> Lung Cancer Awareness Month – Breathe Easy
Did you know that the average adult breathes around 12 to 20 times a minute when resting? The human body is powered by breathing so it is important to know more about lung cancer, one of the most lethal cancers in Singapore. (source) It is the second and third most common cancer in males and females here respectively (source).
As November is Lung Cancer Awareness month, CIH would like to take this opportunity to help you understand lung cancer and how regular screening may help in the early detection and treatment of lung cancer.
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs. While most cases are linked to tobacco smoking, a growing number of diagnoses are among non-smokers, especially among women.
Most lung cancers are diagnosed after the disease has spread. This usually occurs in cells that line the air passages. As the cancer cells grow, they can interfere with normal functioning of lungs. (source) When lung cancer is at an early stage, symptoms may not appear. However, once the disease grows, it may damage surrounding tissue, interfere with the lungs’ normal function and lead to symptoms such as hemoptysis (coughing up blood), shortness of breath or pain.
Types of Lung Cancer
There are two major types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
1.SCLC is less common, making up about 10-15% of all lung cancer cases, but more aggressive than NSCLC. SCLC is strongly associated with cigarette smoking. It grows quickly and spreads early to other parts of the body, including lymph nodes.
It often starts in the more central portions of the chest. Because it is so aggressive, it is usually not found when it is confined to a single area of the lung. Therefore, surgery is used less often for SCLC than NSCLC.
2. NSCLC makes up about 85% of cancer cases and is mostly adenocarcinomas, or cancers which form in the mucus-secreting glands throughout the body.
It arises from the cells that line the surface of the lungs, including the airways. The more common types of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
These symptoms do not mean that lung cancer is present. Patients at high risk of lung cancer, especially those with a history of smoking, should undergo regular screenings to catch the disease at its early stages, when there is a better chance of cure.
If there are symptoms that signal lung cancer, a biopsy will be performed, followed by a final staging for a complete assessment of the cancer. This will help the patient to make an informed decision about treatment decisions
- A cough that does not go away and gets worse over time
- Constant chest pain, often made worse by deep breathing, coughing or laughing
- Arm or shoulder pain
- Coughing up blood or rust-colored phlegm
- Shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness
- Repeated episodes of pneumonia or bronchitis
- Feeling weak or tired