CANCER - Common sense beats lung disease

The Australian Lung Foundation says 

lung diseases are largely preventable. 

So is it just a case of using your common sense?

Some of these tips might seem like obvious health precautions, and yet more than 9,100 Australians are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. Try these top three tips for lung health.

1. Don't smoke. If you do, quit

"The most important thing is to acknowledge the harm smoking is doing and try to quit," says Professor Matthew Peters, spokesman for The Australian Lung Foundation (ALF).

Smoking puts you at high risk for lung cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, chest and lung illnesses and the deterioration of asthma.

One of the deadliest parts of a cigarette is carbon monoxide, which takes the place of oxygen in your blood, robbing the lungs, heart and other organs of the oxygen they need.

"If you've tried to quit and failed, increase your motivation by talking to a free quit expert at Quitline on 13 78 48," Peters says.

2. Exercise regularly, in moderation

With regular exercise, the body's cardio-respiratory system works efficiently to transport oxygen to the muscles and tissues, providing overall strength and improving energy. Lung capacity does not necessarily improve, but a healthy level of fitness may reduce the amount of work the lungs have to do.

The lungs' most important job is to absorb oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide, an essential part of life. "Plus, every drop of blood must flow through the lungs," Peters says. "If one is damaged, the capacity of the heart to pump blood is reduced, no matter how strong the heart is."

Peters recommends 30 to 45 minutes of exercise, three to five times a week.

3. Complete the Lung Health Checklist

As lung problems are difficult to diagnose, the ALF recommends completing the lung health checklist.

Do you:

• Have a new, persistent or changed cough?
• Cough up mucus, phlegm or blood?
• Get out of breath more easily than others your age?
• Experience chest tightness or wheeze?
• Have frequent chest infections?
• Experience fatigue or sudden weight loss?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your lung health could be at risk. See your doctor with any concerns. You can find the checklist at www.lungfoundation.com.au

"I'll live a long life because of an early diagnosis"

Colette Beeston, 47, was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease three years ago.

"I grew up on a sheep and wheat station, a dusty environment full of chemicals. In my early 20s I started smoking. This increased to two or three packets a day until I quit in 2002.

"In 2008 I started getting chest infections and found it harder to exercise so I booked an appointment with my doctor.

"The results came back with early stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It can be maintained with daily medication and exercise, so I try to walk, jog or cycle daily. I should live a long life because I was diagnosed early."

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - How to prevent and treat lung cancer

Smoking is the cause of about 90 per cent of cases of 

lung cancer. When a smoker reaches the age of 50, 

their risk of developing the disease increases. 

Passive smoking has also been linked to lung cancer.


Environmental causes, such workers exposed to certain chemicals, are also thought to increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

If you are a smoker seek advice and support to quit. If you work in an environment that exposes you to harmful carcinogenic chemicals or substances, ensure that your protective clothing is in perfect working order.

Treatment depends on the type of lung cancer, where it is and how far it has spread. Options include:

• Surgery – used to move the affected part of the lung and tissue surrounding it. A wedge resection is when only part of the lobe is removed. Pneumonectomy is when the entire lung is removed.
• Chemotherapy – uses medicines to destroy cancer cells.
• Radiotherapy – uses X-rays to destroy cancer cells.
• Laser treatment – used to help with symptoms not cure cancer. These treatments control the cancer cells and unblock airways affected by a tumour.
• Medications – to help with symptoms such as pain, coughing, nausea and vomiting.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - Symptoms and diagnosis of lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death due to cancer in 

Australia but there are often no signs during the early stages

There are often no signs for lung cancer during the early stages but symptoms that can develop include:

• Coughing, or for smokers who are used to a consistent cough, a change in the cough or the colour of the phlegm (sputum).
• Aching chest.
• Shortness of breath.
• Weight loss.
• Recurring lung infections.

