Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November is officially Lung Cancer Awareness Month. People from all over the globe join forces during the month to support individuals affected by lung cancer and spread awareness about the disease.

Cancer is the third most common cause of death in the Philippines, accounting for roughly 10% of all fatalities. The most prevalent cancer in the Philippines is lung cancer, which affected 2.2 million patients in 2020. Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death despite significant advancements in treatment.

Compared to other regions of the world, Asia has the highest incidence rate of lung cancer (59.6%). In 2020, there were 19,180 new cases of lung cancer reported just in the Philippines. In 2020, these new cases made up 12.5% of all new cancer cases.

Although smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, other risk factors include exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, occupational hazards such as asbestos and arsenic, and air pollution. One can lower their risk of developing lung cancer by giving up smoking, eliminating or minimizing exposure to secondhand smoke, and other environmental and occupational risk factors.

Chronic coughing, chest pain, hoarseness or wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, and poor appetite are common symptoms of lung cancer. Some individuals have stated that they did not exhibit any symptoms until the advanced stages of lung cancer.

According to the Philippine Cancer Society, surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are the most often used lung cancer treatment modalities.

Cancer patients must undergo several chemotherapy and radiation therapy cycles before their condition can be controlled.

Because of this, clinical trials are a crucial part of scientific research that can help develop better lung cancer treatments in the future.

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