Lung/Thoracic Cancer

PREVENTION

While nothing guarantees that you don’t develop cancer, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and stay healthy.

• Make healthy food choices
• Eat foods high in fiber - try to increase the amount of fiber in your diet to between 20 and 30 grams daily. High-fiber foods include whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
• Limit processed foods, sweets and salt.
• Avoid foods high in saturated fats
• Eat 5 of more servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
• Choose foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
• Don’t overeat. Watch portion size and calories.
• Limit sweets.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Limit the amount of alcohol - wine, beer or mixed drinks - to less than one drink per day, or avoid it completely.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Engage in regular physical activity, preferably 45 to 60 minutes five days per week.
• Don’t smoke.
• Get regular check-ups and talk to your doctor about regular cancer screenings.

SYMPTOMS

Lung cancer typically does not cause symptoms in its early stages. The cancer is often advanced when symptoms do occur. These symptoms may also be signs of many other lung problems, so be sure to talk to your doctor if you experience any of these.

• Persistent cough
• Coughing up blood
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis
• Chest pain
• Hoarseness
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite

RISK FACTORS

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. If you smoke, quit now. Treatment is most effective when lung cancer is diagnosed early. Talk to you doctor if you think you may be at risk for developing the disease.

• Smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes) - risk increases with how long you have smoked and the number of cigarettes smoked each day. Quitting at any age can significantly lower your risk.
• Secondhand smoke - risk may increase with daily exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Exposure to radon - an invisible, tasteless, odorless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in ground soil and rocks, radon can seep into lower floors of homes and other buildings, and can also contaminate drinking water. Radon home Test kits can be purchased at most hardware stores.
• Exposure to asbestos - Asbestos is used in home insulation, car brake linings and other products. This naturally occurring fiber can break into particles that float in the air and stick to clothing. Asbestos exposure and inhalation can increase your risk.
• Family history - Studies have shown a genetic link to lung cancer. Whether you smoke or not, risk increases is you have a parent or sibling with lung cancer.

SCREENING TESTS

Bronchoscopy
Used to look inside the trachea and large airways in the lung for abnormal areas, a bronchoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted through the nose or mouth into the trachea and lungs. Tissue samples may be taken for biopsy.

Mediastinoscopy
Under anesthesia, a tube is passed through a small incision at the base of the patient’s neck. Lymph nodes in the chest are biopsied. This procedure helps doctors to stage the tumor and determine if surgery is an option.