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Doctors Are Pressing Adults To Have More Lung Cancer Screenings
© Adobe.Com Doctor watching an X-ray of lung cancer on a digital tablet. Doctors are pressing adults to have more lung cancer screenings. Doctors are urging more adults who've had a history of smoking to have a low-dose CT screening for lung cancer in order to lower mortality rates, according to The Wall Street Journal.
With lung and bronchus cancer being the most deadly cancer in the U.S., the Journal said a CT scan can catch the disease earlier and save lives.
Per the American Lung Association, when detected early, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is about 60% compared to when it's caught late, which decreases to 7%.
Dr. Robert Winn, director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, told the Journal, "Most of them don't even know that if we catch these things early, they're curable."
"Medical groups recommend annual, low-dose scans starting at 50 for people who smoke heavily or recently quit. Insurers often cover the test," the article said.
Related What is a low-dose CT screening?The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a low-dose computer tomography is a short, painless procedure where you lie down on a table and an X-ray machine uses a small amount of radiation to create images of your lungs.
The procedure is done before any extreme symptoms show or when the patient may not have a history of that disease, per the CDC.
While taking a low-dose CT scan can run the risk of a false-positive — a result where the machine falsely detects cancer in a patient — the CDC said that's why the only ones recommended for the screening are adults with high risk of developing lung cancer because of excessive smoking or age.
Dr. Patrick Hwu, president and chief executive officer of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, told the Journal, "It would save the most lives immediately."
The Journal said doctors are "pushing harder to expand lung-cancer screening and take advantage of newer treatments that have changed the disease's outlook."
Related What are the first signs of lung cancer?Early symptoms of lung cancer include wheezing, chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and a cough that worsens or produces blood, according to the Cancer Treatments Centers of America.
The American Cancer Society added symptoms like loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss and said, "Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until they have spread, but some people with early lung cancer do have symptoms."
Cleveland Clinic listed the stages of lung cancer and said the cancer first infects the top lining of the lung or bronchus, spreading to lymph nodes inside the lung and infecting both lungs and surrounding organs by the last stages.
Five Little-known Signs Of Lung Cancer Revealed As Esther Rantzen Reveals Disease Has Reached Stage Four
Five little-known signs of lung cancer revealed as Esther Rantzen reveals disease has reached stage fourLung cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide.
It kills around 34,800 people in the UK every year and more than 120,000 in the US.
Yet many people are not aware of all the symptoms.
A persistent cough is just one tell-tale sign of the disease, but it can also cause lesser-known ailments such as swollen fingers and nails.
Following TV legend Esther Rantzen's announcement today that she has stage four lung cancer, MailOnline reveals the warning signs to look out for.
A persistent cough, breathlessness and passing out can all be symptoms of lung cancer, according to Cancer Research
Dame Esther Rantzen, 82, has revealed her diagnosis with lung cancer, which she announced in January, is stage four
Getting out of breathOften there are no symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer.
But many people eventually develop a persistent cough that won't go away and feel breathless, the NHS says.
Feeling out of puff while doing the things that usually wouldn't be a problem is a sign to visit the GP.
This symptom may also be coupled with coughing up blood and a pain in the shoulder or chest when coughing.
Lung cancer is rare in people under the age of 40 and more than four in ten people diagnosed in the UK are 75 and older, according to the NHS.
It adds that smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer.
Swollen fingers and nailsChanges in the shape of your fingernails and swelling can also be a sign of lung cancer.
This symptom is called clubbing.
The nails can appear to 'float' instead of being attached to the nailbed and form a sharper angle with the cuticle.
Clubbing can also cause the end of the finger to appear large and red and the nail to curve downwards, so it looks like the round part of an upside-down spoon.
The symptoms are caused by hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA) — a condition that causes inflammation in the bones and joints and affects some people with cancer.
However, not everyone who has lung cancer will develop this symptom and it is more common among those with non-small cell lung cancer, says Cancer Research.
Seizures or passing outDizziness when standing up and passing out can be signs of cancer.
Although rare, some lung cancer patients develop a condition alongside their cancer called paraneoplastic syndrome.
It is triggered by tumours releasing hormones into the bloodstream that cause the body's organs and body systems to behave abnormally.
This can lead to symptoms that don't seem related to lung cancer.
These include headaches, vomiting, confusion, feeling tired, muscle weakness, seizures, passing out, dizziness and constipation.
