Breathe it in: The truth about lung cancer

Author: Angela Xiong 
Edited by: Obehi Oniha
Published: 12/29/2020

This past summer, my grandfather was diagnosed with the late stages of lung cancer, which is one of the most deadly forms of cancer and it makes “up almost 25% of all cancer deaths” according to the American Cancer Association. Lung cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the lungs and can be either small cell cancer or non-small cell cancer. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) which is also called oat cell cancer tends to grow and spread faster compared to non-small cell lung cancer. This form of cancer is most responsive to chemotherapy and radiation, but also has a high chance of recurrence. The next form of cancer which accounts for 80-85% of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This type of cancer can be further divided into adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma depending on the cancer’s location in the lungs. Adenocarcinoma is found in the outer parts of lungs while squamous cell carcinoma is found in central parts of the lungs while large cell carcinoma can appear in any part of the lungs. It tends to grow and spread quickly, which can make it harder to treat. 

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Lung cancer is most commonly caused by smoking either tobacco or cigarettes or even from second hand smoke and air pollution. Smokers who take dietary supplements have an increased risk of lung cancer, according to two large studies that found smokers who took beta carotene supplements were more at risk of developing lung cancer. It can also be caused by exposure to radon which is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that results from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. Small amounts of radon can be concentrated indoors and lead to lung cancer among those who come into frequent contact with it through breathing in the radon. Arsenic (which is sometimes found in public drinking water in countries like South East Asia and South America, but rarely in North America), is another potential cause for lung cancer. 

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Beyond environmental factors or unhealthy habits, people who have a family history of lung cancer are more at risk of developing lung cancer especially if one of their relatives was diagnosed with it at a younger age similar to my grandfather’s case where he had a sister who died from lung cancer. 

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Lung cancer symptoms can vary from person to person, with some of the most common symptoms being a cough that worsens or coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum like spit or phlegm occurs. Other symptoms include worsening chest pains that cause deep breathing, coughing, laughing, or hoarseness in their voice. Those who suspect they have lung cancer might also have a loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, shortness of breath, or feelings of tiredness and weakness. Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that won't go away or are recurring and new onset of wheezing are other signs that a person might have developed lung cancer.

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Those who are more at risk to developing lung cancer should consider being regularly screened for lung cancer. These include individuals who have had a smoking habit and display one or more of the symptoms and signs of lung cancer. Although it is hard to find lung cancer at an early stage, if it is found early on when it is small and before it has spread, it is more likely to be successfully treated. 

When a person is diagnosed with lung cancer, they should consider treatment options depending on the type of lung cancer they have. For those with non-small cell lung cancer, patients have options like surgery, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy, and palliative procedures (depending on the stage of cancer they have and if the cancer has spread to other parts of the lung or the body) to look at in treating their diagnosis. Patients can also start with exploring surgery options to remove nodes or tumors, before looking towards chemotherapy or radiation options as the cancer progresses to stage II and III, and finally towards other targeted therapy methods in stages beyond. For patients with small cell lung cancer, they can consider surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or palliative procedures depending on the stage of cancer and if it has spread from its original position in the lung. If the cancer is at stage I, patients explore surgery options to remove the tumor, then seek out options like chemotherapy and radiation. More extensive stages require additional chemotherapy and radiation, as well as potential immunotherapy, palliative and supportive care, or clinical trials. 

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer and we encourage people who suspect that they are at risk of developing to become aware of its symptoms and continue to be screened for signs of lung cancer.