How To Prevent Lung Cancer

What are the symptoms of lung cancer? Yousurgery is the preferred treatment.
should be suspicious if you have a nagging coughChemotherapy and radiation are recommended
that brings up blood-streaked sputum, more so ifdepending on the type of cancer, the patient's
you smoke and have a family history of theage and overall health, and the extent of the
disease. Other warning signs are shortness ofdisease.
breath, hoarseness, chest pain, arm or shoulder"A cancerous tumor in the lung is usually removed
pain, loss of appetite and weight.surgically. It is sometimes necessary to remove
"Generally, lung cancer is first suspected becausean entire lobe of the lung. Because lung cancers
of your physical symptoms or because anare usually not detected until they are well
abnormal mass appears on a routine chest X-ray.advanced, surgery alone may not be able to
Loss of appetite and weight may be the firsteliminate them, and radiation and chemotherapy
signs of a lung cancer. In this case, the first stepmay be used in combination with or in place of
is to determine with certainty whether or notsurgery," explained the editors of Consumer
cancer is present. In addition to a regular chestGuide's "Family Health & Medical Guide."
X-ray, tomograms (special chest X-rays that giveWhich treatment is best for you? Only your
a highly localized view of the lung) or other specialdoctor can answer that. But here are some
studies such as a CT scan may be obtained,"suggestions from Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the
according to Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in-chief ofNew York Hospital - Memorial Sloan-Kettering
the "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book."Cancer Center in "The Best Treatment":
Unfortunately, lung cancer happens to be one of"Here is what I recommend to my own patients
the hardest cancers to detect since it can bewith lung cancer. If the cancer, regardless of its
present for 10 to 20 years without causing anycell type, appears not to have spread and lung
noticeable symptom. Five to 10 percent of casesfunction is good, then surgery should be done
are discovered accidentally during a routine X-raywithout delay, and in all age groups, even in the
exam.elderly who are otherwise in good health. Oat cell
Common symptoms like coughing, wheezing, andcancers are treated with chemotherapy and
aches are often ignored or mistaken by theradiation, as recommended by an oncologist.
patient for something else. By the time"If CT scans and other tests indicate that it's too
symptoms appear, the disease may havelate for surgery (because the cancer has already
reached an incurable stage. This explains the poorspread to the glands in the opposite side of the
prognosis of most patients with the disease.chest or elsewhere), I leave it alone if it's not
The easiest way to avoid lung cancer is to stopcausing any symptoms. I prescribe radiation,
smoking. It may be difficult to quit but it is notsurgery, or chemotherapy only if the incurable
impossible. Millions of people have done it andcancer is causing symptoms. The purpose of
those who quit lessen their chances of developingintervention at this point is to make the person
lung cancer by two-thirds.feel better. When a patient with advanced lung
Ninety percent of people who stop smoking do itcancer has no complaints, I have them do nothing.
on their own so start now before it's too late. IfThis approach is not shared by all or even most
you find that hard to do, you can join smokingdoctors. The majority of my colleagues go
cessation classes or enroll in a clinic that offersfull-blast with radiation, surgery, and toxic
the same service. Choose the program thatchemotherapy in the hope of obtaining a cure,
makes the most sense to you and enlist the helpwhich rarely, if ever, happens at that stage. Such
of friends or loved ones to make things easier fortreatment, in my experience, often accelerates or
you.prolongs suffering," Rosenfeld concluded. (Next:
For those with cancer who can still be helped,Breast cancer.