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Friday, March 29, 2024

The threat of a simple cough

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A symptom as simple as a cough may be an early sign of lung cancer when it becomes persistent, according to oncologists.

Some people would tend to dismiss the cough until it worsens or develops other symptoms such as shortness of breath, anorexia and weight loss.

It’s often only when patients start coughing up blood that they decide to have themselves checked. By then, the worst possible result is that they have Stage IV lung cancer.

The American Cancer Society says non-small cell lung cancer is usually left undiagnosed until it has advanced to the late stages. A 2012 report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer states that lung cancer is responsible for nearly 1.5 million deaths, making it the top cause of global cancer deaths. 

 IARC also predicts that in the next two decades, the number of new cancer cases will rise from 14 million to 22 million.

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In the Philippines, lung cancer has the highest incidence and mortality rates among all types of cancer among Filipino men, while it ranks fourth in incidence among Filipino women.

Not a smoker’s disease

Though tobacco is responsible for 20 percent of cancer deaths worldwide, and smoking is considered the top cause of cancer, a study conducted in three US hospitals reveals that a growing percentage of lung cancer patients are non-smokers. Many of these patients are also likely to be women.

Aside from smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke, other causes of lung cancer include exposure to indoor radon, family history of lung cancer, air pollution and household air pollution such as cooking and heating fumes.

“The early symptoms of lung cancer are often mistaken as part of common illnesses. Unfortunately, many patients don’t consult early enough, and so, they only find out that they have cancer after the disease has advanced,” says Dr. Ena Ang of MSD Oncology.

Hope remains

Despite the growing burden of lung cancer in the Philippines and abroad, the newest cancer medicines are already helping more patients survive the disease, even if it is already in the late stages.

According to oncologists, the most promising cancer treatment method to date is immunotherapy, and it could possibly replace chemotherapy as the standard method for treating cancer. Immunotherapy taps the body’s immune system to find and ward off cancer cells.

With the availability of innovative treatment options for cancer, patients now have a new source of hope. By working with their oncologists for the best possible treatment, patients are more likely to receive the gift of a second life.

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