Taking of Vitamin E supplements increase risk for lung cancer, according to cancer research in the University of Washington. Researchers conducted experiments on 78,000 adults over 4-year period. The lung cancer risk is especially high in smokers. This research study was published in the first issue of “American Journal of respiratory and Critical Care Medicine” which was published by American Thoracic society. Vitamins and cancer: 100 milligram increase intake of Vitamin will raise lung cancer risk by 7%. American Cancer Society is not recommending vitamin intake to prevent from lung cancer. Staying away from smoking is the best method to decrease lung cancer incidence. Vitamin D has some proven protective measures against breast, colon and ovarian cancers while foods rich in Vitamin A has shown effect in reducing cancer risk. American Cancer Society is recommending diet rich in green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits to protect from cancer. One should stay away from junk diet and refined foods to decrease cancer risk. Note: One should not take vitamin supplements with doctor’s advice. Smoking and Lung Cancer: According to a research study by University of California, Hydrogen peroxide in smoking is the major culprit for causing lung cancer. This research study was published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). Tobacco contains more than 4,000 chemical substances of which 43 substances are carcinogens. Smoking alone is responsible for 0.4 million deaths in the United States alone, according to Centre for Disease Prevention (CDC). Smoking is responsible for more than 80% of lung cancers in Americans and is the major cause of preventable deaths among Americans. Please share your opinion on harmful effects of smoking. … [Read more...]
New Lung cancer guidelines by ACCP
American college of chest physicians (ACCP) issued new guidelines on screening, preventing, staging and coping with cancer. These guidelines were published as a supplement to the special edition of the journal “Chest”, reviewed journal of ACCP. The recommendations were rigorously developed and reviewed by 100 multidisciplinary panel members, including pulmonologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, integrative medicine specialists, oncology nurses, pathologists, health-care researchers, and epidemiologists. The guidelines were further reviewed and approved by the ACCP Thoracic Oncology Network, the Health and Science Policy Committee, the Board of Regents, and external reviewers from the journal Chest. The guidelines have been endorsed by the American Association for Bronchology, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, American College of Surgeons Oncology Group, American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Asian Pacific Society of Respirology, Oncology Nurses Society, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the World Association of Bronchology. Lung cancer statistics: Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in United States. All the other 4 major cancers, colon, breast, pancreas and prostate, are causing less number of deaths than lung cancer. Lung cancer is responsible for 30% cancer deaths in men while it is at 26% in women. Tobacco use is the major cause for lung cancer. New Lung Cancer Guidelines: 1. Lung cancer screening: The ACCP advises against low-dose Computed Tomography (CT) scanning or chest X-rays to screen for lung cancer. Nodules are commonly found during screening. But to determine whether these nodules are cancerous or not requires additional testing which is invasive and expensive. This may cause risk for patient both physiologically and psychologically. Population screening for lung cancer may put patient at risk for further complications. 2. Lung cancer prevention: People at risk for lung cancer aren't advised to take beta-carotene supplements, vitamin E supplements, retinoids (vitamin A), N-acetylcysteine, selenium, or aspirin for lung cancer prevention. They have no preventive effects on the lung cancer. Vitamin A use may increase mortality among current smokers. Complementary therapies for Lung Cancer: For the first time, the ACCP has issued guidelines on the use of complementary therapies for lung cancer patients. The guidelines support the use of massage for lung cancer patients experiencing anxiety, mood disturbances, or chronic pain. The guidelines also recommend acupuncture for lung cancer patients experiencing nausea, vomiting, pain, or fatigue from their lung cancer treatment, and for those who haven't been able to quit smoking through other methods. Lung cancer patients should tell their doctors about any complementary therapies they use and avoid treatments that claim to replace conventional medical care, according to the ACCP. Electro stimulation wristbands are not recommended for managing chemo-induced nausea/vomiting, as studies show that they do little to delay nausea/vomiting compared with placebo. … [Read more...]
Lung Cancer – Causes, Symptoms and survival
All over the world, every year 1.2 million people are newly affected with lung cancer. One person is dying in every 30 seconds, due to lung cancer. This disease is increasing alarmingly and becoming a health problem not only in developed but also in developing countries. Lung cancer appears in two types: 1. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC). 2. Non – small cell lung cancer: Out of all the lung cancers 80% are of this type. It is divided into three categories. i. Adeno carcinoma: It is very common type in this category and is more commonly occurs in women. ii. Spuamous cell carcinoma: It is a rare type and occurring more in men and in aged people. iii. Large cell carcinoma: It is also a rare type and grows very rapidly when compared to other types of cancers. It involves the entire lung.Source: Medicine World. Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer: Continuous cough Hoarseness of the throat (voice) Vomiting of the blood (Hemoptysis) Loss of weight Pain in the chest Loss of appetite without any reason Shortness of breathing Fever without any specific known cause Wheezing noises in the breathing. Causes of the lung cancer: 1. Tobacco smoking: It is the main cause in more than 90% of cases. It depends on for how many years the individual is in this habit and the number of cigarettes or cigars he is smoking daily. 2. Industrial pollution: Smoke coming out from the factories. 3. Vehicle pollution: Due to the use of petrol or gasoline containing lead, as fuel in vehicles. First of all, a change takes place in structure and function of some cells and these cells grow very rapidly than the neighboring normal cells. The rapidly grown cells become abnormal in size and appearance and form a hard mass or growth by sticking to each other. If there is only one growth at the site in the lung, it is called ‘’Primary Growth or Nodule.’’ If the nodule breaks in to small particles and spreads to other parts of the body through blood circulation and these small particles begins to grow in those parts (other than lungs), then this growth is called ‘’Secondary Growth’’. This process of spreading to new sites is known a ‘’Metastasis.’’Lung Cancer Survival: If it is diagnosed in the early stage and the treatment is provided at the earliest, the patient lives for more than five years. But it often diagnosed in the late stages and the treatment becomes very difficult and the person lives only for short period. By this time the cancer is already spread to other parts of the body. Governments should ban Tobacco smoking in public places. How does lung cancer develop? … [Read more...]
