Everyone had either heard of it or used it at least once in their lives that, "prevention is better than cure." However, prevention can possibly save one from getting weak, or regular cold. But the truth is to be told that several diseases are incurable after crossing a certain stage.
Over the decades, Cancer has become one of the major causes of deaths. Out of 8 major types of cancer, lung cancer is one of the most widely spread cancer which kills the maximum number of people each year, which includes both men and women around the globe. We all have heard of examples where cancer patients are cured, however, the number of people dying from it is rapidly increasing.
You'll be surprised to know that lung cancer existed much before cigarettes came in trend. When there was almost no pollution compared to today's date. The first case of lung cancer was recorded in 1761. But those days, only people with multiple health issues used to have it. Also, it is assumed that lung cancer only affects the lungs, when in reality this disease can spread across the body in a process called metastasis which means tumors can spread to the brain and can cause loss of vital functions e.g. vision.
Cigarette smoking is the most common reason that increases the risk of lung cancer. Not only for those who smoke but for those who are passively exposed to tobacco smoke have almost equal chances of lung cancer. These two are the main reasons behind lung cancer.
Yes, smoking is the major cause of lung cancer. However, neither every smoker has lung cancer nor lung cancer occurs only in smokers. “In nonsmokers, radon exposure is thought to be a major preventable cause of lung cancer,” stated Mara Antonoff, MD, a thoracic surgeon and assistant professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Not every smoker and passive smoker develops lung cancer and there are patients who never did tobacco smoking and still have the disease which leads to the question; what actually causes this killer disease?
We all inherit certain genes and when genes intervene, DNA repair it brings people under higher risk for not only lung cancer but several types of cancer. There's no certainty about it though, it's been said that lung cancer can be caused due to individual's genetic sensitivity. So far, there is no test to identify the increased genetic risk of cancer for conventional use.
“We know that in Asian women, for example, there’s an increased risk of developing lung cancer without ever having smoked, and many of these tumors will have genetic mutations. We’re currently researching biomarkers — such as blood tests — to try to catch cancers before they progress to late-stage tumors, even in nonsmokers,” tells Mara Antonoff.
“The air we breathe is filled with cancer-causing substances. Outdoor air pollution is not only a major environmental risk to health in general, it is the most important environmental cancer killer due to a large number of people exposed,” explains Kurt Straif, Ph.D., head of the IARC Monographs Section.
The research found that "tiny dust-like particles - called ‘particulate matter’, or PM – are an important part of air pollution. The smallest particles – less than 2.5 millionths of a meter across, known as PM2.5 – appear to be behind lung cancers caused by pollution."
According to the American Cancer Society, "lung cancer makes up 14% of all newly diagnosed cancers in the USA today. It adds that annually, more patients die from lung cancer alone than prostate, breast and colon cancers combined (in the USA)."
The scientists of the UK have claimed that "female lung cancer deaths will reach 95,000 annually in 2040, from 26,000 in 2010 – a rise of more than 350%. Male annual lung cancer deaths will increase by 8% over the same period, to 42,000 in 2040 from 39,000 in 2010." As per the scientists, lung cancer will be the biggest reason for the deaths for many decades to come.
In the U.S. each year more women are diagnosed with breast cancer than lung cancer. Thus the deaths from breast cancer should be more than lung cancer but that's not it. “That’s because breast cancer is often caught at earlier stages than lung cancer and a greater proportion of breast cancers are curable,” tells Antonoff.
People usually assume that regular checkups can help them diagnose any disease at an early stage. But that's not the case, even a clear smoking test can at times not identify lung cancer. As per the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, anyone should get the screening done if they qualify any of the below-mentioned conditions:
Antonoff clarifies it as “it’s a misconception that an x-ray will catch early lung cancer. A CT scan has greater sensitivity to reveal early-stage tumors or pre-cancerous lesions, and getting an early stage diagnosis gives you the best shot at a cure. And remember that having a clear scan doesn’t mean you can keep smoking. Every day you don’t smoke can decrease your risk of developing lung cancer.”
People who quit smoking as soon as diagnosed with lung cancer. The benefits of quitting cigarettes are instant. The circulation will improve and the risk of lung cancer will decrease. The improvement of quitting smoking is that after 10 years of quitting the risk will lower down by 50%.
