Murmanchan warned about the main risk factors for lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and remains one of the main causes of death from cancer. About risk factors, early diagnosis and modern methods of treatment told in FederalPress.

The main risk factor is smoking. It increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer by about 40 times. The danger is not only cigarettes, but also hookahs, vapes and tobacco heating systems. The risk is also increased by passive smoking and working in hazardous industries where a person may be exposed to chemical pollutants.

One of the main difficulties of the disease is the absence of severe symptoms in the early stages. Among the alarming signs, the doctor called a change in the nature of the cough, especially in smokers, hemoptysis, chest pain and shortness of breath. When they appear, you need to consult a doctor.

A timely examination plays an important role. Computed tomography allows you to detect small neoplasms that may be invisible during fluorography. For people at high risk, in particular smokers and older citizens, regular screening with low-dose CT is being considered. Such programs are already operating in some cities of Russia.

The prognosis largely depends on the stage at which the tumor is detected, and its biological characteristics. In the first stage, the five-year survival rate can reach 90%. At the third stage, this figure is about 20-25%. For treatment, surgical operations, chemotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy, as well as radiation therapy, are used - the choice depends on the characteristics of the tumor.

Do not postpone preventive examinations and do not be afraid of examinations due to radiation exposure. It is the planned diagnosis often allows you to detect the disease before the onset of symptoms, when the chances of successful treatment are much higher.

Earlier, “MK in Murmansk” reported that in Murmansk, a child with leukemia was first given modern immunotherapy.