WHO ARE AT RISK OF LUNG CANCER?
Lung cancer is the second most common cancers around the world, also, the cancer is still the main cause of deaths among both men and women. Annually, the number of people dying due to lung cancer is more than who die due to the colon, breast and prostate cancer in total.
Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms in their early stage, but some people with lung cancer may be paying attention to some of the symptoms early and asking for medical advice, which has a great impact on the therapeutic plan, when the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, then the treatment is more effective.
The most common symptoms of lung cancer are:
- Persistent cough that worsens.
- blood coming out with coughing or phlegm.
- Chest pain is often worse with deep breathing, coughing or laughter.
- hoarseness of Sound
- Loss of weight and loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
The disease may spread to different parts of the body causing pain in the bones, may spread to the liver, or spread to the lymph nodes in the body.
Types of lung cancer
Cancer that begins in the lungs is called primary lung cancer. Cancer that transfers to the lungs from another place in the body is known as secondary lung cancer.
There are two main types of primary lung cancer. They are categorized according to the type of cell that initiate.
Lung cancer with non-small cells: the most common type, which represents more than 80% of cases.
Small-cell lung cancer: a less common type but usually faster than non-small cell lung cancer.
Depending on the type of lung cancer you have, the recommended treatment plan is determined.
Who are at risk of lung cancer?
Lung cancer mainly affects the elderly. It is rare in people under the age of 40, and lung cancer rates rise sharply with age. The most diagnosed groups are aged 70-74.
Lung cancer also affects women at a very high rate and has increased recently. It is the third most common cancer in women after breast cancer and bowel cancer.
Although people who have never smoked can have lung cancer, smoking is the leading cause (accounting for more than 85% of cases). This is because smoking involves regular inhalation of a number of different toxic substances.