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How to prevent lung cancer

by Simone McClenaughan | 15 Dec 2015

Without thinking, the average adult takes a breath every five seconds. Lung cancer can rob you of your breath – and your life. We discover how you can reclaim your life, protect your lungs and breathe easy. 

Lung cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in Australia. However, it is the one that results in the most deaths. Professor Kwun Fong, a thoracic physician for Lung Foundation Australia, explains that this is because unfortunately the cancer is usually detected too late in its development for successful treatment.

“As with all cancers, prevention and early detection are key for treating and surviving lung cancer,” Professor Fong says. “Lung cancer is commonly a disease of people aged 65 plus,” says Professor Fong. There’s a one in 16 chance of developing it by the time you hit 85. The average age of diagnosis is 70 for men and 69 for women. 

Causes and carcinogens

“Lung cancer is a result of gene mutations. Carcinogens cause DNA mutations which enable cells to develop into cancer cells. Cancer cells actually grow faster than any other cells in the body’s organs,” explains Professor Fong. 

“Carcinogens such as tobacco smoke, asbestos exposure, air pollution, and diesel fumes increase your risk of developing lung cancer.

Additionally, a family history of cancer, especially lung cancer and chronic lung diseases may also increase your risk” says Professor Fong. Smoking causes 87 per cent of lung cancers, and leading a healthy lifestyle can actually prevent up to a third of all cancers. 

A cough or cancer

Professor Dianne O’Connell is the Senior Epidemiologist in the Cancer Research Division at Cancer Council NSW. She outlines the main signs and symptoms of lung cancer.

“There are three main symptoms. They are a persistent cough, which is classified as one you wake up with and go to bed with, is annoying and lasts longer than three weeks (this length is to rule out any acute respiratory infections); a change in your regular cough such as the sound or frequency; and if you are coughing up blood.” 

Professor O’Connell says that additionally, there are some more general symptoms to keep in mind including an ongoing chest infection, chest and/or shoulder pain, shortness of breath, a hoarse voice, weight loss or loss of appetite, and difficulty swallowing. Looking at that list, you may think that just about everyone you know has a potential sign of lung cancer.

Professor O’Connell agrees: “Lung cancer symptoms can be very vague. Some of these symptoms may be caused by other conditions or from the side effects of smoking. Even so, it is important for you to be concerned enough about your health and these symptoms to go and see your GP immediately, but not alarmed and panicked into thinking that you have lung cancer because you have a few of the potential signs of it,” she says and adds, “Unfortunately, it is because of the vagueness of the symptoms that people take too long to visit their doctor – they tend to assume it is nothing – and so the disease is often discovered when it is advanced and has spread to other parts of the body.” 

Catch it early for a cure

Lung cancer is diagnosed after a number of investigations including a non-invasive physical check-up and medical history with your GP. Things your GP are likely to ask when assessing your lung cancer risk is if you’re a current or former smoker, if you live with someone who smokes, if you have a family history of lung cancer, or if you’ve been exposed to asbestos during your lifetime. 

Your GP then may want you to have a chest x-ray or other imaging procedures such as a CT scan to help spot any shadows in your lungs. Further testing may include examining a sputum (spit/phlegm) sample, a bronchoscopy which allows the doctor to see inside the airways, or a needle biopsy of the abnormality.

Usually a diagnosis of lung cancer requires a biopsy where a sample of tissue is taken from the lung and examined under a microscope.

Treatment is decided on a case-by-case basis that considers your individual needs and diagnosis. This depends on a number of things such as the type of lung cancer cells including whether it is the primary cancer, a secondary cancer (it has spread from cancer in another part of the body such as the breast or bowel), or if it is a cancer of an unknown primary (it has spread from somewhere else in the body, but it is not clear where from); the stage or how advanced the cancer is; the severity of the symptoms; and the person’s general health. 

“Lung cancer should be treated by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals,” states Professor O’Connell. This might include your GP, a surgeon, medical, oncologist and radiation oncologist.

“Depending on your case, treatment may include surgery to remove the affected part of the lung. While this may have side effects such as leaving you short of breath, it is really the only chance of cure,” says Professor O’Connell. “This is why early detection is so important, as if the cancer is small and hasn’t spread, the removal may be more successful and improves the chances of survival.” Additionally, different combinations of chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be used to treat the cancer. 

“There can be stigma that lung cancer is a self-inflicted disease,” reveals Professor Fong. “While there are risk factors and lifestyle choices that increase your risk of developing the disease, lung cancer doesn’t discriminate. People who smoke may develop lung cancer, but non-smokers can develop it too. Whatever the case, no one deserves lung cancer and everyone needs and deserves treatment and help with it.”