How medical advances are reducing death

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month! Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. In 2020 alone, an estimated 1.8 million cases will be diagnosed and about 600,000 lives will be killed.

Lung cancer is difficult to treat, but all the news says it’s not disastrous James Stephenson, MD, Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center Oncologist. The latest study by researchers at the National Cancer Center shows that the mortality rate of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 76%, has dropped sharply and significantly over the past few years. It has become clear. Of lung cancer. What are the major factors in the decline? Smoking is the worst ever. But that’s not all. “New advances in early detection and treatment give people new hope and extend their lives,” says Stevenson.

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Lung cancer screening

Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), which uses less radiation than traditional chest CT, is the only recommended screening test for lung cancer and has been shown to reduce the risk of death by 20%. “Annual screening of high-risk individuals has become an accepted practice and should be considered on a daily basis, just like women who get mammograms,” says Stevenson. “Screening is covered by many insurance companies and Medicare for qualified people.” Who falls into the “high risk” category? Heavy smoker or former smoker who smoked an average of 1 pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years (people who have quit smoking in the last 15 years).

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Prevention of lung cancer

Years after the link between smoking and lung cancer was discovered, smoking remains the greatest risk of lung cancer, accounting for 80-90% of all lung cancer deaths. (Pipes and cigars also increase risk). Smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to die of lung cancer than nonsmokers, and even a few cigarettes a day are at increased risk.

On the positive side, stop At any age It can reduce the risk of lung cancer. Within minutes of the last puff, your body will rebound with a lower heart rate and blood pressure.

Not all risk factors, such as a family history of lung cancer, can be reduced, but exposure to air pollution, radiation, and indirect smoking can be reduced and environmental toxins such as radon and asbestos can be avoided. It’s not entirely clear whether eating a healthy diet and physical activity can reduce your risk, but it certainly doesn’t hurt your general health. It also cannot be masked to protect against COVID-19 or seasonal flu.

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Treatment of lung cancer

It was an era when the only options for treating lung cancer were radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, or a combination of both. Today, breakthroughs have reduced the number of deaths from lung cancer and allowed people to survive for long periods of time without illness. Two of them are:

• Immunotherapy (biological therapy)
  Cancer cells are skilled in evading the natural ability of the immune system to eradicate foreign invaders. But immunotherapy is changing it all. It can surpass uncontrollable cancer cells by strengthening the body’s immune system to seek out and destroy them. Named the “Advance of the Year” by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in 2016 and 2017, this treatment is groundbreaking when used alone or in combination with other treatments. .. You might even have thought it was impossible five years ago, “says Stevenson. “Many patients with advanced-stage lung cancer enjoy even longer remissions or cures, a result rarely seen before.”
• Target therapy
  This class of drugs is for people with mutations in certain genes or proteins. Treatment blocks the signals that mutations send to grow the cancer. These abnormalities can be found by biomarker tests that look for changes in the DNA of the tumor. “For these cancers, targeted therapies are more effective than chemotherapy and immunotherapy, allowing for a more personalized approach,” says Stevenson.

Relation: Everything you need to know about immunotherapy

Healthy lungs during COVID

In addition to another infection that passes through, COVID-19 can cause real permanent disruption to the lungs, says lung pathologists at the Cleveland Clinic. Sanjay Mukhopadhyay, MD.. The virus can cause a “potentially dangerous and potentially fatal” condition known as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), he says. Symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, rapid breathing, dizziness, rapid heart rate, and excessive sweating. If you experience this, contact your doctor immediately. Also, if you have lung problems (or not), follow the following common sense methods. Wear a mask, avoid sick people and indirect smoking, and get a healthy sleep.

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Where you need help

The American Lung Association recommends that anyone diagnosed with lung cancer investigate treatment options with a specialist. One thing to consider is clinical trials exploring new approaches and treatments. These carefully monitored scientific studies regulated by the FDA can reveal new and enhanced methods for screening, diagnosing, or treating illness.Move to Lung.org To find something near you.

Next, 15 Healthy Ways to Keep Your Lungs in Best Shape