World Lung Cancer Day Spotlights Need for Critical Screenings
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 234,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year and 125,000 will die of the disease. Lung cancer is far and away the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women, making up almost a quarter of all cancer deaths. That’s more than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.
World Lung Cancer Day is an annual observance that began Aug. 1, 2012, as a way to promote lung cancer awareness and overall lung health. It’s a way to inform the public on risk factors that may lead to lung disease, especially smoking.
We asked Lary Robinson, MD, a thoracic surgeon, George Simon, MD, a medical oncologist, and Jaskaran Sethi, MD, an interventional pulmonologist, some of the most frequently asked questions about lung cancer and what Moffitt Cancer Center is doing to increase awareness about lung cancer screenings.
Q: What are the common symptoms of lung cancer?
Simon: The most common chest-related symptom is a persistent cough. If you have a cough that won’t go away, that’s a concern. Shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing up blood are also common symptoms. Outside of the chest, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite and persistent pain are also hallmarks that something is wrong and needs to be looked into.
Q: What role does an interventional pulmonologist play in lung cancer care?
Sethi: The first encounter we have is in the early stages when we’re asked to help in the diagnosis and staging. If something is found on a scan, we can collaborate with the care team to get a biopsy. We also get involved in the latter stages of the disease when symptoms persist like trouble breathing or fluid buildup.
Q: Who qualifies for lung cancer screening?
Robinson: The current recommendation is for current or former smokers who quit within the last 15 years, are over age 50 and have a 20-pack-year history. A low dose CT scan is the only way to find lung cancer early. There’s a lot of people walking around with curable disease right now and we need to get them screened before the disease progresses.
Q: How is lung cancer treated?
Simon: Treatment can depend on what type of lung cancer, small cell or non-small cell lung cancer. In earlier-stage disease we typically use surgery to remove the tumor and might use chemotherapy or radiation before or after surgery. For later-stage disease we may use targeted therapies. Each treatment is an individualized, team-based approach.
Q: What are the best ways to reduce your risk of lung cancer?
Robinson: The biggest risk factor is smoking. Your risk decreases dramatically when you stop smoking. This isn’t just for cigarettes. Cigar and pipe smoking also increases your risk. Occupational hazards like arsenic, air pollution or burning fires can also increase risk. Obesity is a big risk factor for more than a dozen types of cancer and that includes lung cancer too.