Just like most of the cancer patients have smoked at some point in their lives, but not all patients diagnosed are smokers. Coughing is the common symptom for it, but not all the people diagnosed with cancer suffer from a cough, some people don't cough at all and yet are diagnosed.
Every other person who smokes tends to believe that smoking light cigarettes will lower down their risk of lung cancer. Especially the menthol cigarettes are more addictive and harmful. The cooling aspect of this cigarette tempts people to inhale deeply.
Well, over the years of researches, scientists have successfully stated that people who are scared of using talcum powder for the risk of lung cancer as it smell is inhaled should not worry at all. People who work with other chemicals, including asbestos and vinyl chloride, are more likely to get the disease.
Marijuana smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. And not to forget the point that most of the people who smoke pot are regularly into smoking as well. Some researchers have claimed that people who are smoking pot and cigarettes are more prone to lung cancer.
Eating antioxidant supplements doesn't mean one is safe from lung cancer. The shocking discovery was made by the researchers that the antioxidants actually increases the risk of lung cancer among people who smoke beta-carotene. But one should always confirm with their doctor as antioxidants from fruits and vegetables are not harmful at all.
For the crowd that doesn't smoke yet breathes in the extremely polluted air, it has become a big issue. The U.K. is leading in 'lung cancer caused by air pollution cases', with 1 in 10 lung cancer cases caused by exposure to outdoor air pollution.
Most of the lung cancer patients unknowingly suffer from the disease for years before it is diagnosed. According to records, in 2011, "82% of lung cancer patients were 60 years of age or older. Most patients that are diagnosed with lung cancer are diagnosed with Stage III or Stage IV disease."
Sadly, lung cancer's symptoms aren't visible until it has reached the advanced stage. Doctors are still looking for any similar characteristics that are more common in the early stages. Below are mentioned the symptoms that it may include:
-Coughing up blood, even a small amount
-A new cough that doesn't go away
-Losing weight without trying
-Shortness of breath
-Hoarseness
-Chest pain
-Bone pain
-Headaches
“Everyone deserves healthcare without judgment. Very few other diseases carry the stigma that lung cancer does. Lung cancer patients get asked all the time whether they smoked. But it’s been turned around to target the patient,” tells Antonoff. Many times patients are not comfortable in sharing their smoking past and some don't even quit after the diagnosis.
If someone is diagnosed with lung cancer, it is always suggested for them to quit smoking while many people think it is useless for the patients to quit anyway. “There’s clear data on the outcomes of operating on smokers vs. nonsmokers, and a patient is more likely to have problems after surgery — such as needing a ventilator or having to be admitted to the ICU — if they’re still smoking. It’s so important that I request that all my patients quit prior to getting surgery. Continuing to smoke also increases your likelihood of developing a second lung cancer,” stated Antonoff.
Usually, people switch to e-cigarettes to lower their risk of cancer but as Antonoff said, “we don’t yet have a lot of longterm data on vaping, but we know that users are exposed to carcinogens from using them.” E-cigarettes include tobacco-extracted nicotine, that is addictive. Researchers have proved that more than half of those who vape smoke regular cigarettes.
The person suffering from lung cancer faces the following complications:
-Pain
-Coughing up blood
-Shortness of breath
-Fluid in the chest (pleural effusion)
As cancer spreads, additional symptoms are based on new tumors form.
-Lymph nodes: lumps, particularly in the neck or collarbone
-Bones: bone pain, particularly in the back, ribs, or hips
-Lymph nodes: lumps, particularly in the neck or collarbone
-Brain or spine: headaches, dizziness, balance issues, or numbness in arms or legs
-Liver: yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
The pressure of large tumors growing in the lungs leads to severe backaches. There's a possibility that cancer has spread to the patients' spine or ribs. As it develops, a cancerous tumor can cause compression of the spinal cord. Following are the symptoms:
-A weakness in the arms and legs
-Numbness or loss of sensation in the legs and feet
-Urinary and bowel incontinence
-Interference with the spinal blood supply
It's a misconception that you can't help to feel better during the treatments. The patients need to share their situation with the doctors and all the trouble they are facing. There are drugs that doctors can prescribe to lower the pain, control nausea or skin rashes, ease diarrhea, and stimulate appetite. Other than the medicines there are more ways to help.
