Lung Cancer is a condition that causes cells to divide in the lungs uncontrollably. Know more about the symptoms and risk factors of lung cancer – time to take action.
Lung Cancer
What Do I Need To Know?
As the name suggests, lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs and happens when cells in the body start to grow out of control.
There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) – NSCLC contributes 80-85% of lung cancer and has several different subtypes such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. These subtypes are often grouped as NSCLC because treatment and prognoses are similar.
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) – Known as oat cell cancer, SCLC makes up 10-15% of all lung cancers. Growing and spreading faster than NSCLC, 70% of patients diagnosed with SCLC will have metastatic cancer upon diagnosis.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in Malaysia for 2018 and is the third most common cancer after breast and colorectal cancer. The first on the list for men, a total of 3,426 new lung cancer cases were reported among men, recorded deaths due to lung cancer were at 4,057.
What Are The Causes?
Most lung cancer is caused by smoking, which contributes to 90% of all lung cancer causes, including active and passive smoking. The risk of lung cancer increases over the length of time, and the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking is the main contributor to lung cancer due to several factors which are:
- Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical substances, most of which are likely to cause lung cancer.
- Smoking 20 cigarettes a day increases the risk of lung cancer of up to 20 to 25 times compared to non-smokers.
Other causes of lung cancer include:
- Air pollution
- Exposure to asbestos
- Lung diseases such as tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Exposure to radon/radium
- Occupational exposure to arsenic, chromium, nickel, aromatic hydrocarbon and ether increases the risk of lung cancer
Most lung cancer is caused by smoking, which contributes to 90% of all lung cancer causes, including active and passive smoking. The risk of lung cancer increases over the length of time, and the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking is the main contributor to lung cancer due to several factors which are:
- Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical substances, most of which are likely to cause lung cancer.
- Smoking 20 cigarettes a day increases the risk of lung cancer of up to 20 to 25 times compared to non-smokers.
Other causes of lung cancer include:
- Air pollution
- Exposure to asbestos
- Lung diseases such as tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Exposure to radon/radium
- Occupational exposure to arsenic, chromium, nickel, aromatic hydrocarbon and ether increases the risk of lung cancer
What Are The Symptoms?
Those with lung cancer may be asymptomatic in the earlier stages. Symptoms of lung cancer occur when the disease has advanced.
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer include:
- A new cough that does not go away
- Cough with phlegm mixed with blood or coughing out blood
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Hoarseness
- Losing weight without trying
- Bone pain
- Headache
When Do I Seek Help?
Consult a doctor or healthcare professional if you experience persistent signs or symptoms such as:
- As mentioned in the above
- Coughing out massive amounts of blood
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Non-resolving chest pain
- Sudden paralysis
- Sudden blurring of vision
How Is Lung Cancer Diagnosed?
Upon physical examination, a doctor will perform investigations to confirm lung cancer diagnosis through:
- Blood investigations
- Sputum examination
- Chest x-ray
- Computerised Tomography (CT) scan of the thorax – This test visualises the lungs in a three-dimensional setting to measure the size and spread of cancer, identifying the stage of cancer.
- Bronchoscopy – A bronchoscopy allows the doctor to visualise cancer with abnormalities submitted to a biopsy to confirm the type of lung cancer.
- Pleuroscopy – Performed when there is excessive fluid in the pleural cavity caused by cancer. Part of the process includes removing excess fluid for diagnostics and biopsies to confirm the type of lung cancer.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) – A scan to detect cancer and metastases.
- Mediastinoscopy
- Lung function tests
References
Lung Cancer – PORTAL MyHEALTH. (2012, December 18). Retrieved from MyHEALTH:
http://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/lung-cancer/
Azizah, A. M., Nor Saleha, I. T., Noor Hashimah, A., Asmah, Z. A., & Mastulu, W. (2016). Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report 2007-2011. Putrajaya:
National Cancer Institute.
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