Lung cancer

cancer of the lungs
Cancer care
cancer diagnosis

People who smoke are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked.

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How common is lung cancer?

Below are a series of statistics on lung cancer to indicate how common the condition is and possible figures related to its treatment

1 in 241
1 in 241
1 in 241
South Africans have a lifetime risk of developing lung cancer.
2 in 3
2 in 3
2 in 3
patients are diagnosed with late stage when the disease has spread to other parts of the body.
 
 
 

Other types of cancer

Below you can find information on other types of cancer screenings that you might be interested in.

Bladder cancer

Cancer of the bladder

The fourth most common cancer in men and the twelfth most common cancer in women.

Breast cancer

Cancer of the breast

Cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts and can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.

Cervical cancer

Cancer of the cervix

If detected early, cancer of the cervix can be one of the most successfully treatable cancers...

Colorectal cancer

Cancer of the rectum or colon

Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common.

Sarcoma

Cancerous tumours of the soft tissues

A broad term for cancers that start in soft tissues like muscle, tendons, fat, lymph and blood vessels, and nerves.

Throat cancer

Cancer of the throat

A fast-growing cancer; therefore early treatment is key to having a good quality of life.

Lung Cancer

Caner of the lung

People who smoke are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked.

Melanoma

A type of skin cancer

The primary known cause of melanoma, as well as all other types of skin cancer, is exposure to ultraviolet radiation contained in sunlight.

Lymphoma

Cancer of lymphocytes

Lymphoma can be divided broadly into 2 types of lymphoma: Hodgkins Lymphoma or Hodgkins Disease (HD) and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL).

Head and neck cancers

Cancer of the head and neck

These cancers, that could include oesophageal cancer, usually begin in the cells that line the moist surfaces (mucosal membranes) inside the...

Ovarian cancer

Cancer of the ovary

Recent evidence suggests that many ovarian cancers may actually start in the cells in the far end of the fallopian...

Prostate cancer

Cancer of the prostate gland

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. The lifetime risk for prostate cancer in men in South Africa, is 1 in 18.

Stomach cancer

Also known as gastric cancer

Most cancers of the stomach are adenocarcinomas. These cancers develop from the gland cells in the innermost lining of the stomach.

Thyroid cancer

Cancer of the thyroid gland

The thyroid gland makes hormones that help regulate your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

Uterine cancer

Cancer of the uterus or womb

Most uterine cancer begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus.

 
 
 

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. Your lungs take in oxygen when you inhale and release carbon dioxide when you exhale.

People who smoke are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked. The risk of lung cancer increases with the length of time and number of cigarettes you've smoked. If you quit smoking, even after smoking for many years, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing lung cancer.

Types and stages

There are two general types of lung cancer:

  • Small cell lung cancer: Occurs almost exclusively in heavy smokers and is less common than non-small cell lung cancer
  • Non-small cell lung cancer: Is an umbrella term for several types of lung cancers that behave in a similar way. Non-small cell lung cancers include squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma
People who smoke are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer.
Non-small cell lung cancer has four main stages:
  • Stage 1: Cancer is found in the lung, but it has not spread outside the lung.
  • Stage 2: Cancer is found in the lung and nearby lymph nodes.
  • Stage 3: Cancer is in the lung and lymph nodes in the middle of the chest.
  • Stage 3A: Cancer is found in lymph nodes, but only on the same side of the chest where cancer first started growing.
  • Stage 3B: Cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the opposite side of the chest or to lymph nodes above the collarbone.
  • Stage 4: Cancer has spread to both lungs, into the area around the lungs, or to distant organs.
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has two main stages:
  • Limited stage: The cancer is found in only one lung or nearby lymph nodes on the same side of the chest.
  • Extensive stage: Cancer has spread throughout one lung, to the opposite lung, lymph nodes on the opposite side, fluid around the lung, bone marrow or to distant organs.
People who smoke are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer.

Symptoms

Lung cancer typically doesn't showcase symptoms in its early stages. Symptoms typically occur only when the disease is advanced.

Early symptoms may include:

  • Lingering or worsening cough
  • Chest pain that worsens when you breathe deeply, laugh, or cough
  • Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Headache
  • Bone pain
  • Coughing up phlegm or blood
  • Hoarseness
  • Wheezing
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss

One may also have recurrent respiratory infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis. As cancer spreads, additional symptoms depend on where new tumours form.

For example, if in the:

  • lymph nodes: lumps, particularly in the neck or collarbone
  • bones: bone pain, particularly in the back, ribs, or hips
  • brain or spine: headache, dizziness, balance issues, or numbness in arms or legs
  • liver: yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)

Lung cancer sometimes creates a substance similar to hormones, causing a wide variety of symptoms called paraneoplastic syndrome, which include:

  • muscle weakness
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • fluid retention
  • high blood pressure
  • high blood sugar
  • confusion
  • seizures

Causes

Smoking is the primary contributor towards lung cancer- both smokers and those exposed to second hand smoke. It does however occur in people who have never smoked or been around second hand smoke, with no clear reason as to why the lung cancer.

Prevention

There's no definite way to prevent lung cancer, but one can reduce your risk if you:

  • Don't smoke
  • Stop smoking
  • Avoid second hand smoke
  • Test your home for radon
  • Avoid carcinogens at work
  • Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables
  • Exercise most days of the week

Treatment

Treatment success is best when the lung cancer is diagnosed at an early stage. Before beginning treatment, it is always advised that one’s seeks a second opinion. Upon being diagnosed with lung cancer, there will be a team of doctors supporting you. This may include: a surgeon who specialises in the chest and lungs (thoracic surgeon); a lung specialist (pulmonologist); a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist.

Treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) varies from person to person and could like the following:

  • Stage 1 NSCLC: Surgery to remove a portion of the lung may be all you need. Chemotherapy may also be recommended, especially if you’re at high risk of recurrence
  • Stage 2 NSCLC: You may need surgery to remove part or all of your lung. Chemotherapy is usually recommended
  • Stage 3 NSCLC: You may require a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation treatment
  • stage 4 nsclc is particularly hard to cure. options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy

options for small cell-lung cancer (nsclc) also include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. in most cases, the cancer will be too advanced for surgery. home remedies and homeopathic remedies won’t cure cancer but may help relieve some of the symptoms associated with lung cancer and side effects of treatment. options may include:

  • massage
  • acupuncture
  • meditation
  • hypnosis
  • yoga
Treatment success is best when the lung cancer is diagnosed at an early stage.

Complications and risk factors

There's no definite way to prevent lung cancer, but one can reduce your risk if you:

  • Don't smoke
  • Stop smoking
  • Avoid second hand smoke
  • Test your home for radon
  • Avoid carcinogens at work
  • Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables
  • Exercise most days of the week

Complications and risk factors

A number of factors may increase your risk of lung cancer, such as:

  • Smoking
  • Exposure to second hand smoke
  • Exposure to radon gas
  • Exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens
  • Family history of lung cancer

Lung cancer can cause complications, such as:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing up blood
  • Pain
  • Fluid in the chest (pleural effusion)
  • Cancer that spreads to other parts of the body (metastasis)
Treatment success is best when the lung cancer is diagnosed at an early stage.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent symptoms that worry you. Should you wish to stop smoking and haven’t been able to do it by yourself, contact your doctor. They will be able to recommend strategies for quitting, such as counselling, medications and nicotine replacement products.

Homeopathic remedies won’t cure cancer but may help relieve some of the symptoms.

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