Cancer

World Lung Day 2024: Know The Importance Of Early Diagnosis And Treatment For Lung Cancer Patients

India is witnessing the rising incidence of lung cancer more related to morbidity and mortality in patients. It is well known because of smoking, passive smoking, family history, exposure to chemicals, and genetics. Its warning signs include coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing, and swallowing problems. However, most patients tend to ignore these symptoms and silently suffer. Therefore, there is a need to have proper awareness of this type of cancer as it will help in saving lives. This is the right time to further extend the good cause of spreading awareness about lung cancer, risk factors, causes, symptoms, prevention, and the importance of early detection and treatment by educating the masses without any further delay.

Additionally, all myths related to this disease need to be removed. Campaigns, drives, and programs should be implemented to spread awareness among people about the dangers of smoking, which is one of the main reasons for lung cancer. Accurate information will go a long way in sensitizing the people, making them aware of the prevention techniques, and motivating them to report early to the hospitals for any symptoms they are experiencing, such as coughing up blood or wheezing. Lung cancer support groups can facilitate getting people together, sharing their experiences, and fighting this dreaded cancer as one. Awareness will significantly contribute to the detection and treatment of cancer. 

Remember, the sooner lung cancer is diagnosed, the sooner the prognosis: 

When we spoke to Dr Dixit Kumar Thakur, Pulmonologist, Apollo Spectra Delhi, Chirag Enclave, he said the emphasis, therefore would lie upon check-ups and screening within the population that may be at risk. Among them would be those who smoke, have a family cancer history, or those working in the chemical industry. Indeed, regular screening according to the expert would even further the chances of treating lung cancer at more treatable stages and provide success with treatment and management in patients.

Importance of early diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer patients

More options for treatment: Since this cancer arises in the early stages, it is diagnosed when there is still so much you can do. Treatment is available including surgery, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, or even new single therapies to kill cancerous cells. This will help your doctor devise the right treatment plan according to your case and the results of them.

Less aggressive treatment: If lung cancer is diagnosed in its early stage, then you will have fewer chances of intense treatment options. This indicates that patients can follow such treatment processes that carry fewer side effects of nausea, dizziness, and weakness. Therefore, recovery in these patients may take relatively a shorter period compared to other patients. The patients are motivated to regain their normal lives quickly and enhance their overall quality of life.

Awareness and education: Early detection brings the issue of lung cancer to the public's attention. It successfully inspires them not to ignore the signs of this type of carcinoma, and they end up getting benefited because of early diagnosis. Public awareness about taking care of lung health and avoiding or quitting smoking habits may keep people aware of getting checked early in case of symptoms, which may save millions of lives.

ALSO READ: Suffering from back pain? It can be a sign of heart attack, know other symptoms

10 Commonly Asked Lung Cancer Questions With Dr. Jyoti Malhotra

ConferenceEducated Patient® Lung Cancer Summit

Following a CURE® Educated Patient® Lung Cancer Summit, the City of Hope expert answered 10 commonly asked questions from patients with lung cancer.

We had an expert answer 10 frequently asked questions about lung cancer.

Following a lung cancer diagnosis, many patients wonder what the next steps are — from treatment options, next-generation sequencing, surveillance and more.

To ensure patients can always best advocate for themselves in their treatment journey and beyond, CURE® spoke with Dr. Jyoti Malhotra, director of thoracic medical oncology at City of Hope and a presenter at the Educated Patient® Lung Cancer Summit held on June 15, to answer the 10 most commonly asked patient questions in the lung cancer space. Malhotra focused on post-treatment monitoring, emerging treatment options and managing potential side effects.

After five years of surveillance and no evidence of disease, what monitoring is appropriate long term?

Malhotra: After five years, guidelines recommend continuing with annual surveillance scans. This may be more frequent if there are radiological findings that are being monitored on the scan.

Can you explain, how and if RNA sequencing is a part of next-generation sequencing in lung cancer?

