Early detection key to curing lung cancer

Symptoms like persistent cold, cough, accompanied by sputum or blood, and signs of breathlessness call for a visit to an experienced medical practitioner.

These conditions often attributed to changing weather result in sufferers trying out Grandma’s home remedies like‘doodh’ and ‘haldi’ (milk and turmeric). But in reality it delays a visit to the doctor and, therefore, chances of timely detection of cancer.

A visit to a family physician helps as he may prescribe a simple sputum test or an X-ray to rule out lung cancer. However, a not so experienced general practitioner or family physician, could mistake early cancer symptoms and start treating patients for tuberculosis.

Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Center for Chest Surgery and Director Institute of Robotic Surgery at New Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said, “Nicotine in cigarettes is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Of the 4,000 chemicals in cigarettes over 50 of them are highly carcinogenic. A carcinogen is something that causes cancer. And we all know that cancer is a disease that often kills those who have it.”

LM Darlong, Head thoracic surgery at New Delhi’s Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre agreed that smoking--both cigarette and bidi--is a known risk factor. Air pollution, passive smoking and hazardous work environment (like asbestos, mica, coal and bauxite mining) too are known to affect lung health.

However, he added that we are also seeing lung cancer in non smokers, younger adults especially women who have been initially treated for tuberculosis which is very prevalent in India. The message: Lung cancer is no more solely a smoker’s disease.

To eliminate all doubts doctors prescribe a screening, low dose CT Scan or Biopsy. Also referred to as tissue diagnosis, Biopsy, is done by taking a small part of lung tissue for a test. Irrespective of the method of detection, doctors stress that the best outcomes for lung cancer are entirely dependent on early detection.

No matter what the condition, doctors are unanimous in their opinion that lungs are too precious and vital an organ to be taken lightly.

Surgery is the best method to remove cancerous tissue that manifests in the form of nodules or lesions (dark patches) visible in X-Ray or a CT Scan. Post surgery follow up tests at regular intervals are recommended as a variety of further treatments like radiation or immune therapy depending on the spread of cancer may be needed.

Ali Zamir Khan, Head of Medanta Institute for Robotic Thoracic Surgery said, “Smoker’s cough is not to be taken lightly as it may be early signs of cancer. Cigarette smoke destroys special tracheal hair designed to trap germs and other foreign particles that enter the airways when a person breathes in air. This prevents the trachea from throwing out phlegm, hence causing cough.”