Although Cancer cannot be cured by home remedies, homeopathic treatments. There are some treatments that help the patients in lowering the pain. One should always consult with the doctor before proceeding with any of the following:
-Massage
-Acupuncture
-Meditation
-Hypnosis
-Yoga
Again, this list is to give you an idea, a doctor's intervention is required on the basis of the patient's situation as it differs in each case:
-Eat whenever you feel hungry
-In case, patient don’t have a major appetite, smaller meals at lesser intervals will work
-Mint and ginger teas help in better digestion
-In case of weak stomach and sore mouth, avoid spices and stick to bland food.
-In case of constipation, add more high-fiber foods.
Lung cancer has two types: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCL) and Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) which further helps the doctors to stage the extent to which cancer has already spread and how it could be possibly treated.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) states "non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 80 percent of lung cancer cases. The three main subtypes of NSCLC are:
-Adenocarcinoma. This accounts for 40 percent of lung cancer cases. It is usually found in the outer parts of the lung. It tends to grow slower than the other two subtypes, so there is a better chance of a tumor being found before it has spread.
-Squamous cell carcinoma. This accounts for about 25-30 percent of lung cancers. It grows from the cells that line the insides of the lung's airways. Squamous cell carcinoma is usually found at the center of the lung.
-Large cell carcinoma. This accounts for 10-15 percent of lung cancers. It can be found in any part of the lung, and tends to grow faster than the other subtypes."
The most usual NSCLC is classifying with the help of a system called TNM which classifies:
T - tumor size and location
N - the number of nearby lymph nodes that have become involved
M - metastasis, or how far cancer has spread
With the help of a combination of T, N, and M rates, doctors classify NSCLC into four stages:
1- The tumor hasn't spread in different organs and lymph nodes and is in a single lung.
2- Cancer has grown and spread into the lymph nodes inside the lung; not in other organs.
3- Cancer has developed in lymph nodes at the center of the chest; not yet in distant organs.
3a- Cancer has not developed on the opposite side of the body.
3b- Cancer has grown in the lymph nodes in the opposite lung and has spread above the collarbone to the throat and neck.
4- Cancer has spread throughout the body.
On the basis of a 2015 review article in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta these 6 stages, the following stats are the percentage of people who are still living 5 years after their diagnosis:
stage 1: 60-80 percent
stage 2: 30-50 percent
operable stage 3a: 10-15 percent
inoperable stage 3a: 2-5 percent
stage 3b: 3-7 percent
stage 4: 1 percent
Out of all the lung cancer cases, 15 percent are Small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Unlike NSCLC, for SCLC there are two categories in which it has been classified, they are:
Limited stage- Cancer is on one side of the chest. Extensive stage- Cancer has spread to the opposite side of the body.
SCLC grows much faster and spreads more quickly if compared to NSCLC and it's much more challenging to treat. In SCLC cases, the 5-year survival rate is just 5-10 percent, and there are more possibilities of survival for the limited stage patients than extensive stage patients.
“For those with Stage 1 lung cancer, the 5-year survival rate is 75 percent, whereas, for Stage 4, the 5-year survival is under 5 percent. I explain to all my patients that these are just general numbers and the stats include people who are either too sick for treatment or who die of other causes, like heart disease. There’s always hope, and there are things a patient can do to improve their chances, including quitting smoking, getting care at an excellent facility, and having social support,” said Antonoff.
Patients are scared that lung cancer will take their normal lives away from them. But not every patient is made to stay in the hospital for lengthy treatment procedures. “I encourage my patients to walk every day if they can and to socialize and find support, which is so important for recovery,” tells Antonoff.
If operated correctly, even elderly people have shown good survival rates. Their cases are more serious as they can have other conditions like heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, that plays a role in curing them. Researchers have stated that there is no such thing that elder people cannot be cured of lung cancer.
When a known person is diagnosed with lung cancer, people try to get more and more knowledge from the means of various websites, asking people, consulting with doctors. In this process, it is easy that one can get misguided. It is very commonly said that surgery doesn't help lung cancer patients anyway which isn't true. Surgery does not increase the risk of cancer spreading or metastasizing.
On the basis of the stages, doctors recommend one of the following treatments:
-Surgery
-Lobectomy
-Radiation therapy
-Chemotherapy
Each treatment has its own consequences and one should be aware of all the side effects and then proceed.