Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which estimates 9.6 million fatalities from the disease this year. The most deadly type of the disease is lung cancer as it claims the most lives at 1.76 million. The second deadliest is colorectal cancer with 862,000 deaths followed by stomach cancer (783,000 deaths), liver cancer (782,000 deaths) and breast cancer (627,000 deaths).
WHO data published in 2017 showed 11,365 deaths from lung cancer or 17 per 100,000 of population in the Philippines.
The WHO lists top five factors that render a person at higher risk of developing lung cancer. These are obesity, a diet lacking in fruits and vegetables, lack of physical activity, drinking alcohol and smoking. Tobacco use is responsible for approximately 22 percent of cancer deaths, according to WHO.
Cancers are classified by the type of tissue in which it originates or histology and by primary site or the location in the body where it developed. Histologically, the types of cancers are carcinoma, sarcoma, myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma and mixed types. Lung cancer is classified as a carcinoma or cancer that develops in the internal or external lining of the body. Most carcinomas affect organs or glands capable of secretion, such as the lungs, colon, prostate or bladder.
One may have lung cancer based on the following symptoms:
➢ Intense and persistent coughing
➢ Chest, shoulder or back pain unrelated to pain from coughing
➢ A change in color or volume of sputum
➢ Shortness of breath
➢ Hoarseness
➢ Harsh sounds with each breath (stridor)
➢ Recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia
➢ Coughing up phlegm or mucus tinged with blood
➢ Coughing up blood
The above symptoms are felt mostly in the chest area. But if the lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body like the lymph nodes, bones, brain, liver, and adrenal glands, the symptoms will be felt in other areas of the body as follows:
➢ Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
➢ Muscle wasting
➢ Fatigue
➢ Headaches or bone or joint pain
➢ Bone fractures not caused by accident
➢ Neurological symptoms, such as unsteady gait or memory loss
➢ Neck or facial swelling
➢ General weakness
➢ Bleeding
Treatments for lung cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
Multi-stakeholder groups in the Philippines are dedicated to fighting cancer and supporting cancer patients in their journey. The Hope From Within movement, for example, advocates early detection of cancerous cells before symptoms appear or when it is not yet too large or has not yet spread, having an open line of communication with one’s doctors and patient group, and being knowledgeable of treatment options. Government financial assistance through the PhilHealth and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office can also be availed by patients to support them in their treatment.
References:
http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer http://www.who.int/cancer/country-profiles/phl_en.pdf
https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/philippines-lung-cancers
https://businessmirror.com.ph/more-filipinos-dying-of-lung-cancer/ https://training.seer.cancer.gov/disease/categories/classification.html
https://www.cheatsheet.com/health-fitness/deadly-cancers-most-fatal-types-cancer.html/
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/05/08/time-for-action-to-stop-the-deadliest-diseases-in-thephilippines/
http://www.philcancer.org.ph/on-lung-cancer
https://www.lungcancer.org/find_information/publications/163-lung_cancer_101/266-symptoms
https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/immunotherapy-and-vaccines/understanding-immunotherapy
https://hopefromwithin.org/test-talk-and-take-action-baaling-lung-cancer
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