Smokers Should Look Out For Signs Of Lung Cancer

Smokers Should Look Out For Signs Of Lung Cancer


Senior Medical Officer at the National Chest Hospital Dr Terry Baker is urging persons who have been exposed to cigarette smoke over an extended period to look out for signs of lung cancer.
Baker, who is a pulmonologist and internist, pointed out that the disease may present itself in a myriad ways, and early signs may often be attributed to other conditions.
"The person may have a cough, or they may begin to cough up phlegm or mucous that has changed in colour or consistency, or they may begin to cough up blood. They may have chest pain or consistent hoarseness," she said.
She warned, however, that persons may have pain in other parts of the body such as arthritis.
"This is a particular arthritis or inflammation that we see affecting the bones and joints in persons who have lung cancer. The bones and joints may become swollen and very tender.
"The cancer may spread to other organs; to the brain (the person may have severe headaches, personality changes, or seizures); to the spine; or to the bone. You may also have collapse of the spine," she explained.
Baker pointed out that because there are no early signs or definitive signs that point to an ailment being lung cancer, one has to have a high index of suspicion when somebody presents with particular complaints.
 LOW SURVIVAL
 Cancer cells can stay in the lung and multiply, divide, and become larger, and they stay there for quite a while before the person becomes ill, and that is part of the difficulty with lung cancer. While we recognise and applaud the advances made in terms of treating lung cancer the five-year survival is very low," Baker added.
"We may not be able to cure, but we will still treat and endeavour to arrest the spread of the growth of the cancer and help the person in terms of overcoming whatever complications they may have due to the presence of the cancer, and, generally, help them to feel better and to better manage in terms of other issues or complications that may arise," she explained.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide more than breast, prostate, and colon cancer combined.
Cigarette smoking is associated with a number of other cancers, including cancers of the tongue, breast, cervix, stomach, and colon, as well as heart disease.
The National Chest Hospital is the only specialist hospital in the island that specifically treats patients with chest-related illnesses. The month of November is observed worldwide as


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Breast cancer charities: How to make an impact

Breast cancer charities: How to make an impact With thousands of charities competing for donations, it can be difficult to know where a financial gift to a good cause will make the biggest impact. This article outlines the top  breast cancer  charities in the United States and their specific contributions to the cause, plus other factors to keep in mind before donating. The history of the pink ribbon The pink ribbon is a symbol of breast cancer and is often sold to raise money for breast cancer charities. Breast cancer activist and survivor Charlotte Hayley inspired the design of the pink ribbon, which is still in use today. Hayley initially handed out peach-coloured looped ribbons that she made herself with a card stating: "The National Cancer Institute's annual budget is $1.8 billion, only 5 percent goes for  cancer  prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon." In 1991, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundati...
Read more

Lung cancer and cough: What is the connection?

Image
Lung cancer and cough: What is the connection? Everyone has experienced a nagging cough after a cold or needed to cough while in a quiet room. Despite these problems, coughing actually serves a very valuable and useful purpose. Coughing is a protective action, helping the lungs clear out potential germs or harmful objects.  Sometimes, however, that cough is not linked to a cold or infection and can linger for weeks to months at a time. This may lead people to wonder or worry that their cough is a sign of something more serious, such as  lung cancer . This article takes a look at the connection between coughing and lung cancer, including when someone should see a doctor. Coughing and lung cancer A cough associated with lung cancer may be either dry or wet. Not every a cough signifies the presence of lung cancer. However, many people do complain of a chronic cough or a "cough that just won't go away" at the time of their diagnosis. If a cough is associate...
Read more

For people with Type 2 diabetes, there is an additional incentive for keeping the disease under management

For people with Type 2 diabetes, there is an additional incentive for keeping the disease under management  Research shows a possible link between diabetes and cognitive decline, including increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The scientific reason behind the link between diabetes and brain health is complex. Some scientists believe people with diabetes may also have insulin resistance or insulin deficiency that could damage brain cells enough to cause memory loss. Studies are underway to understand why 80 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease also have some form of diabetes or disturbed glucose metabolism. However, so far, longitudinal research has not produced a consensus view regarding the link between blood glucose levels and cognitive impairment. Meanwhile, in South Florida, medical professionals are working with diabetic patients to minimize the risk of cognitive decline through a variety of methods that include lifestyle, medical and mental-...
Read more