RNA sequencing is preferred and recommended in addition to DNA sequencing for next-generation sequencing for lung cancer. This is because some of the genomic changes, such as fusions, are more effectively detected by RNA sequencing.

Are there any advanced treatments for interstitial nephritis that persist after treatment ends, other than just steroids? What is the best steroid to use?

Currently, the recommended treatment for interstitial nephritis is steroids as well as consultation and regular follow-up with a nephrologist for additional work-up and treatment. The most commonly used steroid in the outpatient setting is prednisone.

Can any therapies get into the brain? Does radiation open the blood-brain barrier to allow treatment in?

We know that some targeted therapies such as new-generation EGFR and ALK inhibitors (Tagrisso [osimertinib], Lorbrena [lorlatinib] and Alecensa [alectinib], for example) have good penetration across the blood-brain barrier. We do not have a good understanding of the degree to which other therapies are able to get into the brain. We do not have clear data to support that radiation opens the blood-brain barrier to other therapies.

How do you treat patients who experience pneumonitis (inflamed lung tissue)?

Pneumonitis is treated by holding the drug treatment and starting high-dose steroids. It is important to treat with steroids for more than four weeks followed by a gradual taper of dose. Patients who don't respond to steroids or have severe pneumonitis are admitted to the hospital for additional supportive care and management.

For advanced/metastatic EGFR non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), when is chemotherapy combined with Tagrisso, versus Tagrisso alone, or versus chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy?

For advanced/metastatic EGFR-mutated NSCLC, both chemotherapy combined with Tagrisso and Tagrisso alone, are approved regimens. As the approval for chemotherapy plus Tagrisso is recent, so we are still trying to understand when to use the combination therapy rather than monotherapy with Tagrisso. We still do not have survival data for chemotherapy plus Tagrisso from the trial (the phase 3 FLAURA2 trial), but we should have it in the next few years and this will also help answer this question.

LEARN MORE: Combining Drugs, Radiation Is 'Practice-Changing' for Some Lung Cancer Subsets

What is the timeline for post-radiation cloudiness to clear?

This is variable and depends on multiple factors. There is significant variability between patients.

Can you discuss what determines dose adjustments; for example, under what condition a patient can go from 80 milligrams (mg) of Tagrisso to 40 mg?

The recommended dose of Tagrisso is 80 mg. A lower dose of 40 mg is only used if the 80 mg dose is associated with significant side effects and is not tolerable. We do not know if the 40-mg dose will work as well as the 80-mg dose.

Can you discuss any updated treatment options for multifocal adenocarcinoma lung cancer?

This depends on the presentation and extent of the cancer. So it is important to form an individualized treatment plan for each patient with input from a multidisciplinary clinical team. This would include surgery, radiation oncology as well as medical oncology.

Can you discuss treatment options for patients with oligometastatic lung cancer?

The treatment for oligometastatic lung cancer is similar to the treatment for metastatic lung cancer in general. Many physicians do consider more definitive therapies such as radiation for oligometastatic cancer in addition to systemic therapy. But this approach is still under investigation in ongoing clinical trials.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don't forget to subscribe to CURE®'s newsletters here.

Seven People A Day Get Lung Cancer Diagnosis In Ireland – We Need Screening To Help Save Lives As Early Detection Is Key

IT is World Lung Day this Wednesday.

Ahead of it, the Irish Thoracic Society, which is the national body for health professionals working in respiratory care, is undertaking a campaign to urge people to think more carefully about the air that we are breathing.

2

Seven people a day get a diagnosis for lung cancerCredit: Getty Images - Getty

2

A health expert is calling for the roll out a screening programme for lung cancerCredit: Getty Images - Getty

The day comes against a backdrop of an estimated 380,000 people in Ireland living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), approximately 450,000 people living with physician-diagnosed asthma, and almost 2,700 people a year being diagnosed with lung cancer.

