Lung cancer occurs when cancerous cells in the lungs form and grow out of control. This results in the destruction of lung tissue and prevents the lungs from functioning normally. If left undetected and untreated, cancer cells can spread to the lymph nodes or metastasize to other organs in the body, such as the brain, according to The Independent (UK).
Lung cancer isn't limited to the elderly or smokers; young, non-smokers can also develop the disease, albeit at a lower risk.
In its early stages, lung cancer does not cause any symptoms. Symptoms usually only appear in advanced stages. Statistics show that only about 15% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed in the early stages. Therefore, a proper understanding of lung cancer is crucial for prevention and early detection.
Here are some common misconceptions about lung cancer.
Only the elderly get the disease.
Many cases of lung cancer occur in older adults. The average age at diagnosis is 70. However, this may only reflect the level of long-term exposure to tobacco, according to pulmonologist John Costello at the non-profit Mayo Clinic.
In fact, there are still patients who develop lung cancer at a very young age. Some even discover the disease when they are just over 20 years old. Therefore, young people can still get lung cancer, although the risk may be much lower.
Lung cancer is caused by smoking.
Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer, but it's not the only cause. In fact, smoking causes most cases of lung cancer and is the biggest risk factor. Yet, about 10% of lung cancer patients have never smoked.
Some people develop lung cancer due to genetic factors, exposure to chemicals like asbestos and radon gas, and secondhand smoke. However, these cases remain in the minority, Dr. Costello added.
Lung cancer is a condition in which cancerous cells in the lungs form and grow out of control.
Having lung cancer means death.
Being diagnosed with lung cancer, while serious, doesn't necessarily mean death. If the cancer is confined to the lungs, the 5-year survival rate is 60%. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the survival rate drops to 8%.
However, with new lung cancer screening techniques, such as CT scans for people with a smoking history of over 50 years, cancer can be detected early. These techniques will detect tumors when they are still very small. Early treatment will help increase the 5-year survival rate to 80-90%.
All lung cancers are the same.
Lung cancer comes in many types and stages. The two main types are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.
When treating lung cancer, doctors will determine the appropriate treatment depending on the individual case, the stage of cancer, and several other factors. Studies show that for early-stage cancer, the cure rate with surgery is 60-90%, while with chemotherapy it is 20%, according to The Independent.
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