Understanding Lung Cancer and the Best Way to Reduce Your Risk
- A man, 75, working on his lawn mower, accidentally took a fall. While seeking treatment for a hurt shoulder, doctors discovered a nodule on his lung on MRI scans.
- Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality in both men and women in the U.S. It often doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already spread outside the lungs and in its later stages. Since it’s asymptomatic early on, it becomes harder to catch in its early stages.
- Symptoms associated with lung cancer may include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain.
- Treating lung cancer depends on the cancer’s location and how advanced it is. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of any of these treatments.
- Smoking is a major risk factor for developing lung cancer.
A man, 75, who was preparing to work on his yard took a sudden fall that led to an unsuspecting lung cancer diagnosis while being evaluated by his doctor. Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality in both men and women in the U.S. partly because it’s hard to catch in its early stages.
Bob Deane says he was working on his lawn mower in his garage one afternoon until he accidentally stepped on another piece of yard equipment causing him to fall. Amid his fall, he hurt his shoulder. In a fortunate turn of events, when he saw his doctor for his injured shoulder, an MRI found something unusual.
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Deane then revealed something else that’s usually a major risk factor for lung cancer. He said he used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. However, he ended up quitting the consequential habit last October.
“I promised Sherry (his wife) and the kids I wasn’t going to smoke any more. I’m proud I did it,” Deane said.
Deane said he is grateful his eagle-eyed doctors spotted the small but concerning nodule on his scans that ended up being early-stage lung cancer. Since his surgery and recovery, Deane told the news outlet his recent check-ups show he’s “cancer-free.”
“Somebody was looking out for me,” Deane said gratefully.
Understanding Lung Cancer
Lung cancer forms when cancer cells develop in the tissues of the lung. It’s hard to catch early because it’s “completely asymptomatic” says thoracic surgeon-in-chief at Temple University Health System Dr. Joseph Friedberg.
“It causes no issues until it has spread somewhere. So if it spreads to the bones, it may cause pain. If it spreads to the brain, it may cause something not subtle, like a seizure,” Dr. Friedberg adds.
Scans such as X-rays can help doctors determine if a shadow appears which can prompt further testing for lung cancer.
Lung cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already spread outside the lungs, according to SurvivorNet’s experts.
There are two main types of lung cancer, which doctors group together based on how they act and how they’re treated:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type and makes up about 85% of cases.
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is less common, but it tends to grow faster than NSCLC and is treated very differently.
WATCH: Treating smokers and non-smokers for lung cancer varies.
Smoking causes most cases of this cancer. Tobacco smoke contains a mixture of more than 7,000 different chemicals, at least 70 of which are known to cause cancer, the CDC reports.
If you quit smoking, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing the disease and dying from it.
Some people with lung cancer may experience symptoms, such as:
- A cough that doesn’t go away, that gets worse, or that brings up bloody phlegm
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Hoarse voice
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
If you are experiencing these kinds of symptoms consistently, contact your doctor for further tests.
WATCH: Surgical Options for Lung Cancer
Treatment options for lung cancer depend on its type, its location, and its staging. In general, treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of any of these treatments.
How to Reduce Your Risk for Lung Cancer?
There are a few things you can do that might lower your chances of getting this cancer, such as:
- Quitting smoking. The sooner you quit, the lower your odds of developing lung cancer become.
- Avoiding radon exposure. The leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers is exposure to radon gas. This natural, radioactive gas can build up in any building, including homes. Because you can’t see or smell radon, the only way to know whether it’s accumulating in your home is to test for it.
- Not breathing in secondhand smoke. Not only should you avoid smoking yourself, but you should stay away from other people who smoke. Just being exposed to smoke from someone else’s cigarettes can increase your risk.
- Avoiding or limiting your exposure to cancer-causing chemicals. Benzene, arsenic, chromium, and asbestos have all been linked to lung cancer.
- Eating a colorful diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Try to eat two to three cups of vibrant vegetables and fruits each day.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you find yourself diagnosed with lung cancer and are concerned about the long-term impacts, here are some questions you can ask your doctor.
- Has my cancer spread to other parts of the body?
- Based on my cancer stage, what are my treatment options?
- What are the side effects of my recommended treatment?
- Are there ways to help minimize the effects of treatment?
- How long will I be unable to work or carry out my daily activities?
- What financial resources are available to get the treatments I need?
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