do whatever it takes to get your mind off that cigarette!
Remember, of all cancers, lung cancer is the highest killer among men. So start your fight against lung cancer. If you are a smoker, stop smoking now. If you're not a smoker, don't start and keep away from unhealthy smoke.
