Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In 2018 alone, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that caused around 9.8 million deaths in 2018.
Out of all the types, lung cancer is the most common globally. Approximately 2.09 million people are being diagnosed with it annually, taking around 1.76 million lives. Detecting the early signs of lung cancer is critical for receiving the proper treatment and improving the chances of recovery.
Awareness and access to information are the first steps to preventing this disease. The infographic below will discuss everything you need to know: key statistics, lesser-known facts, and unexpected symptoms to watch out for.
Fascinating Facts About Lung Cancer
Despite how widespread the disease is, some facts surrounding the disease, its detection, and causes may not be common knowledge.
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Nonsmokers can get lung cancer from secondhand smoke, air pollution, asbestos exposure, diesel fumes, and radon gas
While 85% of lung cancer cases are caused by cigarette smoking, it can also occur in nonsmokers due to several reasons. These include secondhand smoke, air pollution, and exposure to harmful substances like asbestos, diesel fumes, and radon gas.
Nonsmokers have a 20–30% increased chance of developing lung cancer when exposed to secondhand smoke at home or in the workplace. Meanwhile, exposure to radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, with around 21,000 deaths attributed to it each year.
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Carcinoid tumor, a type of lung cancer, has a high survival rate
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X-rays are an ineffective diagnostic tool when trying to detect lung cancer at its early stages; CT scan works best
Spotting the early signs of lung cancer is critical for increasing the chances of survival. If cancer has not yet spread to other areas of the body, the five-year survival rate can reach as high as 80–90%.
More telling symptoms like persistent coughs, unexplained weight loss, constant chest pains, and shortness of breath only appear during the later stages. Using CT scans to detect lung cancer signs in high-risk patients reduces the death rate by around 20%.
However, CT scans may return false positives as scar tissue, or benign lumps can be confused with cancer. But these are still recommended for high-risk individuals because the benefits outweigh the possible risk of false positives and exposure to radiation.
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Frequency of smoking is measured in pack years
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Only 16% of lung cancers are detected in their early stage
Unexpected Signs to Look Out For
Signs of lung cancer go beyond the lungs since other parts of the body can be affected by the onset of the disease. The following are other possible signs of lung cancer:
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Swollen fingertips
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Shoulder or back pain
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Eye problems
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Hoarse voice or vocal changes
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Tiredness and fatigue
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Muscle weakness
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Stomach problems
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Mental health issues
Early Detection Can Save Lives
As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure, and this has never been truer when it comes to a terminal illness such as lung cancer. Knowing the risk factors for lung cancer and identifying its early-stage symptoms can increase the chances of survival. For lung cancer treatments and diagnoses, visit the Makati Medical Center Cancer Center today.