Facts about Lung Cancer

FACTS ABOUT LUNG CANCER

Seven million people die from cancer every year, accounting for over 12 percent of deaths worldwide. In the Philippines, cancer is the third leading cause of death, or almost 10 percent of all deaths. Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer in the Philippines, with an estimated 17,000 new cases in 2005. Although much progress has been made in the treatment of lung cancer, it is still the most common cause of cancer death.

What is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor of the lungs. The abnormal cells of the tumor multiply without order or control, and destroy the healthy lung tissue around them. There are two major type of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Each type grows and spreads in different ways.

What causes Lung Cancer?

The tragedy of lung cancer is that most cases can be prevented. Smoking causes about 87 percent of lung cancer cases. Tobacco smoke has many chemicals which are known to cause cancer. If you smoke around others, you may be risking their health too. Nonsmokers can inhale secondhand smoke and get lung cancer.

Some other causes of Lung Cancer:

•Radon – Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil. It comes up through the soil and enters building through small gaps and cracks. If you want to test your home for radon exposure, home test kits are readily available.

• Industrial Exposures – working with certain hazardous compounds such as asbestos, uranium, nickel, arsenic and some petroleum products may cause lung cancer. If you are exposed to these materials at work, ask your health and safety advisor about how to protect yourself.

• Air pollution- Diesel exhaust, particulate matter and other air pollutants can also cause lung cancer. Although you may not be able to avoid breathing air pollution, you can be active in your community to clean up the air.

The best way to prevent lung cancer is to never start smoking, and if you are a smoker, to quit immediately.

How is Lung Cancer detected?

One of the reasons lung cancer is such a killer is that it is difficult to detect in its early stages. It may take years for the cancer to grow, and there are usually no symptoms at the onset of the disease. By the time the patient starts to notice symptoms, the cancer is often advanced. Low dos CT scan of the chest can defect lung cancer in high risk individuals in its early stages, when it can be more successfully treated.

Who are at the high risk individuals?

• Most people who are older than 55 years old and are diagnosed with lung cancer

• Family history of lung cancer

• Previous cancer in the other organs of the body

• Exposure to environmental carcinogens

• COPD (emphysema), tuberculosis or fibrosis of the lungs

Lung Cancer at an early stage often does not cause symptoms but as the cancer grows, symptoms may occur like

• A cough that does not go away and gets worse over time

• Constant chest pain

• Coughing up blood, hoarse voice

• Shortness of breath, or wheezing

• Loss of weight, loss of appetite and a very tired feeling

• Frequent lung infection, like bronchitis or pneumonia

What are the tests to screen Lung Cancer?

The only recommended screening test is Chest CT Scan in high risk individuals. It is best to talk with your doctor about the benefits and the harm of lung cancer screening.

How is Lung Cancer diagnosed?

• Sputum Cytology – phlegm is checked for cancer cells

• Bronchitis – a doctor inserts a thin scope through the mouth into the lungs then the doctor takes a sample using a needle, a brush or forceps

•Transthoracic biopsy – the doctor uses thin needle to take samples from the lungs

• Surgical biopsy – is a direct sampling of the lung through an incision in the chest

See your lung doctor right away if you notice any of the above symptoms. He or she should ask questions about your medical background, family history, and exposure to other cancer-causing substances. Your lung doctor may the order a series of tests to find out if you have lung cancer. The type and stage of lung cancer is important to plan the best treatment.

How Lung Cancer is treated?

If your are diagnosed with lung cancer, your kung doctor will find out how advanced the cancer is, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body like the lymph nodes, brain, bones, liver and adrenal glands. He or she should talk to you about the results and discuss the treatment plan you need to follow. As for treatment, your doctor may use one or more of these, depending on the type of cancer, its size, where it is in the lungs, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body, these treatments include:

• Surgery – removing the tumor, along with the diseased part of the lung, removes the cancer. If the tumor is small and has not spread outside the lungs, surgery is the best option. However, some tumors cannot be removed because of their size or location, and some patients may have other health problems that make surgery impossible.

• Radiation Therapy – powerful x-rays can be used to kill cancer cells. The radiation is aimed at the specific site of the tumor in the lungs, and kills the cancer cells only in that area. Radiation can be used before surgery to shrink the tumor. It might also be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may have been left behind in the lung. Foe small cancers that have not spread but in whom surgery cannot e tolerated, radiation therapy is the best option.

• Chemotherapy – certain drugs can be used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy may be used after surgery, to destroy any cancer cells still present in nearby tissue or elsewhere in the body. It is also used in more advance stages of the disease to relieve cancer symptoms. Most of these drugs are injected directly into the bloodstream.

• Molecular Targeted Therapy – this uses drugs which are taken as a pill, that are specific to certain molecular alterations in cancer cells. This way, the growth and spread of cancer cells are blocked. Some people with lung cancer cells have spread may receive oral targeted therapy.

How does one cope of Lung Cancer?

A diagnosis of lung cancer is a severe blow to patients and their families. Apart for the physical challenges of the disease and its treatment, people with cancer may have worries and feelings that can make life difficult. Experts on living with serious illness agree that positive outlook can improve the patient’s quality of life, and may even increase survival.

Some recommendations for coping positively with Lung Cancer are:

• Communication – Lung cancer treatment involves many doctors, lots of new and complicate information, and many serious decisions. It is important to be able to communicate clearly with your whole health care team. Prepare questions for your doctors before your visit. Be sure that you understand what your doctors are telling you, and share your questions and concerns. Carefully follow your doctor’s orders, and let them know if you are having difficulty.

• Side Effects – Cancer treatments may cause side effects like hair loss, fatigue, and vomiting. Each person reacts differently. If your side effects are really bad, or if they last longer than expected, talk to your doctors and nurses. They should be able to make suggestions to relieve these discomforts.

• Seeking Social Support – taking care of your emotional health is an important part of your cancer treatment. Family, friends, and your health care team can give you many forms of support. Ask for help with chores and errands when you are tired. Talk about your feelings when you are sad or anxious. Also, a cancer support group can give you a safe place with others who can relate.

What are the related services available at The Medical City?

The Medical City Cancer Center provides:

• Lung cancer screening and counseling

• Comprehensive range of options for diagnosis and treatment, using the state-of-the-art equipment and experienced specialists

• Multidisciplinary approach and coordinated care for patients diagnosed with the lung cancer, referrals to subspecialty cancer experts are facilitated to provide the best treatment approach

• Palliative care to improve the quality of life of the patient and deal with emotional and psychological effects of lung cancer to patients and family

• Proper diet and nutrition counseling

CANCER CENTER

Tel. No. (632) 988-1000 or (632) 988-7000 ext. 6214

CENTER FOR PATIENT PARTNERSHIP

Tel. No. (632) 988-1000 or (632) 988-7000 ext. 6444

Email: cpe@themedicalcity.com

References:

Department of Health, Health Statistics, Ten leading causes of mortality by Sex, Number, RATE/ 1000,000 population and percentage, Philippines 2003

Available at www.doh.gov.ph. Accessed 29 January 2007

Laudico,AV,et al. 2005 Philippines Cancer Facts and Estimates. Philippine Cancer Society, Inc. 2004

American Lung Association