Lung cancer: Lung cancer develops when some cells in the lungs begin to grow in an abnormal, uncontrolled way. Instead of behaving like normal cells, they multiply quickly and form a lump, known as a tumour. This tumour can interfere with the way your lungs function, making breathing more difficult.
If lung cancer is not detected and treated early, these abnormal cells can spread to other parts of the body and form new tumours. That’s why early diagnosis and timely treatment are so important.
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This guide will walk you through the basic signs and treatment options.
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
- A cough that doesn’t go away: If you have a cough that lasts longer than three weeks and isn’t getting better, it’s important to pay attention. This is especially worrying if the cough sounds different from your usual cough or feels deeper and heavier in your chest.
- Getting out of breath easily: Feeling short of breath while doing everyday activities like walking, talking, or climbing a few stairs can be a warning sign. If simple tasks suddenly start to feel tiring or leave you breathless, it’s a good reason to see a doctor.
- Chest pain: Pain or discomfort in the chest that gets worse when you laugh, cough, or take a deep breath can sometimes be linked to lung problems, including lung cancer.
- Coughing up blood: Even a small amount of blood in your cough or phlegm is serious. This symptom, known as haemoptysis, needs urgent medical attention.
- Hoarseness: Hoarseness that lasts for more than a few weeks, especially when you don’t have a cold or throat infection, can be a warning sign. It may mean that something inside the chest is pressing on the nerves or vocal cords and affecting your voice.
- Unexplained weight loss: If you are losing weight without dieting or exercising more, and you feel tired or weak most of the time, it could be a sign that your body is dealing with a serious illness, including cancer.
- Frequent chest infections: Repeated episodes of bronchitis or pneumonia may indicate that something, such as a tumour, is obstructing the airways and preventing the lung from clearing properly.
What causes lung cancer?
The main risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. It is estimated that a large majority of lung cancer cases are linked to cigarette smoking. The risk increases with the number of years you smoke and the number of cigarettes you smoke each day.
Other important causes include breathing in second-hand smoke, long-term exposure to air pollution, and a family history of lung cancer. People who have never smoked can also develop lung cancer, although this is less common. In non-smokers, long-term exposure to polluted air, passive smoking, or certain harmful chemicals at home or work may play a role over time.
How to treat lung cancer?
If the cancer is found early, when it is still small and limited to one area, doctors may suggest surgery. In this procedure, they remove the part of the lung that contains the tumour. In some cases, if the cancer is more widespread within the lung, they may need to remove an entire lung. Many people can still live a fairly active life with one lung, with proper care and follow-up.
Another important treatment is radiation therapy, which uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Radiation may be used when surgery is not possible, or it may be given before surgery to shrink the tumour and make it easier to remove. Doctors may also provide chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy, depending on the type of lung cancer and special markers found in the cancer cells.
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Lung cancer is a serious illness, but it is not always hopeless. The earlier it is detected, the better the chances of successful treatment.