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LUNG CANCER

Here you can learn:

How Common is Lung Cancer?
What Causes Lung Cancer?
Warning Signs of Lung Cancer
How do You Know if You have Lung Cancer?
Prevention Of Lung Cancer
Links and Resourses

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in men and women in 2004. It is also the most preventable cancer of all human cancers. One of 12 Canadians will develop lung cancer during their lifetime and 1 in 13 will die from it. Most people who are diagnosed with lung cancer do not live very long. Only one–quarter of young people diagnosed with lung cancer will be alive 5 years later. (Source: cancer care ontario, see below for web site address)

WHAT CAUSES IT?

Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the greater are your chances of getting lung cancer. There is no evidence that smoking light or mild cigarettes lowers the risk of getting lung cancer. If you stop smoking, you lower your chance of getting lung cancer and many other diseases. Breathing second hand smoke is also dangerous. Working with environmental products such as asbestos, arsenic, nickel, petroleum products and exposure to radon are other reasons that increase your chance of developing lung cancer.

WARNING SIGNS OF LUNG CANCER

The following signs may not mean that you have cancer of the lungs. If you smoke, you may experience some of these signs. It is important to see your family doctor to be sure.

cough or a different type of cough than the usual
coughing up blood
general malaise
pain in the chest area
shortness of breath
constant tiredness
loss of appetite
weight loss
hoarse voice
trouble swallowing
pneumonia

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE LUNG CANCER?

Special tests done by a doctor can identify lung cancer.

Diagnostic imaging - This includes X-rays, ultrasound, MRI, CT scan or bone scan. These pictures can detect abnormalities in your lungs and body.
Sputum test – Sputum from your lungs are checked for cancer cells.
Blood tests - Blood is checked for number and appearance of certain chemicals and hormones in your body.
Biopsy - To be sure if you have lung cancer, a biopsy must be done. A piece of tissue is removed from your body and examined under a microscope. A biopsy will identify if the cells are cancerous and later tests will show how fast the cancer is growing.

PREVENTION OF LUNG CANCER

The main way to prevent lung cancer is by avoiding tobacco smoke.

“When a smoker quits, the health benefits begin immediately and increase steadily. The additional risk of heart disease drops by ½ within a year of quitting. Within 10 years, the risk of lung cancer drops to about half that of a continuing smoker. It’s never too late to quit, but the earlier the better…” says Dr. Richard Schabas, Chief Medical Officer of Health, in his annual report, “Progress Against Cancer”, 1994, pg 12.

Source: updated, Canadian Cancer Society (2004)