In the medical field, lung cancer, a seemingly callous term, ruthlessly claims countless lives every year. Lung cancer, also known as primary broncholung cancer, is the most common malignancy of the lungs that originates in the trachea, bronchial mucosa, or glands. However, despite the extremely high incidence and mortality of lung cancer, as long as we understand it, prevent it, detect it early and treat it, we have the potential to defeat this "silent killer".
Lung Cancer: The Silent Shadow
Lung cancer, among all cancers, is notorious for its high incidence and high mortality. It has greedily taken countless lives and torn families apart. According to statistics, the 5-year survival rate of lung cancer is low, which is partly due to the fact that it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Why is lung cancer so difficult to detect early?
1. Insidious symptoms: Lung cancer in the early stage often has no obvious symptoms or only a slight cough, which is easy to be ignored.
2. Difficult to investigate: Compared to other organs, the examination of the lungs is more difficult, and examinations such as chest x-ray and CT may require a professional physician to interpret them correctly.
3. Know Your Enemy: Classification and Development of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer can be divided into two main categories based on the type of cell from which it originates:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): includes types such as squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma, accounting for about 80-85% of lung cancer.
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC): progresses rapidly and has a poor prognosis, accounting for about 15-20%.
Understanding the type of lung cancer is crucial for treatment, as different types of lung cancer respond very differently to treatment.
The unsung culprit: risk factors for lung cancer
1. Smoking: This is the number one public enemy of lung cancer, and both active and passive smoking greatly increase the risk of developing the disease.
2. Work environment: Exposure to toxic substances such as asbestos, arsenic, and chromium can increase the risk of disease.
3. Air pollution: Recent studies have shown that long-term exposure to dirty air also increases the risk of lung cancer.
4. Genetic factors: If there is a history of lung cancer in the family, the risk of developing the disease will also increase.
5. When the alarm bells go off: Warning signs of lung cancer
You should seek medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms:
1. Persistent cough
2. Coughing up blood in the sputum
3. Difficulty breathing
4. Chest pain
5. Hoarseness
6. Weight lowering
7. Recurrent respiratory infections
Fighting Lung Cancer: A Therapeutic Arsenal
There are various treatments for lung cancer, which usually include the following:
1. Surgery: It is suitable for some patients with non-small cell lung cancer to remove the tumor.
2. Radiotherapy: Uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells.
3. Chemotherapy: The use of drugs to attack cancer cells is a conventional treatment for small cell lung cancer.
4. Targeted therapy: Targeting specific cancer cell gene mutations.
5. Immunotherapy: Activates the body's immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
The power of lifestyle
Lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of lung cancer:
1. Quit smoking: Quitting smoking early is the most effective way to prevent lung cancer.
2. Eat a healthy diet: Eat a balanced diet with plenty of vitamin- and mineral-rich foods.
3. Keep moving: Regular physical activity can help improve your body's overall health.
4. Reduce pollution exposure: Try to avoid staying in environments with poor air quality for long periods of time.
Don't be misunderstood!
1. Only smokers get lung cancer: Although smoking is a major risk factor for lung cancer, non-smokers can also get lung cancer. Other factors such as secondhand smoke, family history, environmental contamination, exposure to radioactive gases (e.g., radon), and occupational exposure (e.g., asbestos) may increase the risk of lung cancer.
2. If you've been smoking for years, quitting is useless: No matter how long you've smoked, quitting can significantly reduce your risk of lung cancer and many other diseases. Although long-term smokers have a higher risk of lung cancer, the risk decreases over time after quitting.
3. Lung cancer has obvious symptoms and is easy to detect early: Lung cancer is often asymptomatic in the early stage, or the symptoms are vague and easy to be ignored. Symptoms such as cough and chest pain may be considered just a common cold or other minor respiratory illness. As a result, lung cancer often has progressed to an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis.
4. All lung cancer types are the same: In fact, there are several different types of lung cancer, with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the most common. These types of treatments and prognosis can vary widely.
5. Lung cancer is incurable: Although lung cancer is indeed a very serious disease, it is not always fatal. In some cases, especially when lung cancer is detected at an early stage, it can be effectively treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.
6. Lung cancer treatment is worse than the disease itself: The side effects of treatment can sometimes be serious, but with the advancement of medical technology, there are now more targeted and individualized treatment options that are not only more effective but also have fewer side effects. Choosing the right treatment strategy is crucial for each patient.
7. Lung cancer is a male disease: While the incidence of lung cancer has historically been higher in men, the number of lung cancer patients in women is also increasing. Studies have shown that patients of different genders may respond differently to certain types of treatment, which needs to be considered by doctors when making treatment decisions.
8. A healthy lifestyle does not reduce lung cancer risk: A healthy lifestyle, including not smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, avoiding exposure to harmful substances, etc., can indeed help reduce the risk of lung cancer.
In the face of lung cancer, we must not only actively prevent it, but also fight it bravely. With the advancement of medical technology, from early screening to precision treatment, we have reason to believe that the shadow of lung cancer will be gradually dispelled. In this battle without gunpowder, everyone is the first person responsible for their own health. As long as we persevere in guarding our "breathing garden", the sun will always be waiting for us at the end of the corridor.