Paraneoplastic syndrome is rare but more common among those with small cell lung cancer.
Drooping of one eyelidA rare type of lung cancer that grows at the top of the organ can cause one eyelid to droop, experts say.
Pancoast tumours, which account for less than 5 per cent of lung cancer cases, can also cause one pupil to go small.
And it may stop sweating on one side of the face, according to Cancer Research.
Shoulder pain or pain that travels up and down the arm, neck and head are more common symptoms of this form of cancer, according to Cancer Research.
Losing weightAbout 60 per cent of people with lung cancer have significant weight loss at the time of their diagnosis, Cancer Research says.
This can be because lung cancer causes a loss of appetite.
However, some people lose weight even when they are eating normally.
This is called cachexia, where your body doesn't absorb all the fat, protein and carbohydrate from your food and burns calories faster than normal.
Scientists say cancer releases chemicals into the blood that contribute to the fat and muscle loss.
What Are The Signs Of Lung Cancer In Women?
Females and males may experience similar symptoms of lung cancer. Symptoms of lung cancer in females can include shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness, and more.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), lung cancer is the second most common type in males and females, not counting skin cancer. For both sexes, it is the leading cause of cancer-related death.
The American Lung Association report that lung cancer rates have decreased by 35% in males over the last 41 years, but the rates in females have risen by 87%.
In this article, we look at the effects of lung cancer in females, as well as risk factors, treatments, and the outlook.
Males and females experience very similar symptoms of lung cancer, which can include:
Anyone who experiences these symptoms should see a doctor.
The risk factors for lung cancer are similar among males and females. They include:
Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke remain the most significant risk factors for lung cancer.
A 2014 review, published in Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, proposes that certain genes and hormones contribute to an increased lung cancer mortality rate in females.
GeneticsThe researchers have identified several genes that may explain the differing rates of lung cancer among females and males. A person can inherit some of these genes, while tobacco exposure activates others.
KRASKRAS is a gene, and any mutation in it may make cancerous tumors grow more quickly. A mutation may also make the tumors more likely to spread.
The review suggests that KRAS mutations may make lung cancer growth more aggressive after exposure to estrogen, a female sex hormone, as well as other hormones.
GRPRThe review associates gastric-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) activity with cancer cell growth.
This receptor is more active in females, and exposure to estrogen may increase its effects.
EGFR
Epidermal growth factor (EGFR) is a protein that is often present in people with lung cancer. Mutations in the gene that produces EGFR are significantly more common in females than in males.
HER2 is a part of the EGFR group of genes present in many cases of adenocarcinoma. HER2 has links to poorer survival rates among females with lung cancer.
EstrogenResearchers have found estrogen receptors on lung cancer cells from males and females.
The same 2014 review on genes and hormones in lung cancer development suggested that estrogen encourages the growth of tumor cells. It has also demonstrated the cancer-suppressing effects of treatments that block estrogen.
Long term exposure to estrogen may affect lung cancer risk. Factors that may affect estrogen levels include:
The right treatments for lung cancer depend on the cancer's stage at diagnosis.
A surgeon can often remove small tumors that have not spread. Some doctors may recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy to support surgery and make sure that no cancerous cells remain.
If the lung cancer has spread significantly, surgery is usually not an option. At this stage, a doctor may still recommend radiation therapy to help control complications and reduce pain and discomfort.
Traditionally, there was no difference in how doctors treated lung cancer in males and females.
However, research exploring hormonal and genetic aspects of lung cancer has led to new therapies that may be more effective in females than males.
Also, medications that target specific proteins or receptors appear to be more effective at treating lung cancer in females who do not smoke.
Here, learn more about breast cancer that has spread to the lungs.
While the symptoms are similar, the rates of cancer and cancer-related death are different among males and females. More research is necessary to reduce the risk of the disease.
Lung cancer has a poor prognosis.
The ACS use 5-year survival rates to estimate a person's life expectancy after diagnosis. This figure conveys the likelihood that a person with a certain type and stage of cancer will live for at least 5 years after the diagnosis.
For people with non-small cell lung cancer, the overall 5-year survival rate is 23%. For people with small cell lung cancer, the overall survival rate is 6%.
Maintaining a healthful lifestyle and avoiding exposure to smoke can help everyone reduce their risk of developing lung cancer.
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