November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and needless to say, it is another killer that people are not aware of enough. It is important to highlight here that India’s struggle with lung cancer is somewhat different from other countries, as the range of causes (besides the obvious one of tobacco smoking or chewing) is slightly more diverse. To shed some light on the healthcare situation surrounding lung cancer, we have collected 10 of the most pertinent facts about lung cancer globally and in India.

1. Lung Cancer is the most common cancer in the world.
2. In India, at least 70,000 new cases are diagnosed each year (according to the GLOBOCAN 2012 report), however estimates based population based cancer registry data from the Indian Cancer Society from Maharashtra (in the year 2011) assume the actual number is closer to 150,000 new cases every year. Fortis Chennai puts the number even higher at 250,000-300,000 cases detected every year.
3. It is the most common cause of cancer death for men and the seventh most common for women, after breast, cervical, colorectal, ovarian, stomach, and lip/oral cavity cancer. However, in western countries women and men are almost equally affected, which is commonly attributed to varying smoking habits of men and women between the two geographies.
4. If you smoke 25 cigarettes a day you are 25 times more likely to get lung cancer than if you never smoked. Importantly, an individual’s smoking habit also adversely affects non-smoking family members, especially young children.
5. It is never too late to stop smoking. Quitting at any age reduces your risk of getting lung cancer. However, your best chances at avoiding lung cancer are if you don’t smoke at all as, according to Fortis Chennai, 60% of lung cancer cases still occur in former smokers. 20% of cases occur in current smokers and the other 20% in non-smokers.
6. Other risk factors prevalent in India, like air pollution (outdoor and indoor), the exposure to fumes from burning biomass fuel, poor diets, or possibly even the prevalence of infectious pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis are speculated to contribute to India’s lung cancer burden. However, science still has a limited understanding of the exact impact these risk factors have on lung cancer incidence.
7. Contact with substances found in the workplace or environment, such as asbestos and diesel exhaust fumes will increase the risk of lung cancer.
8. Despite scientific and clinical advances in diagnosing and treating lung cancer over the years, only little progress has been made in improving survival rates. Since the primary risk factor for lung cancer is known to be tobacco smoking and chewing (inferring 80-90% of total risk), both habits that can be overcome with or without assistance from healthcare providers, the overall focus to improve lung cancer related issues should be on prevention!
9. Lung cancer treatment can be managed effectively using Liquid Biopsy assays. Liquid biopsies are simple blood samples taken from patients at the beginning of and through the duration of cancer therapy. These blood samples are put through sophisticated analyses and can provide an accurate picture of how your tissues are responding to the given treatment.
10. Symptoms to look out for include:
    • A cough that won’t go away
    • Feeling breathless for no reason
    • Unexplained tiredness and lack of energy
    • Chest infection(s)
    • Chest or shoulder pains
    • Weight loss that you can’t understand
    • Blood in your spit
    • Coughing up blood
    • Hoarseness in your voice
    • A cough that you always have that changes or gets worse

Being aware of these symptoms and seeking medical help early on are key to saving your own life or that of a loved one as early diagnosis significantly improves the chances of survival.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is in no way intended to replace expert medical advice. Always discuss any concerns with your doctor.