HOW TO PREVENT LUNG CANCER

51 year old Sudip Mallik had been suffering from a persistent cough for many months. He was a chain smoker and worked as a manager at a construction site. He tried a few cough syrups and some home remedies, but nothing worked. A year passed and then he started seeing specs of blood coming out when he coughed. Now he and his family were very worried. They consulted an ENT specialist who recommended a battery of tests. The final diagnosis: Sudip had lung cancer. He was already on stage 3 where the cancer had spread into the chest walls and the muscles under the lungs. Then began the struggle for survival. But the prognosis was bad. The doctors gave him 3-4 years to live at the maximum.

Like Sudip, most cases of lung cancer are identified in the advanced stage and hence turn out to be incurable. More than 85% cases report to the doctor in advanced stages and of them 90% of lung cancer cases are NSCLC which is very aggressive.

Lung cancer is the 2nd most common form of cancer diagnosed in India. The GLOBOCAN report of 2018 estimates the number of incidents to be 48,698 in men across all ages. Of this number, there were a total of 45,363 deaths.

These figures and numbers can be significantly reduced by early detection and screening. Approximately 30% to 50% of cancers can be prevented through screening. Here the game is survival which is directly related to the stage of the disease. So, the earlier the detection, the better the chances of survival. If lung cancer is detected in stage 1, the cure rate is 70%.

Screening has to be done in patients who do not show any symptoms of lung cancer because by the time any symptoms show up, the cancer has already spread and becomes incurable.

So, when should you get regular screening done –
-> If you are aged between 55-74 years
-> If you have a 30 pack year smoking history
-> If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms-

❖ Persistent cough which does not answer to any treatment ❖ Shortness of breath ❖ Coughing up sputum with specs of blood ❖ Wheezing and pain in the chest Regular screening should be done every year till age 74.

One of the latest techniques of screening for lung cancer is Low Dose CT Scan or Low Dose Computed Tomography. This method has been recommended by NCCN, ASCO and USPSTF. It is very effective in detecting abnormalities in the lungs.

We usually think that having to get a Low Dose CT Scan every year is going to be an expensive affair. However, there are sites like www.bookmyscans.com which offer great discounts on scans.

November has been designated as the Lung Cancer Awareness Month. It is the time to share information and make a difference. It is also the time to quit smoking and lead a long and healthy life.

References:
▪ www.biospectrumindia.com
▪ www.ncbi.nim.nib.gov
▪ Cancerindia.org