Lung Cancer

Preventing Lung Cancer

About Lung Cancer

Lung cancer has earned a dubious distinction of being the number one killer cancer.
Tragically more than 13 lakh people are dying annually as a result of lung cancer.

Types of Lung Cancer

There are two main types of lung cancers.
– Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which accounts for almost 20% of the cancer cases.
– Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is the most common type of lung cancer.

Causes: Reasons behind lung cancer can be many.

  • Smoking tobacco, especially in the form of cigarettes, is by far the number one culprit. Also, secondhand smoke or smoke inhaled from another’s smoking causes lung cancer in non-smokers. Asbestos inhalation
  • Exposure to cancer-causing chemicals such as
    • Uranium
    • Mustard gas
    • Beryllium
    • Nickel chromates
    • Vinyl chloride
    • Gasoline
    • Diesel exhausts
  • Family history of lung cancer
  • High levels of air pollution
  • High levels of arsenic in drinking water
  • Radiation therapy to the lungs
  • Radon gas

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

There are two main types of lung cancers.
– Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which accounts for almost 20% of the cancer cases.
– Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC), which is the most common type of lung cancer.

There are apparently no visible signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer. As the cancer develops you may experience -

  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing up of blood
  • Change in regular coughing pattern
  • Wheezing
  • Chest pain or pain in the abdomen
  • Weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite
  • Hoarse voice
  • Difficulty in swallowing

Can I Prevent Lung Cancer?

  • Of course one can prevent it from happening to ourselves or our loved ones. Eliminating tobacco smoke and discourage people to smoke
  • Preventive medical tests to detect disease in people who do not show any visible signs or symptoms (asymptomatic people) have become very much possible. The best possible preventive tests include chest radiograph and CT scan.

Every healthy individual should have an annual lung cancer checkup, Get lung cancer checkup done today at special checkup centres in Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Nashik, Goa, Solapur, Bhilai, Vapi, Jalgaon, Belgaum & More cities