Published November 02,2024
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Lung most cancers is without doubt one of the commonest kinds of most cancers, significantly prevalent amongst males, with smoking as the principle trigger. Thanks to advances in medication, important progress has been made within the remedy of lung most cancers, now yielding promising outcomes even in advanced-stage sufferers.
Among most cancers varieties that threaten thousands and thousands of lives worldwide, lung most cancers ranks among the many most steadily encountered and causes probably the most deaths, primarily attributable to smoking. Research signifies that roughly 85% of lung most cancers circumstances are tobacco-related. The same pattern is seen in Türkiye, the place 90% of lung most cancers circumstances are linked to smoking, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s National Cancer Control Plan Report.
The excessive mortality price highlights the significance of elevating consciousness about lung most cancers. For this cause, November has been declared “Lung Cancer Awareness Month.” We spoke with Prof. Dr. Erdoğan Çetinkaya, Dean of the Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine on the University of Health Sciences, about lung most cancers.
Lung most cancers progresses insidiously. Prof. Dr. Çetinkaya notes that regardless of its prevalence, lung most cancers is a stealthy illness, with signs not showing instantly. He factors out that sufferers, typically people who smoke, are likely to overlook signs like coughing and sputum. They might solely search medical consideration when there is a rise within the severity or amount of their cough, and significantly after they discover blood of their sputum.
Unexplained weight reduction and shortness of breath are additionally important signs of the illness.
Smoking is an important threat issue. Prof. Dr. Çetinkaya explains that a rise in smoking correlates with a better threat of lung most cancers. He lists different threat components, together with publicity to radon fuel and asbestos, in addition to a historical past of power lung ailments like COPD, which additionally elevate most cancers threat.
Lung most cancers is extra widespread in males than in ladies, with the danger significantly rising in males over 50.
Pathological knowledge is essential in remedy planning. The analysis of lung most cancers performs a big function in remedy. Prof. Dr. Çetinkaya explains the strategies used for analysis: “When a patient visits a pulmonologist, they are assessed with routine tests, including a chest X-ray. If there are any suspicious findings, a CT scan is conducted. These imaging methods provide guidance. In cases where cancer is suspected, we use more advanced imaging called PET-CT, which clarifies the disease and provides further insights.”
Before beginning the remedy course of, the illness can be evaluated pathologically utilizing numerous strategies, resembling bronchoscopy or needle biopsy, to find out the suitable remedy.
The remedy course of is formed by the stage of lung most cancers. If identified early, sufferers are first evaluated for surgical remedy suitability. “If it’s an advanced stage, we apply targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy. Alongside this, we manage chemotherapy and radiotherapy according to the patient’s specific condition,” Prof. Dr. Çetinkaya states, emphasizing that the choice to manage focused medication or immunotherapy is made after additional examinations primarily based on pathology outcomes.
He notes that they’ve achieved constructive outcomes, significantly in advanced-stage sufferers, with immunotherapy and focused medication. “These treatments can reverse the disease to an earlier stage, resulting in prolonged survival. Additionally, since they generally have fewer side effects compared to standard chemotherapy, the overall performance of the patient is less affected.”
“We can observe miraculous treatment outcomes.” Treating lung most cancers is a protracted and difficult journey. How ought to sufferers navigate this course of to maintain their lives? Prof. Dr. Çetinkaya provides the next recommendation to these battling this illness: “First and foremost, we encourage them to quit smoking. Of course, this is a disease that exerts significant psychological pressure. I advise my patients not to let it affect their mental health. Our current treatment options are not what they were 5-10 years ago, when we, as doctors, may not have been able to provide hope to our patients. Today, we can observe miraculous treatment outcomes even in advanced-stage patients. Therefore, I particularly advise patients to maintain their morale, remembering that while we have these treatment options today, there may be even more available in the future.”
Source: www.anews.com.tr