The assumption that lung cancer only affects active smokers has been\ndispelled by the latest medical reality. Dr Tanujaa Rajasekaran, Senior\nConsultant in Medical Oncology from Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC),\nrevealed that lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer found\nin both men and women, including those who do not smoke.<\/p>\n
During a media briefing titled \u201cThe Shifting Demography of Cancer in\nIndonesia: Lung Cancer in the Productive Age\u201d in Jakarta on Thursday, 26\nFebruary, Tanujaa presented data on the spread of cases in the\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmongst men, lung cancer is the number one case, but amongst women,\nit ranks fifth. And if we combine men and women, lung cancer is number\ntwo, so in all populations lung cancer is the most common occurrence,\u201d\nsaid Tanujaa.<\/p>\n
Medically, there are differences in the types of cancer affecting\npatients based on their smoking habits. Tanujaa explained that\napproximately 10% of smoker patients can develop small-cell lung cancer.\nConversely, 90% of other patients, dominated by non-smokers, develop\nnon-small-cell lung cancer.<\/p>\n
To date, researchers are still investigating the exact cause of lung\ncancer in non-smokers. Strong suspicion points to cell mutation\nabnormalities that develop into uncontrolled cancer gene mutations. Age\nfactors that trigger a decline in cell function, combined with exposure\nto environmental factors, also increase a person\u2019s risk of developing\nthis disease.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest challenges with lung cancer compared with\nprostate, breast, or colon cancer is the high mortality rate. This is\ndue to minimal early symptoms, so many patients are only diagnosed when\nthey have already reached the final stage. \u201cUnlike lung cancer, it\nusually occurs at an already advanced stage, when advanced symptoms\nappear and many have already metastasised, meaning it has already spread\nto other organs in the body, and the longer lung cancer is detected, the\nlower the life expectancy,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
Common symptoms to watch out for include fatigue, chest pain,\nprolonged cough that does not subside, and dramatic weight loss without\nclear reason. Often, these symptoms are only felt significantly when the\ndisease has reached stage three or four.<\/p>\n
Tanujaa emphasised that early detection is the key to improving the\nchances of recovery. For individuals who have a family history of lung\ncancer or experience symptoms of chronic fatigue, it is highly\nrecommended to undergo low-dose CT scans. This procedure has been shown\nto reduce mortality from lung cancer by up to 20%.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we screen for early detection, when we detect we have stage 1\ncancer, the life expectancy can be up to 90% or more. Compare that to\nwhen we have already reached stage 4, it drops significantly to only\naround 20%,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n
The air we breathe every day apparently harbours a real threat of\nlung cancer for those who have never touched cigarettes in their\nlifetime. Particles 30 times smaller than a strand of hair can trigger\nmajor hospital operations such as lung cancer. This is the journey of\nPM2.5 in the human body.<\/p>\n
Recognise immunotherapy as a solution for treating lung cancer in the\nproductive age group (30\u201350 years). Increase life expectancy without\ndisrupting daily activities. Over the past two decades, lung cancer\ntreatment has shifted from an approach dominated by chemotherapy to\nhighly personalised care.<\/p>\n
Lung cancer cases in Indonesia emerge 10 years earlier than the\nglobal average. Non-smoking women are now a high-risk group due to\npollution and genetic factors. Lung cancer does not only attack smokers.\nCigarette smoke, pollution, asbestos, radon, and genetic factors can\nincrease the risk to non-smokers.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lung-cancer-a-serious-threat-lurking-among-non-smokers-of-working-age-1772164248", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }