16 Dec, 2024
16 Dec, 2024
This article is medically reviewed by Dr. Kshitij Domadia, Consultant - Medical Oncology, HCG Aastha Cancer Centre.
The cancer care fraternity around the world observes lung cancer awareness for the entire month of November. It is sometimes referred to as lung cancer month too. The main objective of this initiative is to make people realize the importance of taking a stand in the community’s fight against lung cancer.
During this special month, attention is given to the impact of lung cancer on people and society at large to educate individuals on how they can reduce its risks, identify the symptoms early enough, and what treatments are accessible.
In different parts of the world, societies unite to exchange information that allows them to explore the possibility of lung cancer prevention and reduce the spread of fallacies and misconceptions; this assists in promoting better health for everyone as it lessens the impact caused by such diseases.
In the 1990s, lung cancer groups in America saw that there should be an entire month dedicated to educating society on different aspects of lung cancer. It has now become an international affair with backing from bodies like the American Lung Association as well as the International Association for Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).
This is important because, through this initiative, healthcare professionals get an opportunity to shed light on the hardships of lung cancer patients, the stigma associated with the disease, and the availability of screening facilities and healthcare resources, which can benefit the patients and their families.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month serves several key objectives:
Every year, more than 1.8 million people succumb to lung cancer, which makes up for about 11.4 percent of global cancer cases. In India, this disease is responsible for approximately 5.9 percent of cancer cases and about 8.1 percent of cancer deaths because it is mostly identified at an advanced stage.
Lung cancer is not only harmful to the body but also has other effects. People suffering from lung cancer experience many difficulties, such as high costs of medical care and psychological stress, as well as hard times and problems related to treatment toxicity.
Families and caregivers also experience severe mental distress while taking care of their loved ones.
Finding lung cancer early helps treatment work better. Noticing signs may make people act sooner. A few usual initial signs are:
These symptoms may mean something else; therefore, it is important to see a doctor when any of these symptoms occur.
Most individuals do not know what tests are available for detecting lung cancer or why they should go for medical examinations regularly, particularly if they belong to the high-risk group.
Education campaigns on the signs and symptoms of lung cancers promote early physician consultation and thereby improve one’s chances of timely treatments and better outcomes.
Lung cancer is a well-known disease, but its patients are usually looked down upon individually, as a large percentage of lung cancer cases are caused due to smoking. Many see lung cancer as a self-inflicted disease, and this is not true.
Smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer; genetic makeup, family history, prolonged exposure to harmful air pollutants, and even inhalation of harmful substances at work are some other contributing factors.
The purpose of Lung Cancer Awareness Month is to clarify these false beliefs by stressing that every victim must receive care from society without any form of discrimination.
Lung cancer prevention involves understanding and minimizing risk factors, making lifestyle changes, and staying informed about potential environmental hazards. The following are some of the possible ways to prevent lung cancer:
It is important to examine those who are identified as high-risk individuals. High-risk individuals are those who are associated with more than one lung cancer risk factor. These individuals can benefit from lung cancer screening that helps detect lung cancer even before it starts showing symptoms.
High-risk individuals are recommended to undergo low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans, which may reveal any anomalies that indicate lung cancer growth. Screening is beneficial as it eases the fears of those at risk and also serves to identify cancer at its early stage.
People who are between 50-80 years old, those who have been heavy smokers for years and are still smoking, and those who have stopped smoking after being heavy smokers for many years should go for an LDCT scan every year, as advised by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
However, individuals who do not fit into this group but could be at risk due to family background or some other reasons must talk to their specialist for appropriate guidelines on reducing their lung cancer risk or detecting it in early stages.
Supporting Lung Cancer Awareness Month can take various forms, each contributing to the larger goal of increased awareness, research funding, and patient support.
HCG Oncology, a leading cancer hospital in India, organizes several awareness talks, panel discussions, awareness drives, and more across the country during November. For more updates, we recommend you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month is very important in making people know more about lung cancer, ending discrimination against lung cancer patients, and encouraging healthy living across the globe. Although lung cancer is still a very serious illness, awareness campaigns give optimism and encourage society to mobilize itself; this may prevent many deaths and fatalities as well as promote prevention, timely diagnosis, and research funding aid.
Through regular awareness campaigns and involvement, we can help out and stand by those fighting lung cancer and take our society one step closer to victory over lung cancer.
Dr. Kshitij Domadia
Consultant - Medical Oncology
MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), DNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO
Dr. Kshitij Domadia is an ESMO (European Society of Medical Oncology)-certified medical oncologist (ECMO) with a special interest in the management of lung cancers, head and neck cancers, genitourinary cancers, and breast cancers. He is available for consultations at HCG Aastha Cancer Centre, a leading oncology hospital in Ahmedabad. He is an expert in dealing with all sorts of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy in its most rational manner. His expertise in dealing with molecular aspects of oncology and precision oncology is very well acclaimed by the community. Dr. Kshitij approaches his patient care with empathy, care, and compassion, in addition to his thorough academic knowledge.