To diagnose lung cancer a doctor will ask about medical history and conduct a physical examination. Other tests include:

• X-rays, CT, scans and phlegm tests.
• Bronchoscopy – an instrument is passed down the windpipe to allow a specialist to see the lung tissue and take samples.
• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery – used to take tissue samples.
• Computered tomography scan – X-rays are used to build three-dimensional pictures of the body.
• Fine needle aspiration – used to get a small tissue sample.
• Mediastinoscopy – a tube inserted into the neck and to the lymph nodes to check for cancerous cells.
• Fluro-Deoxy Glucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomographey (PET) Scan – an injection of radioactive material is used to build up a picture of the body.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - The facts on lung cancer

You could be at risk of lung cancer 

even if you're not a smoker

Lung cancer kills more women every year in Australia than any other kind of cancer, and your chances of dying from it are now higher than ever – even if you're not a smoker.

Although lung cancer is usually linked to smoking, a staggering 30 per cent of women who contract lung cancer have never smoked.

In 1968, a woman had a one in 107 chance of dying from lung cancer before turning 85. As the number of cases has grown that figure is now one in 29.

Today, cancer charities are calling for more work to be done to find effective treatments and develop a comprehensive screening programme.

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is a growth in the tissue of the lung.

Professor Ian Olver, CEO of Cancer Council Australia, says: "Essentially part of the lung tissue, usually the lining of the bronchial passage, grows out of control because there is a defect in one or more genes where the cell doesn't recognise the signals to stop growing."

There are two main types of lung cancer: small cell and non-small cell.

Small-cell accounts for around 15 per cent of lung cancers and tends to start in the middle of the lungs.

Non-small cell makes up around 75 to 80 per cent of lung cancers and mainly affects the cells lining the tubes into the lungs.

Symptoms

Lung cancer is difficult to spot as it has vague symptoms, and no proper screening scheme has been developed. This means it is often not detected until it is well advanced, as often the sufferer will believe they just have a bad cough. "Because the symptoms are due to blocking the airways you get a cough, or shortness of breath or it could be pain", Professor Olver explains. The other sign is weight loss. "Lung cancer can cause you to feel unwell, and you can start loosing weight," he says.

Though if coughing continues, becomes painful or affects the breathing that's a sign to see your doctor. "A persistent cough, or coughing up blood is something that is really important to have investigated, or breathlessness that is new or persistent, or any chest pain," Dr Helen Zorbas, CEO of government agency Cancer Australia, says.

Who is affected?

Smoking is the cause of around 90 per cent of cases of lung cancer. The number of women diagnosed with lung cancer is increasing with the rise in smoking among women. It is not known why non-smoking women contract lung cancer, although research ongoing to try and work this out so more can be done to treat it.

Exposure to asbestos and passive smoking is also linked to lung cancer.

Treatment

Just 14 per cent of female lung cancer sufferers are expected to live five years beyond diagnosis. Even for those diagnosed with limited lung cancer, the average survival period is 18-24 months.

Small-cell lung cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy. If non-small cell lung cancer is confined to a part of the lung it can be surgically removed.

What can be done?

In 2007, more than 3,700 women were diagnosed with lung cancer and unfortunately only 23 per cent survived. The number one way to reduce the risk of developing lung cancer is not to smoke. "The big thing is an all-out attack on reducing smoking rates. That will have the most impact," Professor Olver says.

If you work in an environment where you're exposed to carcinogenic chemicals or second-hand smoke and asbestos, it's advised you minimise your exposure and cover up with protective clothing.

The Australian Lung Foundation wants further research and a screening scheme developed, saying there is a gap at the moment.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - Lung cancer

Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled abnormal cell 

growth in the tissues of the lung

Lung cancer occurs when abnormal cells inside your lungs grow out of control. The cells form a lump (tumour) which can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). The cause of lung cancer isn't always known but smoking is the cause of nine-in-10 cases.

There are two types of lung cancer:

• Non-small-cell lung cancer – the most common type. This affects the cells that line the main bronchi and smaller airways. It spreads at a slower rate than small-cell lung cancer.

• Small-cell lung cancer. Starts in the middle of the lungs and is often associated with smoking. This form can spread quickly and often before it's been diagnosed.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/