Dr. Rajeev Gupta
In India, more than 96,000 men and 81,000 women are diagnosed each year with cancer of the lungs and bronchi. It is also interesting to note that in India, the number of Lung Cancer incidences seen in men is decreasing while those in women is increasing and is haunting the nation with a steady increase by 15-20% new case every year. The explained that Lung Cancer is not easy to diagnose as it profoundly gets confused with more commonly occurring diseases like Asthama or Tuberculosis.
It attacks everyone, from those who abuse their body with an unhealthy lifestyle or with a history of smoking and to those who don’t. We have approximately 12 crores smokers in India as per world health organization accounting for 12% of the total world smoking population. Apart from this, India is a developing country, there’s been rise in Industrialization and infrastructure that resulted in a massive amount of air pollution in terms of Suspended Particle Matter (SPM) which also account for increase in lung Cancer in India.
There are alarming studies being conducted at various places of the country and especially at parts of the country where cancer rate is highest in the world. The excessive use of tobacco, over usage of insecticides, rise in the pollution levels and industrial wastes etc. forecasts that yet even bigger tsunami of the century is yet to come in the form of Lung Cancer. So the question remains, are we really equipped to face this disaster, which can almost be forecast?
The answer which all of us are still trying to discover.
While cigarette smoking is an undisputed cause of lung cancer, not all cases of lung cancer occur in smokers or former smokers . Radon Gas exposure is the second-leading environmental cause of lung cancer death, after tobacco smoke , and the leading cause of lung cancer death for nonsmokers .Radon exposure is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States & approximately 14% of the 300,000 annual lung cancer cases in the United States are attributable to radon .The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that radon causes between 6% and 15% of lung cancers worldwide (WHO 2005). Radon occurs naturally outdoors in harmless amounts, but sometimes becomes concentrated in homes built on soil with natural uranium deposits.
Facts about Lung Cancer
Radon can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, and collect indoors. It can also be released from building materials like gypsum board (sheetrock), concrete block, mortar, sheathing paper (tarpaper), wood paneling, and most insulation, or from water obtained from wells that contain radon. Radon levels can be higher in homes that are well insulated, tightly sealed, and/or built on soil rich in the elements uranium, thorium, and radium. Basement and first floors typically have the highest radon levels because of their closeness to the ground. As per the inhalation of tobacco smoke from other smokers sharing living or working quarters commonly called passive smoking is an established risk factor for the development of lung cancer, Non-smokers who reside with a smoker have a 24% increase in risk for developing lung cancer when compared with other non-smokers. Since all smokers do not eventually develop lung cancer, it is likely that other factors, such as individual genetic susceptibility, may play a role in the causation of lung cancer. Numerous studies have shown that lung cancer is more likely to occur in both smoking and non-smoking relatives of those who have had lung cancer than in the general population. The toxic air released from vehicles, industry, and power plants, can raise the likelihood of developing lung cancer in exposed individuals, many experts believe that prolonged exposure to highly polluted air can carry a risk for the development of lung cancer similar to that of passive smoking.
Prevention
Don’t smoke. If you’ve never smoked, don’t start.
Stop smoking. Stop smoking now. Quitting reduces your risk of lung cancer, even if you’ve smoked for years.
Avoid secondhand smoke.. Avoid areas where people smoke, such as bars and restaurants, and seek out smoke-free options.
Test your home for radon. Have the radon levels in your home checked, especially if you live in an area where radon is known to be a problem.
Avoid carcinogens at work. Take precautions to protect yourself from exposure to toxic chemicals at work.
Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables. Choose a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Food sources of vitamins and nutrients are best.
Exercise most days of the week. If you don’t exercise regularly, start out slowly. Try to exercise most days of the week.
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