How Does Lung Cancer Occur?

CEBU, Philippines - Now, it seems there's so much we need to know about lung cancer. And the knowledge, if taken to heart, may just lessen our own chances of getting the disease, if not of totally keeping ourselves free from it. We borrow information on lung cancer from TIME LIFE MEDICAL Director  C. Everett Koop, M.D. that he shares in his book "Dr. Koop's Self-Care Advisor."

Dr. Koop rightly observes that before cigarettes became popular, lung cancer was relatively rare disease. Today, however, lung cancer causes 25 percent of all cancer deaths, according to Dr. Koop, citing figures in the United States. He adds that although the disease remains more prevalent among men than women, lung cancer now kills more women than does breast cancer.

Lung cancer is most commonly traced to smoking, says Dr. Koop. "But genes, previous lung disease, and exposure to cancer-causing substances are also factors."

How does the disease develop? When a normal cell in the lungs becomes cancerous, Dr. Koop explains, it begins to reproduce uncontrollably, forming a tumor, or mass of tissue, that gradually invades and destroys healthy lung tissue. If untreated, the cancer cells may spread through the blood and the lymph system to other parts of the body, where they form new tumors. Only 13 percent of all lung cancer patients live for five years or longer, but chances of survival increase significantly with early detection.

Here's more from Dr. Koop on lung cancer:

Signs and Symptoms

Typically, lung cancer has no symptoms during its early stages. By the time a tumor has grown large enough to cause symptoms, it's often in an advanced stage. These symptoms include:

.               An increase in a chronic, hacking                               "smoker's cough,"                           sometimes accompanied by                       blood-streaked mucus.                                 These are often the first signs.

.               Recurring bronchitis

                - an inflammation of the main

                air passages in the lungs.

.               Shortness of breath; wheezing;                                dull, persistent chest pain

                or intermittent, sharp chest pain.

.               Hoarseness.

.               Pain and weakness in the                             shoulder, arm, or hand.

.               Weight loss or loss of                     appetite.

.               Persistent low fever.

What You Can Do Now

                Lung cancer is not something you can treat yourself. But once it is diagnosed, your doctor will work with you to decide which treatment - surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination - is best for you.

                There is much you can do to improve your chances of recovery and to stay active during treatment:

.               Ask your nurse or doctor to show you exercises that                                       strengthen your chest muscles.

.               Join a support group for people with cancer and their                                     families. Emotional support seems to aid in recovery.

.               Practice good general health habits.

When to See the Doctor

.               If you have any symptoms, immediately make an                                             appointment with the doctor. Early detection is the key to                   successful treatment of lung cancer.

How to Prevent It

.               Don't smoke. Even long-term smokers                  improve their  chances of avoiding                           lung cancer by quitting.

.               Quitting smoking will not only reduce                     your risk of getting lung cancer, it                             will reduce risk for those close to you;                          the spouses of smokers have at                                least a 30 percent higher risk  of getting                                 lung cancer from second-hand                  smoke than do the spouses of

                non-smokers.

.               Eat plenty of  fresh fruits and vegetables.

.               Reduce stress through relaxation,                            visualization, meditation, or yoga.

In this day and age when the air we breathe is polluted, our diet is composed largely of processed foods, and we take on so many unhealthy habits, it can look like there's no escaping illness. But, certainly, some degree of self-care can still go a long way in either promoting, preserving or regaining good health.

(Helpful Resource: Dr. Koop's Self-Care Advisor by C. Everett Koop, M.D.) 

Smoking and illness

In the United States, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death. The habit kills more American every year than do alcohol, cocaine, heroin, homicides, airplane and automobile accidents, and AIDS combined - more than 120,000 a year from lung cancer and about 180,000 from heart disease.

                Smoking harms more than just the person who lights up; Secondhand smoke (other people's tobacco smoke) may kill as many as 50,000 Americans a year. Smoking by parents aggravates asthma in children and increase their risk of colds, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, and fetal death.

                Nicotine is an extremely addictive drug, which is why so many people continue smoking despite the known risks. Nevertheless, if you're a smoker, there are things you can do to make quitting easier - and to help your self stay away from cigarettes for good..

Signs and Symptoms

.               Shortness of breath, wheezing.

.               General fatigue.

.               Persistent or hacking cough.

.               Poor sense of smell and taste.

.               Bad breath.

.               Poor circulation (cold hands and feet are a sign).

.               Frequent bouts of respiratory illness such as bronchitis.

.               Premature wrinkling of skin.

What You Can Do Now

                The best and only advice is to quit smoking. The benefits of quitting kick in right from the start. Within 20 minutes after your last puff, your blood pressure - which rises when you smoke - returns to normal. One year after that, your risk of heart disease will be the same as that of someone who has never smoked. You'll also reduce your risk of getting many types of cancer.

Tips for making quitting easier:

.               Get as much support as you can. Some people find that it                                            helps  to quit with a friend or relative, or to join a "a quitting                   support group." Your doctor may be able to refer you.

.               If you are a heavy smoker, consult your doctor about using                         nicotine gum or skin patches (available by prescription only).                           These aids are meant to reduce the physical urge for a cigarette.                              Never smoke while using the gum or patches, though, or                                           you'll risk a dangerous nicotine overdose.

.               Exercise regularly. Daily walks or bike rides help your body                                           overcome its need for nicotine as a stimulant.

.               Recognize "triggers" - situations and places that make you                           want to smoke - and avoid them, if possible, substitute other                            activities when you're tempted to light up.

.               Consider acupuncture, meditation, guided imagery,                                        hypnotherapy, and biofeedback. All of these can be useful.

.               Drink lots of water and have low-calorie snacks available during                                 the first weeks when you have an urge to put something in

                your mouth.

What to expect when you quit

The good news is that you decided to quit smoking. The bad news? You may experience at least one of these withdrawal symptoms: headache, nauseas, constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, drowsiness, loss of concentration, and insomnia. You may also feel more irritable, anxious, or depressed than usual, or have bigger appetite or an increased desire for sweets.

These reactions occur because your body is scrambling to adjust to the sudden absence of nicotine. But don't be alarmed - and don't rush off to buy a pack of cigarettes. Withdrawal symptoms are only temporary, and once they pass, you'll feel better than you've felt in years.

When to See the doctor

Call for an immediate appointment with the doctor if you notice a persistent cough, wheezing, breathlessness, and chest pains.

You shall also see the doctor if you are a tobacco user and become concerned about your health for any reason. Smokers are more susceptible than non-smokers to many major illnesses.

-From Dr. Koop's Self-Care Advisor by C. Everett Koop, M.D.