Prevention and treatment of lung cancer - what you can do to reduce the likelihood of the cancer disease.
It is estimated that 1 in 9 people in India will suffer from cancer in their lifetimes, according to the National Cancer Registry Programme, India. The estimated incidence rate for cancer disease in 2022 is 14,61,427. Lung and breast cancer are the leading sites of cancers for men and women respectively. Lung cancer is the leading cause for cancer death worldwide.
These statistics are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the severity of cancer disease in India. India’s cancer burden is set to increase by 47% till 2040. Cancer treatment will include awareness and prevention to prepare for an increase in the incidence of cancer in society.
Things you need to know about preventing lung cancer
The first and foremost step to tackling cancer is prevention. There are several lifestyle choices that a person can make that can effectively lower their chances of the cancer disease as a whole.
Do not smoke/ use tobacco: Do not smoke or chew tobacco. If you are a smoker or a tobacco user, you can still reduce your chances of cancer by quitting tobacco. Even second-hand smoke is dangerous and everyone is advised to avoid inhaling second-hand smoke.
Exercise regularly: Make it a part of your lifestyle to include an exercise routine. Reduced risks for colon, breast and reproductive cancers have shown to be linked to exercise.
Eat healthy: Eat whole foods and avoid processed foods, excess red meat and saturated fats.
Limiting alcohol intake: Excess alcohol is linked to several kinds of cancer, including breast cancer.
Family history: Family history of cancer can increase the probability of cancer.
Reduce exposure to carcinogens: Exposure to asbestos, arsenic, nickel and chromium are known to be linked to a higher probability of lung cancer.
Screening tests: It is recommended to screen for cancers beyond a certain age that can catch the cancer early. Those above 50 years, with a recent history of smoking or who are smoking can also be screened for lung cancer.
Cancer treatment
Oncology is the field of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of tumors and cancer. There are different ways that a doctor would go about addressing the cancer disease depending on the severity of the cancer. Many times it is a combination of two or more methods of cancer treatment.
Surgical oncology: This could involve taking a biopsy to diagnose the tumor, removal of a portion of cancer or tumor or tissue that is suspected to be cancerous for prevention and even to support other forms of cancer treatment. It is common to have surgical oncology to be a part of lung cancer treatment. Mastectomy is a surgery that removes all breast tissue as a way to prevent or treat breast cancer.
Chemotherapy: This involves the use of medicine to kill the cancer cells in the body. Chemotherapy with surgery is often used for lung cancer treatment and breast cancer.
Radiation oncology: Radiation therapy is used to kill the cancer cells in the body. This cancer treatment is usually coupled with surgery or chemotherapy to kill remnant cancer cells and tissue and prevent cancer from recurring. In some cases of cancer where it is not possible to surgically remove all the cancer, radiation therapy is used to control the spread of cancer and alleviate symptoms.
If you or someone you know needs to speak to a cancer specialist, you can visit the best cancer hospital in Palam Vihar, Gurgaon. The Park Hospitals have their state-of-the-art cancer treatment hospital in Gurgaon and is a well known breast cancer treatment hospital as well. Book an appointment with the Oncology Department and get screened for cancer.
