What You Can Do to Prevention Lung Cancer

It is estimated that the overall five-year survival rate from lung cancer is just 15%. Given this depressing statistic, it is obvious that lung cancer prevention should be of primary importance in dealing with this killer disease.So what can you do to prevent lung cancer? Here are a few things you should guard against this disease.
•Avoid smoking / give up smoking
•Minimize your exposure to second hand tobacco smoke
•Eliminate exposure to radon, asbestos and other dangerous substances
•Cut down exposure to pollution
•Take steps to avoid falling prey to diseases like tuberculosis
Smoking the big enemy
Smoking (and exposure to second hand tobacco smoke) is the number one cause of lung cancer by far. Those who have never smoked in their lives have a significantly lower risk of developing lung cancer than those who have smoked for at least some time. Also, the risk of contracting lung cancer goes down with time once you quit smoking.Some research points out that the socalled low nicotine / low tar cigarettes do not really cut down the chances of getting lung cancer.This goes contrary to all the advertising done by tobacco companies who are eager to push these "light" cigarettes on people as a "healthier" alternative to regular cigarettes.Make no mistake about it the best path to lung cancer prevention is to give up smoking completely. Even better, avoid taking up this deadly habit in the first place. Your lungs, your body and your family will thank you for it.
Exposure to second-hand smoke is bad too
Second hand smoke is formally known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke or ETS. People who inhale second hand smoke are called passive smokers. And here is the shocker passive smoking can be even more dangerous than smoking a cigarette!Why is this so? The reason is that tobacco smoke enters the lungs of passive smokers without any filtering at all. This makes it much more likely that passive smokers will develop lung cancera bigger payload of dangerous carcinogens enters their lungs.Many countries including America, Australia, the UK and others have sought to curb the menace of second hand smoke by banning smoking in public places like restaurants, buses, trains, aircrafts, etc. More and more countries around the world are taking similar steps. It is expected that these restrictions will gradually bring down the incidence of lung cancer (and many other health issues) from passive smoking.
Pollution can increase risks of cancer
Pollutants like automobile exhausts, industrial smoke, etc are known to cause several health problems. There is also some evidence that they may contribute to lung cancer. So part of your lung cancer prevention plan should be to minimize exposure to these pollutants.
Asbestos and radon exposure can lead to cancer
Both radon and asbestos are directly linked to lung cancer. They also cause other health issues. Use one of the radon detection kits available at hardware stores to measure the levels of radon in your home or office environment. If radon is present, enlist the services of an expert who can suggest corrective measures to get rid of the radon.Similarly, it is a good idea to hire a licensed asbestos inspector to go over your home with a fine tooth comb to see if it contains any asbestos. If your home is asbestos-free he will issue a certificate stating this fact.Taking sensible lung cancer prevention steps can go a long way towards ensuring that you remain free of this killer disease.
Source by ezinearticles.com

