Lung cancer is a deadly disease that affects both men and women and is also the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It doesn’t just affect the individual; the impact on families can also be devastating.
However, please know that if you or someone you know is at a higher risk for lung cancer, there are steps and preventative measures that you can take to decrease it.
Table of Contents
What Is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that grows within a person’s lungs. On rare occasions, abnormal cells can grow and divide and multiply into more cells, and many of these cells together create what you call a tumor. This tumor may grow and then spread or even move to other organs or parts of the body. A tumor of this nature could be cancerous.
Causes
Tumors or abnormal cells can grow for many reasons. But the leading cause of lung cancer is smoking, and it is responsible for most fatalities within this illness. However, other factors can also put you at risk. Other factors include exposure to secondhand smoke, asbestos, pollution, and, unfortunately, even genetic factors.
Symptoms
Symptoms of lung cancer can include unexplained weight loss and an intense chronic cough along with immense pain. However, remember that everyone’s symptoms are different. Some people might not even have any symptoms, which makes it very difficult to identify. This is why doctors recommend general checkups to identify anything that’s not obvious.
How Lung Cancer Impacts Your Body and Life
Impact on Body
Lung cancer can take a significant toll on your body. You might suffer immediate symptoms of difficulty breathing, fatigue, and even bodily weakness. These symptoms can be a severe cause of discomfort and even exponentially lower your quality of life.
Lung cancer treatments can reduce your quality of life to a greater extent. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery are the most recommended forms of treatment. Chemo and radiation are measures taken to kill a tumor, but such treatments could deplete your quality of life by weakening you, causing hair loss and even loss of appetite. Surgery is a last resort option to remove the tumor rather than trying to destroy it.
Mental Effects
Lung cancer has an emotional impact on you and everyone around you, especially your family. It can be a source of anxiety or worry for patients and their families. Coping with the diagnosis itself but then also the treatment can be very emotionally challenging. During such a difficult time, speaking to mental health professionals is recommended.
Financial Impact
The cost of treatment for this type of cancer is immense. You won’t be able to continue your job, which makes another impact through lost wages. It would be best to consider payment options to protect yourself from medical debt.
How to Decrease Your Risk of Getting Lung Cancer
Quit Smoking
Yes, some people smoke a pack daily and live up to 70. However, quitting smoking is the only effective way to greatly reduce your risk of getting lung cancer. Since smoking is addictive, there are many support systems you can utilize. There are support groups, medications, and even nicotine replacement or substitute options to ease into it.
Limit Passive Smoking
Exposure to secondhand smoke greatly increases your risk of getting lung cancer. Whenever possible, avoid people smoking in closed spaces, like inside your home or cars. If you smoke, create a smoking zone outside the house to avoid any risk to the family.
Limit Exposure to Radon and Asbestos
Radon and asbestos are two other risk factors for lung cancer. Radon is a radioactive gas found in homes and buildings, while asbestos is a mineral that was once commonly used in construction materials. It is important to have your home tested for radon and to take steps to limit exposure to asbestos, especially if you have a high-risk occupation, like the employees who faced asbestos exposure at the Stone & Webster company.
Conclusion
In conclusion, lung cancer must be taken more seriously, as it affects millions worldwide. You must seek support if you or someone around you smokes to detect any symptoms beforehand. Other than that, try your best to reduce your risk of lung cancer if at all possible.