NOVEMBER, THE LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
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o you know that one in every six deaths in the world is caused by cancer? Thus, cancer is the second leading cause of death, with the first being cardiovascular diseases. It was reported in 2017 that various forms of cancer kill about 9.6 million people. However, one of the leading cancer killers in both women and men is lung cancer. Before 1987, breast cancer used to be a leading cause of cancer death in women, but lung cancer has taken the lead now. Considering the high death rate of this crazy killer, it is essential to create global awareness. This awareness will help more people know about the killer — lung cancer; hence, do all that’s necessary to avoid it. This is one of the best ways to reduce the number of people with the illness. Thus, November of every year has been chosen to be the lung cancer awareness month. In the spirit of this awareness, there are certain things you need to know about lung cancer.
FIRSTLY, HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE LUNG CANCER? COUGH THAT REFUSES TO GO
A casual cough caused by a cold or respiratory infection should disappear in less than two weeks. On the other hand, if you begin to witness a persistent cough that lingers for weeks, that may be a symptom of lung cancer. Whether the cough is dry or produces mucus, you shouldn’t ignore it when it becomes persistent. You should see your doctor as quickly as possible. If you do, your doctor will run the necessary tests to know if the cough is a symptom of lung cancer or other illnesses.
CHANGE IN A COUGH
You should pay attention to your cough, especially when you smoke. Some of the things you should check include consistent coughing, a deeper cough that sounds hoarse, you’re coughing out excess mucus, or you’re coughing out blood. When you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to check on your doctor.
CHANGES IN BREATH
Do you find it difficult to breathe after performing some tasks you find easy to do before? Then, you may want
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THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2020
