Why is it now more important than ever to generate awareness of contaminated lung health issues?
Air pollution causes severe damage to the respiratory tract. Research suggests it can lead to lung conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, emphysema (a condition that causes shortness of breath) and lung cancer as well as worsening with illnesses it is breath. Cigarette smoking is commonly believed to cause lung cancer. However, those who do not smoke or eat tobacco can be affected by lung cancer. Factors such as second-hand smoke and inhalation of radon and asbestos can also cause lung cancer. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) has clarified the growing link between external pollution and mortality and morbidity from non-malignant cardiovascular and respiratory disease and lung cancer. Despite the permanent health damage caused by air pollution, people are still largely unaware of its deadly effects. Therefore, awareness of the risk of air pollution and necessary protective measures must be taken at an individual level to prevent becoming a public health emergency.
How does lung cancer start and how does it affect an individual as it progresses?
Lung cancer occurs when the cells in the lungs start to grow. They usually come from the bronchi (tubes in the windpipe that enters the lungs), bronchioles (smaller branches of bronchi) and alveoli (tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles). Symptoms of lung cancer include persistent cough that worsens over time, coughing up blood, phlegm or saliva, shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness, bone pain, headache and unexplained weight loss.
Lung cancer is an advanced condition and below are the different stages of the disease:
Level I.: The cancer is located only in the lungs and does not spread to any lymph node
Phase II: The cancer spreads to the nearby lymph node
Stage III: The cancer in the lung spreads to the lymph nodes in the middle of the breast. This stage is also known as local progressive disease
Stage IV: This is the most advanced stage and is also defined as advanced disease. At this stage, the cancer spreads to both lungs, including the beer in the area around the lungs, or to another part of the body such as the liver or other organs.
How do lifestyle and environment affect the disease?
The following preventative measures can be taken to reduce the risk of lung cancer from air pollution:
Avoid smoking as this is one of the most common pollutants, both outdoors and indoors
Household cleaning products can contain harsh chemicals, and the smoke from them can be destructive
Remove the house and make sure it is well ventilated
Use a dehumidifier and / or air conditioner to reduce humidity
Surfaces are often empty and dusty
Choose cleaner travel
Avoid burning leaves, rubbish and other materials
Complete or avoid exposure to cancer-causing agents such as asbestos, radioactive minerals such as uranium, introduced chemicals such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, silica, vinyl chloride, nickel etc.
If one smokes regularly, what is their life expectancy when they are diagnosed with lung cancer?
Life expectancy after a lung cancer diagnosis depends on the stage of diagnosis. When diagnosed early ie at Stages 1 and 2, treatment is possible in most patients. However, when we reach stage 3, treatment is possible in some cases with integrated treatment with Chemotherapy, Surgery and Radiotherapy. On the other hand, in Stage 4, we focus on controlling the cancer and not curing the disease. Therefore, it is vital that we take all steps to prevent and diagnose lung cancer as early as possible.
With Dr. Arvind Kumar
Chair of Chest Institute of Chest, Onco Chest Surgery & Lung Transplant, Medanta