Nearly one lakh lung cancer cases are diagnosed every year: Major risk factors
Lung cancer is one of the top ten cancers in India, caused by smoking, air pollution and dietary factors. As cases continue to rise, early detection and preventive measures are vital.
In short
- Every year around one lakh new cases of lung cancer are reported in India
- Precautionary measures include avoiding smoking, reducing radon ingestion, and eating a nutritious diet
- Early-stage lung cancer is often curable, while advanced stages require a combination of treatments
Lung cancer has emerged as one of the top ten cancers in India, with nearly one lakh new cases diagnosed every year. While the disease primarily affects individuals who smoke, rising air pollution and dietary factors also play a major role.
“Smoking in any form can cause lung cancer, whether you are an active smoker or a passive one,” said Dr Vibhu Kawatra, an allergist and pulmonologist in New Delhi.
In India, smoking cannabis and inhaling radon, a significant indoor pollutant, are unique risk factors. Dr. Kawatra suggested that smoking should be avoided, but inhaling radon can be minimized if the living space is properly ventilated.
When it comes to lung cancer, the dangers of airborne particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10) cannot be ignored.
While PM10 can be avoided by wearing a mask, PM2.5 can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause DNA mutations, which may lead to cancer.
Dr Kawatra highlighted the need for a nutritious diet that can help prevent lung cancer or any type of cancer. “A diet rich in fibre, vitamins A, C and E, fruits and other micronutrients is good for cellular function. It also prevents abnormal growth of cancer cells in the body,” he said.
Other precautionary measures include recognizing the warning signs. These include a severe cough or coughing up blood, shortness of breath and chest pain that is chronic, as well as a family history of cancer, smoking, chewing tobacco and air pollution.
The diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer involves several modalities, including advanced imaging techniques such as PET CT scan and brain MRI.
Early-stage cancers (stages 1 and 2) are often operable and potentially curable, whereas more advanced stages (stages 3 and 4) require a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Dr Shyam Agarwal, Chairman of Medical Oncology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, “To identify actionable targets, NGS – Next Gen Sequencing is done. Potent EGFR, ALK, ROS drugs are readily available. If no target is found, chemotherapy and immunotherapy are used. With multi-modality therapy, currently half of the patients can be cured.”
As the number of lung cancer cases continues to rise in India, awareness about risk factors, early detection and preventive measures is of utmost importance.