World Lung Day is a timely reminder to reflect on the quality of air that we breathe and for us to take proactive steps toward protecting our vital respiratory health.

Writing in The Irish Sun today, Professor Marcus Kennedy — a consultant respiratory physician at Cork University Hospital and President of the Irish Thoracic Society — says the time has come to roll out a screening programme for lung cancer and COPD.

"YOU have lung cancer." Every day in Ireland, an average of seven people receive the news no one wants to hear.

As a doctor, it never gets easier delivering a diagnosis of lung cancer you know is going to turn someone's life upside-down.

Sure, we have new targeted therapies that improve lung cancer outcomes and have less toxic side-effects.

However, you also know there's a mountain of hospital visits, tests and treatments to climb, before your patient gets to the other side.

Then there's the estimated 380,000 people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), bronchitis and emphysema.

RAIN PAIN

Double weather alert for 2 counties as Met Eireann issue Status Yellow warning

ICED OUT

Thousands WON'T get full €924 social welfare payment with backdate cash warning

CLOSING UP

Popular Irish restaurant chain announces shock closure of THREE locations

'RAN FOR MY LIFE'

Moment Irish takeaway goes up in flames & fireball rips through building

The majority of patients with COPD are current or ex-smokers and symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent cough and frequent chest infections.

Doctor explains Pneumococcal Pneumonia

However, lung cancer can present with similar symptoms, as well as coughing up blood and weight loss.

Exposure to air pollution is responsible for some 1,400 premature deaths annually in Ireland.

It is also associated with low birth weight and pre-term birth, while children living in polluted areas are more likely to suffer from coughs, wheezes and asthma.

In fact, air pollution can be as dangerous as passive smoking, with those living along a busy road carrying about the same risk as being exposed to someone smoking ten cigarettes a day.

Wednesday is World Lung Day and the Irish Thoracic Society wants you to know there are things you can do to breathe clean air and minimise your lung disease risk.

Quit smoking

Most importantly, if you smoke, seek help in quitting (quit.Ie). It's the best thing you can do to reduce your risk.

I recommend a nicotine patch every day in combination with a nicotine inhaler, chewing gum, lozenge or spray for under your tongue.

These do not give you as much nicotine as a cigarette, cigar or electronic cigarette. However, stick with them for at least three to six months.

If you don't stop completely with the first attempt, it doesn't mean you will be unsuccessful with another try.

Other things you can do are to make sure your home is well-ventilated and air your house for five to ten minutes several times a day, especially during and after cooking, taking a shower, vacuuming or cleaning.

Minimise exposure

Think how to minimise your exposure to traffic pollution, particularly if exercising during rush hour or on busy streets. Instead, seek out green spaces and parks.

If you have a car, think about alternatives to driving, at least some of the time.

Use public transport, check out car-sharing options, or walk or cycle to work if that is feasible.

Finally, think about your workplace and if you could be inhaling dusts, gases or fumes.

Government action

Consider how you can reduce or eliminate your exposure, and ensure you wear any recommended personal protective equipment. So, what can Government do?

There are delays in lung cancer care. We simply don't have enough staff, space and equipment for those presenting and, with our increasing and aging population, things are only going to get worse if we don't take action.

Those with early small tumours are curable and so we need to start rolling out a lung cancer screening programme.

About two-thirds of people present with the symptoms outlined earlier. However, one third do not have any new symptoms. The only way to find small cancers without symptoms is screening.

CT scan

Screening for lung cancer involves a CT scan in patients age 55-75, who smoked a pack a day for around 30 years.

A breathing test to diagnose COPD and smoking cessation counselling are included.

Finally, prevention is better than cure. We all need to do better in looking after our lung health.

That means adopting a healthier lifestyle, not smoking, taking your vaccines, exercising regularly and eating healthily to help control your weight.

And, hopefully, we won't find ourselves sitting across from each other in my clinic any time soon.

Horrifying video reveals the difference between a smoker's lungs and a non-smoker

---