Preventing lung cancer: eMedicineHealth
Angela Onwuzoo
The World Health Organisation data published in 2020 indicated that lung cancer deaths in Nigeria reached 1. 295 or 0.09 per cent, while the age-adjusted death rate put at 1.37 per cent of 100, 000 of the population ranks Nigeria at number 178 in the world.
Lung cancer, according to oncologists is one of the major health concerns in Nigeria and warned people against daily exposure to carcinogenic and radioactive substances, noting that they are risk factors for the killer disease which often spreads without symptoms.
They noted that besides active smokers, people working in certain professions may develop lung cancer due to their regular exposure to the predisposing factors.
The specialists stated these in separate interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, urging people to go for regular health checks.
A Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist with the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Dr. Samuel Kwis, said lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer because it spreads at the early stage without symptoms.
He said early-stage lung cancer is asymptomatic, stressing that though there is no way to completely prevent cancer, there are, however, things people can do that might lower the risk.
The oncologist said, “Lung cancer is very deadly because, at the very early stage, you don’t get to know.
“The patient may not feel any symptoms. The moment you start having symptoms, it means that it has locally advanced.
“It is an invasive disease already. So by that time, it means that it is getting advanced and it also could easily spread because of the high blood supply to the lung.
“So, it can easily spread into the blood system and affect other organs like the brain and bone.”
Dr. Kwis said the bulk of lung cancer cases were due to cigarette smoking.
He, however, said there are still a number of cases that happen in non-smokers.
“The risks are not just around smoking. Family history is also a risk factor. Some people are genetically disposed to developing cancer. Then, there is the environmental factor for passive smokers. People exposed to harmful chemicals are at risk of developing lung cancer.
“People that work in the quarry industry are exposed to dust, so also those working in mining companies that go into the tunnels for mining activities. Carpenters are exposed to wood dust. These people are at risk of developing lung cancer”, he explained.
On treatment options for lung cancer, the oncologist pointed out that lung cancer could be treated through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while also warning that late presentation of lung cancer like other cancers were dangerous, as it leads to poor treatment outcomes.
The oncologist reiterated that lung cancer could be prevented and detected early through routine health screening.
Dr. Kwis advised people experiencing chest pain, persistent cough, fatigue and weight loss to go for medical evaluation.
The World Health Organisation, says cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 – nearly one in six deaths.
According to WHO, “The most common cancers are breast, lung, colon, rectum and prostate cancers. Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.”
The American Cancer Society says not all lung cancers can be prevented but however noted, “But there are things you can do that might lower your risk, such as changing the risk factors that you can control.
“The best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer is not to smoke and to avoid breathing in other people’s smoke. Avoid radon exposure. Radon is an important cause of lung cancer.”
According to the National Center for Environmental Health in a report published on the website of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, radon is an odourless, invisible, radioactive gas naturally released from rocks, soil, and water.
It noted that radon can get into homes and buildings through small cracks or holes and build up in the air and that over time, breathing in high levels of radon can cause lung cancer.
“Radon-associated lung cancer can be prevented by limiting exposure to radon in indoor air. You can start by testing radon levels in your home and installing a radon reduction system if needed,” the centre stated.
Also speaking with our correspondent, a Consultant Radiologist with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr. Caleb Yakubu, said exposure to injurious substances and the adoption of unhealthy lifestyles predispose people to cancer.
He noted that any organ of the body could become cancerous; adding that environmental factors and genetic composition make cancers in Nigeria and Africa more aggressive.
Dr. Yakubu said cancers are difficult to treat in Nigeria because the majority of the patients present late at the hospital and that the treatment is also very expensive.
“The kind of cancers we have in Nigeria and Africa are the very aggressive ones. Many people don’t believe that cancer is real. They believe that it is caused by spiritual attack.
“Poor awareness is also contributing to the problem and makes cancer difficult to treat in this part of the world, coupled with lack of regular screening,” he said.
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