There is no form of cancer that kills more Americans than lung cancer. Each year nearly 200,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with lung cancer and nearly 70% die from it.
But this doesn’t have to be the case. It is a fact that the vast majority of lung cancer cases are directly caused by smoking, and as more people recognize this and either quit smoking or don’t start smoking, lung cancer rates have decreased. A better understanding of lung cancer risks as well as improved lung cancer treatment also are helping more people live longer.
Lung cancer may be small cell or non-small cell, and may be treated with radiation and chemotherapy, or may require surgery and targeted therapy. Options for treatment and individual prognosis are determined by how early it was diagnosed and how far it has spread.
For both women and men, controlling exposure to those things that cause lung cancer is the key:
- Don’t start smoking – Cigarettes (as well as cigars and pipes) cause cancer and then ultimately prevent your body from being able to fight it.
- If you are a smoker, quit and learn whether you are a candidate for lung cancer screening. Men and women between 50 and 80 years old who smoke a pack a day or quit a pack-a-day habit in the last 15 years are generally considered for screening.
- Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, as this can increase your risk by as much as 20% even if you have never smoked.
- Get your home tested for radon, a naturally occurring odorless gas that is thought to be the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Symptoms of lung cancer
Unfortunately, lung cancer rarely presents symptoms until it is advanced and has spread to other parts of the body. Those symptoms that do occur can vary, from just not feeling well to pain in another part of the body due to the cancer having spread.
At Stark Women’s Center, our doctors suggest getting checked if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- A persistent cough or a cough that gets worse
- Shortness of breath or wheezing
- Chest pain
- Persistent fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Coughing up blood
- Repeated bouts with pneumonia
If you have questions about your risk of developing lung cancer, our doctors are available to discuss your health during your annual exam. For a better understanding of your options in fighting lung cancer, our Stark Women’s team can advise you on following up with your primary care physician.