Some surgeries cost over a million dollars
Lung cancer is one of the most common, most dangerous, and most frequently talked about forms of cancer in the world. For decades, diagnoses and deaths continued to rise due to the lack of a known cure. However, a shift is underway. As awareness of lung cancer's causes grows, the number of new cases has been declining since 2008. Despite this progress, lung cancer remains the most common cancer in many parts of the world, and much work still lies ahead.
Intrigued? Read on to learn everything you need to know to better protect yourself and your loved ones from lung cancer.
Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in the world, just barely behind breast cancer. In the United States, it is the leading type of cancer across genders.
Lung cancer is also far more dangerous than other forms of cancer, with a far higher mortality rate. On average, lung cancer kills three times as many people as breast cancer or prostate cancer.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund, there were more than 2.4 million people in the world battling lung cancer in 2022, with more than 1.8 million people dying of lung cancer that same year.
In the United States alone, there are about 226,033 new cases of lung cancer (112,343 in men and 113,690 in women).
There are many risk factors involved in the likelihood of developing lung cancer. Most people battling lung cancer are over 60 years old, with a history of smoking.
As people age, they become more susceptible to all sorts of cancer, and lung cancer is no exception. It becomes more and more important for people to check their lungs as they grow older, especially if they are smokers or spend time around toxic chemicals.
Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer in the world by far, making up a quarter of all cancer-related deaths worldwide. Lung cancer kills more people than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. The estimated survival rate of lung cancer is only 17%.
Historically, men have been at higher risk of developing lung cancer than women, and while this is still the case, the tables are quickly turning. Over the past four decades, diagnoses in men have fallen by 29%, while diagnoses among women have skyrocketed by a staggering 102%.
Lung cancer is also one of the most elusive types of cancer, which only adds to its mortality rate. Only around 15% of lung cancer cases are caught in the beginning stages.
Once lung cancer is firmly established in the lung, those suffering will experience a steep and rapid decline in health. Over 50% of lung cancer patients will pass before the first anniversary of their diagnosis.
While it is true that lung cancer is difficult to catch in a timely manner, there are symptoms that you can look out for.
If you develop a cough that refuses to go away and becomes chronic, especially if it is severe and/or uncontrollable, it might be a good idea to get screened.
An inexplicable shortness of breath can be a telltale sign of lung cancer. If you find yourself struggling to breath properly without engaging in any rigorous physical activity, you should consult your doctor.
If your chronic cough begins to produce blood, consider it a major red flag and get yourself to a doctor immediately.
Weight loss is common in people with all sorts of cancer, as cancer cells eat up significantly more energy healthy cells. If you haven't changed your diet or exercise routine and experience dramatic weight loss, consider getting screened for lung cancer.
Chronic fatigue, while attributable to numerous ailments, can also be a telltale sign of cancer. Your body may be working overtime to fight your cancerous cells, and the cancer cells themselves can be eating up all of your energy throughout the day.
There are many personal choices and environmental factors that can increase the likelihood of developing lung cancer. Some might be easier to avoid than others, but it is always best to be aware.
Smoking is far and away the single largest contributor to lung cancer. Over 90% of lung cancer patients are smokers. Go online to find a "pack-year" calculator to see if you should go get screened immediately.
People who live in particularly polluted cities are also at much greater risk of developing lung cancer than individuals who live in cleaner cities or rural areas with healthier air.
Asbestos is also famously cancerous when inhaled. Exposure to asbestos should be avoided as much as possible.
Radon is a highly damaging chemical that occurs naturally within the earth, and can easily enter houses through the spaces between the foundation and the ground. It is very important to have your house tested for radon levels, as exposure to radon gas commonly leads to lung cancer.
Uranium is famous for being one of the most dangerous elements on the periodic table. Those who work in uranium mines or refineries are at a much greater risk of developing lung cancer.
Particle pollution is pollution composed of not only gases but also tiny particles of solid matter, like car exhaust smoke. Particle pollution can be even more damaging to the lungs than strictly gaseous pollution.
Unfortunately, lung cancer is also genetic, so even if you are good to your lungs throughout your life, there is still a chance cancerous cells will develop if you have a family history of lung cancer.
Cancer treatment has come a long way over the years, and thankfully there a number of different avenues at your disposal.
If lung cancer is caught early enough, the cancerous tissue can sometimes be surgically removed with no issue.
Chemotherapy is perhaps the type of cancer treatment considered most common by most people. Chemotherapy involves a substantial regimen of an intravenous drug cocktail that can take a severe toll on a patient's body. But it is often very effective in battling cancer cells.
Radiation therapy is also commonly used to battle cancerous cells. It can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy to give patients the best shot at recovery.
Targeted cancer therapy is a more recently developed treatment option that uses medications to target the specific proteins that control cancerous cells. Targeted therapy drugs can either be administered orally or intravenously, and are generally far less damaging on the body's healthy cells than chemotherapy.
Akeso, a lesser-known Chinese biotech company founded nearly a decade ago, shook up the biotech world with its new lung cancer treatment in September 2024.
Ivonescimab, the innovative drug, outperformed Merck’s Keytruda in a trial conducted in China. Keytruda, a top-selling drug that has generated over US$130 billion in sales, has long dominated cancer treatment in the US.
Patients treated with Akeso’s drug, experienced 11.1 months before their tumors began to grow again, compared to just 5.8 months for Keytruda, according to clinical data shared at the World Conference on Lung Cancer.
Sources: (DoSomething) (Lung Cancer Research Foundation) (American Lung Association)
Everything you need to know about lung cancer
Lung cancer is the second most common form of the disease
HEALTH Illness
Lung cancer is one of the most common, most dangerous, and most frequently talked about forms of cancer in the world. For decades, diagnoses and deaths continued to rise due to the lack of a known cure. However, a shift is underway. As awareness of lung cancer's causes grows, the number of new cases has been declining since 2008. Despite this progress, lung cancer remains the most common cancer in many parts of the world, and much work still lies ahead.
Intrigued? Read on to learn everything you need to know to better protect yourself and your loved ones from lung cancer.