Lung cancer is a deadly disease caused by the uncontrollable growth of abnormal lung cells. It is usually due to smoking but can also be triggered by air pollution, secondhand tobacco smoke, or asbestos.
You should start screening tests if you have a high risk of developing lung cancer. These can help you determine if you have the disease and how far it has spread. Getting tested early will help the statistics of lung cancer in the Philippines to lessen.
Some noticeable symptoms of lung cancer are shortness of breath, fluid in your chest, and coughing up blood. Your doctor may also order imaging tests to check for lung tumors.
You can have surgery to remove the cancerous cells and chemotherapy and radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. While these treatments can relieve some symptoms, they can have side effects. For example, radiation therapy can have cardiac toxicities. Similarly, chemotherapy has been known to cause long-term neuropathy.
You should stop smoking and avoid any harmful substances to prevent lung cancer. You should also be educated about the dangers of tobacco. This includes teaching your children about the risks of tobacco. Having a family history of lung cancer will also increase your chances of developing the disease.
The lungs are cone-shaped breathing organs located in the chest. Air enters through the nose and travels through the windpipe to the bronchi, which lead to the lungs. Once the air passes through the lungs, it releases carbon dioxide. Usually, the lungs produce a small amount of fluid to keep them from collapsing. However, if the lungs become enlarged, they can compress the veins and arteries, which can cause heart blockage and death.
In addition to lung cancer, other conditions can cause similar symptoms. For example, if the cancer is large and spreads to the spine, you may feel back pain, spinal cord compression, and weakness. Depending on the severity of the condition, your doctor may prescribe medication to control your symptoms.
The best thing to do is to avoid smoking, secondhand smoke, and other substances that can cause lung cancer. Keeping a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet are also recommended. Whether you have a family history of such a disease or not, you can start as early as now to research some information about lung cancer in the Philippines. This is especially true if you think there might be a possibility of getting one in the future. Other things you can do to reduce your risk are to limit your alcohol intake and reduce stress.
To know more about such matters, this infographic from HopeFromWithin will be helpful for you.
