Why is lung cancer dangerous?

Early lung cancer is often asymptomatic, most patients detect it when it is late, the death rate is high.

In Vietnam, lung cancer ranks first among 10 common cancers in both sexes and is the leading cause of death. The disease tends to increase, more recently appeared in young people.

HCM City Cancer Hospital doctor said lung cancer is not painful, so early symptoms often have no symptoms. Lung cancer is often life-threatening because it tends to spread just before it can be detected on an x-ray.

Often when the disease is metastatic, about 70% of patients have symptoms of cough, chest tightness. Patients may be hoarse due to direct invasive tumor mass or mediastinal lymph nodes that are metastatic and cause vocal cord paralysis. When the cancer at the top of the lung has invaded the sympathetic nervous system, it may collapse in the eyelid, eyelid fall, pupil shrinks, concave eyes .

Most lung cancer occurs in people who have been smoking, passive exposure to cigarette smoke. Some other risk factors are exposure to radon gas, air pollution from heavy metal technology, asbestos, uranium radioactivity, petrochemical industry, family factors .

Early detection

Doctors recommend that people at risk for lung cancer should be screened early even when symptoms are not present. People at moderate risk are 50 years or older, do not smoke or smoke less, have smoked a lot but have stopped for more than 15 years. The high risk is that people from 50 years old, smoke 30 packs a year, one pack a day for 30 years or 2 packs a day for 15 years.

Guidelines of the Japanese Ministry of Health, people at high risk should have chest CT scans every year. People at moderate risk should have a chest CT scan for two consecutive years and every 3-5 years. US Department of Health guidelines, screening at age 55-74 with chest CT scans every year. If there are abnormalities, chest CT scan, bronchoscopy, biopsy through chest wall, chest surgery .

The results and duration of treatment for lung cancer depend on the type of cancer, the stage and the overall health of the patient. Screening helps detect early lung cancer with high potential for treatment, 92% live 5 years. Can be checked at the Cancer Screening Department of Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital or medical facilities with CT scans.

People at risk for lung cancer should be screened early even when symptoms are not present.

Prevent

Quit smoking

The rate of smokers' lung cancer is 10 times higher than that of non-smokers. The first thing to prevent lung cancer is to quit smoking, away from the smoke around you.

Exercise regularly

Physical activity including simple activities such as gardening twice a week can help you reduce your risk of lung cancer.

Diet is rich in green vegetables and fruits

Add lots of green vegetables, fresh fruits. Eat a variety of vegetables and colors such as cauliflower, spinach, onion, apple, tomato, orange . These foods can not only prevent disease but also are good for chronic diseases such as high blood pressure. pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease .

Avoid exposure to radiation and heavy metals

Workers working in the environment of chemical leakage must apply effective protection measures, avoid or reduce contact with toxic factors causing cancer.