LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of deaths due to cancer. It accounts for 32% of all deaths in men and 25% in women. Lung cancer commonly occurs between 55 to 65 years of age. Smoking tobacco remains the major cause for lung cancer. Whether it is in form of cigarettes or cigars, it is harmful. Before it was common among men as smoking was considered to be an exclusively masculine activity. With emancipation of women world wide, some women have picked up bad habits, smoking being one of them. Thus when women smoke, they become more susceptible to harmful effects of smoking including lung cancer, as their bodies are less capable of detoxifying toxins of tobacco. It is not only smokers, but people staying in contact with them who are exposed to tobacco smoke carry risk of developing lung cancer. Apart from smoking, chronic damage to the lungs as caused by occupations such as working in coal mines, people exposed to asbestos dust, e.t.c. also increases risk of lung cancer. Even women who are exposed to smoke over a long period while cooking over charcoal or wood, face the risk of developing chronic lung disease and later on lung cancer. Exhaust fumes from cars which contaminates the environment in big cities is also responsible for increase in incidence of lung cancer. A person having lung cancer usually complaints of chronic cough associated with profuse mucoid expectoration. At times if a blood vessel is involved, he may have bloody sputum also. The cough increases in severity and frequency. As these symptoms mimic any chronic respiratory illness like chronic bronchitis or pulmonary tuberculosis, diagnosis of cancer is usually delayed. As both chronic bronchitis and lung cancer occur in chronic smokers, it is difficult to know when the person has developed malignancy. Because of this delay in diagnosis, the cancer usually becomes advanced and difficult to treat. Once cancer in lungs has started, it can spread to the surface of the lung and also another lung. The tumor can become softened in the middle. Thus it further mimics the complicated lung diseases like pleural effusion, pneumonias and lung abscess. This malignancy can further spread to other body parts like back bone, thyroid, kidneys, brain, e.t.c. damaging them and making the patient further sick. Suspicion of lung cancer is raised when the patient does not respond to the treatment given for other conditions. Diagnosis is confirmed by X-ray, sputum examination and other relevant diagnostic tests. Once diagnosed, usually the cancer is fairly well spread to have any benefit from surgery. The affected person is usually given chemotherapy or radiotherapy for palliative relief but these are also hazardous and provide only some relief in symptoms. Life and death does not lie in human hands, but a person suffering from lung cancer usually suffers much while alive. It is wise to prevent lung cancer occurring in individuals. Prevention of smoking is the first step necessary for it. World health organization has urged to ban all advertisements of cigarettes, which unfortunately has not been implemented on a wide scale. These advertisements show macho men and even liberated women smoking their brands of cigarettes. They are impressive enough to lure gullible youngsters. The warning saying, “cigarette smoking is hazardous for health”, is printed in small letters at the bottom and usually not heeded to. Another step needed is ban on smoking in public places. Government of Rwanda has rightly taken this step. The government has also introduced smokeless stoves to reduce exposure to harmful fumes. People working in places where there is chronic exposure to harmful dusts like that of asbestos are advised to use face masks to minimize inhalation of toxic dust. What more is needed in any place is a check on the exhaust fumes of motor vehicles. Luckily Rwanda has enough natural greenery to absorb these toxic fumes and it is not much a problem here. Screening of individuals who carry a high risk of lung cancer will help in early detection and treatment. Extensive public education about the hazards of smoking will go a long way in bringing lung cancer down. E-mail –rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk