Lung Cancer Remains Biggest Killer By John E. Moore, M.D.
Today, lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the U.S. It kills more people than prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined. More women die of lung cancer than die of breast, ovarian, cervical and uterine cancer together. According to the American Cancer Society, about 224,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2016. The high death rate from cancer is mainly due to late-stage diagnosis. Lung cancer is hard to detect and doesn’t cause symptoms in its earliest stages. About 85% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer will see their doctor with either stage three or stage four of the disease. If you’re experiencing chest pain, unexplained weight loss and new onset of wheezing or coughing up blood, report these problems to a doctor immediately. These problems can often be caused by something other than cancer. But if lung cancer is found early, getting treatment
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is greater than 90% when it’s found at one centimeter or less in size and promptly removed. Screening in high-risk individuals with low dose radiation CT scans can often be a lifesaving procedure. Medicare and some insurance companies will pay for this as a screening maneuver. There are many factors that can contribute to lung cancer including exposure to radon gas, secondhand smoke, air pollution and gene mutations. Although lung cancer can occur in people who have never smoked tobacco, about 80% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are former or current smokers.
The average age of someone diagnosed with lung cancer is 70, so it’s important to never smoke, or if you’re a current smoker, stop smoking to reduce your risk. Even if you’ve been smoking for many years, stopping smoking will improve your overall health. Studies have shown that participating Reduc e your risk of in a group smoking lung c ancer: cessation program 3 Don ’t smo improves your chances k e . nev If you’v er smo e of quitting and remaining k ed, do 3 Sto n’t sta p smo r a non-smoker. t . king
Sto . p smo king n 3 Avo ow. id seco ndhan 3 Tes d smo t your ke. home 3 Avo f or rad id carc on. inogen wor s at k. 3 Eat a diet full of veg fruits a etable nd s. 3 Exercis e mos t days wee of the k.
Some evidence suggests that a diet high in fruits and vegetables may help protect against lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers. But remember, any positive effect of fruits and vegetables on lung cancer risk would be much less than the increased risk from smoking. Remember, lung cancer can be a curable disease.
sooner may mean a better survival outcome. Discuss any symptoms or health changes with your doctor, and follow up on your doctor’s recommendations for screening, treatment and smoking cessation to ensure you stay cancer-free. Recent studies have shown that lung cancer is curable, and the survival rate
Dr. John E. Moore is a board-certified thoracic surgeon with Atlanta Cardiac and Thoracic Surgical Associates and chief of thoracic surgery for the Northside Hospital. He is also medical director of the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute Lung Cancer Program. 404-531-4444. Northside. com/lungcancer