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Learn How To Prevent Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant disease commonly associated with people who smoke heavily. It is estimated that a higher number of men are suffering from this form of cancer. Lately however, the number of women affected with lung cancer is steadily catching up with the number of men affected with the disease.Diet is an important measure in preventing lung cancer. The risk of developing lung cancer for smokers and non-smokers alike are lowered when they eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Among the most important fruits and vegetables that should be included in your diet are apples, tomatoes, melons, mangoes, dark leafy greens and onions. Apple and onion are rich in cancer-fighting flavonoids. According to a study conducted in Finland, people who consume more apples are 58 percent less likely to develop lung cancer than those who do not eat apples at all.Try to add some tomato sauce in your cooking. Research shows that tomatoes, especially cooked ones, seem to exhibit protective properties against lung cancer.Taking in high amounts of beta-carotenes can also lower the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Carotenoid compounds are found in certain produce like peaches, mangoes, melon, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and green leafy vegetables. Beta-carotene supplement however should be avoided. A study conducted by a Finnish group indicated that an 18 percent rise in lung cancer cases was seen in heavy smokers who were taking beta-carotene supplements. Moreover, the National Cancer Institute researchers also stopped their study on the effects of vitamin A and beta-carotene after smokers who were taking the supplements showed 28 percent more lung cancer than those taking placebos.Another important measure in the prevention of lung cancer is a routine medical check-up. This should also be accompanied with prophylactic medicines and supplements. An x-ray is necessary especially for those people who smoke and are at the age of 50 and above. A yearly chest x-ray will be especially beneficial for those people who are at high risk of developing lung cancer. A chest x-ray is a preventive measure done to screen for lung cancer. A routine chest x-ray will enable doctors to diagnose lung cancer early so that proper treatment procedures will be implemented.Aspirin has been shown to ward off lung cancer especially when a dosage of 81 to 325 mg is taken daily. However, you should consult your doctor about the prophylactic advantage of taking aspirin since this form of therapy comes with known side effects.Selenium that is often found in multivitamin and mineral supplements also shows properties that ward off cancer especially when taken over a long period of time. Some studies show that those who are taking selenium supplements exhibit about 46 percent lower lung cancer rate.Vitamin C is also good in the prevention of lung cancer. Some studies suggest that people who regularly take 140 mg or more of vitamin C have lower risk of developing lung cancer than those who only get 90 mg or less of vitamin C dosage.Lifestyle change is also vital in the prevention of lung cancer. People who smoke should consider quitting the habit. When a person stops smoking, his lung cancer risk is lowered by almost half in 10 years.Finally, the second most common cause of lung cancer is exposure to radon, a colorless gas found in the ground. Test your home for any presence of radon. You can either buy a do-it yourself kit to check for radon which is available in your home supply stores or you can hire a professional to do it for you.
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3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatments Explained

There are two main types of cancer non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Of the two, NSCLC is much more widespread representing 80% of cases. It begins when the cells of the lung start to expand and multiply rapidly and uncontrollably. Over time this can cause a malignant (cancerous) tumour to develop in the lungs which then kills the surrounding cells as it grows. Although this condition is potentially fatal there are a number of treatments that can be used depending on how advanced the cancer has become. In this article I will be discussing three of these NSCLC treatments.
1) SURGERY:Surgery is normally used to treat cancers that have not spread beyond the lungs. There are two main types of surgery that are used to treat non-small cell lung cancer. Where possible one of the lobes of the lung is removed in a surgical process called a lobectomy. However, if the cancer has spread beyond the lobe then the entire lung may have to be removed in a process called a pneumonectomy.
2) CHEMOTHERAPY:Chemotherapy involves using medications that kill cancer cells to treat the NSCLC. It is often used when the cancer has become more advanced and surgery is no longer a viable option. However, it may also be used before surgery (to shrink the cancer cells and make the procedure easier to perform) or after surgery (to kill off any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence). Unfortunately, chemotherapy is not a perfect treatment and has a number of unpleasant, associated side effects including feelings of sickness, a poor appetite and hair loss. However, in most cases these symptoms disappear when the course of chemotherapy ends.
3) RADIOTHERAPY:Radiotherapy involves using high doses of radiation to destroy cancerous cells. It can be either internal (where radioactive implants are placed inside the malignant cells) or external (where radioactive rays are aimed at the cancerous tumour from outside the body). Like chemotherapy, this type of non-small cell lung cancer treatment is normally used when the cancer has spread beyond the lungs and surgery is not possible. However, it may also be used pre and post surgery to make it easier to perform and reduce the chances of the NSCLC coming back.
Cancer is a terrible disease and learning that you have developed non-small cell lung cancer can be very unpleasant. However, you need to remember that it can be treated especially when it is discovered in the early stages. I hope this article has given you an overview of the possible NSCLC treatments but to get the full picture you should go see your doctor. They will be able to provide you with professional advice and offer you the most suitable treatment.Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Lung cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.
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