Be aware of risks for lung cancer
VCU School of Pharmacy faculty, alumni and students have provided the Dr. Rx column for Richmond’s Fifty Plus magazine since December 2009. We now share those columns on the SOP website, as well, for those who might not have seen them in print or on the Fifty Plus website.
Serving as Dr. Rx for November 2015 were Courtland Gammon and Ashley-Nicole Carmichael, fourth-year Pharm.D. students. Gammon, whose focus areas are community pharmacy and chronic disease state management, completed her pharmacy pre-requisites at University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Carmichael’s focus areas are infectious disease and critical care, and she earned her bachelor of science in biology at Virginia Tech.
Q: I’m worried about lung cancer. How do I know if I am at risk of developing it?
A.: The month of November is dedicated to bringing awareness to lung cancer, so we will discuss what lung cancer is, risk factors and the things you can do to reduce your risk.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Approximately 6.6 percent of the population will be diagnosed with lung cancer at some point in their lives. Lung cancer starts in the lungs and causes abnormal cells to cluster together and form a tumor. When this happens, the tumor can block your major airway and make it harder to breathe.
Anyone can develop lung cancer. However, those who breathe in toxic substances such as tobacco smoke, radon, hazardous chemicals and air pollution are at greatest risk.
It is important to know the risk factors for lung cancer so that you can decrease your risk of developing this deadly disease. Smoking and secondhand smoke are the leading risk factors for developing lung cancer, and both are risk factors that you can prevent. Risk factors that are unpreventable include being older than 65, a family history of lung cancer and exposure to asbestos or radon.
There are two major types of lung cancer – small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC often spreads quickly and is much less common than NSCLC. NSCLC accounts for a large majority of lung cancer cases and usually grows at a slower rate than SCLC.
Tests used to detect lung cancer include sputum cytology, chest x-ray and computed tomography (CT) scan. Of these, CT scans can provide the most precise information about the size, shape and position of a lung tumor. Treatment of lung cancer depends on the type, stage and progression of the disease.
Generally, lung cancer symptoms do not appear until the disease has already advanced to noncurable stages. Symptoms may be mistaken for other problems, which can delay the diagnosis. Symptoms you might experience include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, trouble breathing, loss of appetite and fatigue. In advanced lung cancer, the cancer can spread to more distant sites in the body. Signs of more advanced stages of lung cancer include bone pain, headache, dizziness and swelling of the face, arms or legs.
Some people may be candidates for early screening of lung cancer, specifically those who are between the ages of 55 and 74, have a significant smoking history and are still smoking or have quit smoking within the last 15 years.
The best way you can prevent lung cancer is to quit smoking. Quitting also can help prevent or manage a multitude of other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Take a minute to evaluate your risk during Lung Cancer Awareness Month and talk to your health care provider about what you can do to keep your lungs healthy.
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