A visit to the doctor on time takes time

Have you been coughing for more than 3 weeks even though you took treatment?

It's time to make an appointment with your doctor.

A visit to the doctor on time takes time

Have you been coughing for more than 3 weeks even though you took treatment?

It's time to make an appointment with your doctor.

What is Lung cancer?

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs.8 Unlike normal cells, cancer cells grow out of order or control, destroying the healthy lung tissue around them. These types of tumors are called malignant tumors. When cancer cells spread, they impede their functioning correct use of body organs.

In Romania, lung cancer ranks first, both in number of cases and as number of deaths among men9 and becomes a common cause of mortality among women, ranked 4th, after breast, colorectal and cervical cancer.10

Are there more types of lung cancer?11

There are two main types of lung cancer:

  • small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) - is the most common type, accounting for 80% of the total number of lung cancer cases
  • small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

What is Lung cancer?

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs.8 Unlike normal cells, cancer cells grow out of order or control, destroying the healthy lung tissue around them. These types of tumors are called malignant tumors. When cancer cells spread, they impede their functioning correct use of body organs.

In Romania, lung cancer ranks first, both in number of cases and as number of deaths among men9 and becomes a common cause of mortality among women, ranked 4th, after breast, colorectal and cervical cancer.10

Are there more types of lung cancer?11

There are two main types of lung cancer:

  • small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) - is the most common type, accounting for 80% of the total number of lung cancer cases
  • small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

Why is it important to determine cancer type?

Depending on the type of lung cancer diagnosed, the oncologist determines the treatment plan.
Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, therapies targeted, immunotherapy, radiotherapy12

Why is it important to determine cancer type?

Depending on the type of lung cancer diagnosed, the oncologist determines the treatment plan.
Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, therapies targeted, immunotherapy, radiotherapy12

Early detection

Many people are reluctant to consult their family doctor when they "just cough".1
A persistent cough, however, could be a sign of a serious lung disease, such as lung cancer.2 It is important not to ignore this symptom and to talk to your doctor, as lung cancer can affect anyone. Most people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older, but lung cancer can also be diagnosed in younger people.3 Although smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer, non-smokers are also at risk of developing this type of cancer.2 Globally, approximately 25% of lung cancer patients have never smoked.4

Early detection of lung cancer can significantly increase survival chances and can improve patients' quality of life, with the patient having more treatment options.5

If you have been coughing for more than 3 weeks, even though you took a treatment, or if you have other lung cancer symptoms, make an appointment with your GP for a consultation.6 Also, if you notice that someone you know has a persistent cough, encourage them to make a doctor appointment.

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?1

If you experience any of these symptoms:

  • A cough that does not go away or gets worse
  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)
  • Chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing
  • Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that don’t go away or keep coming back
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Feeling tired or weak

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?1

If you experience any of these symptoms:

  • A cough that does not go away or gets worse
  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)
  • Chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing
  • Infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that don’t go away or keep coming back
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Feeling tired or weak

Especially if you are over 40 years old and you smoke or have quit smoking for less than 15 years in follow up with your family doctor.

The family doctor can also recommend certain tests and investigations, if there is a suspicion of lung disease you will be referred to the specialist for an centain diagnosis.

Some patients have no symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer. Symptoms usually appear as the disease progresses. It is very important to monitor our body and see a doctor regularly for routine tests.

Especially if you are over 40 years old and you smoke or have quit smoking for less than 15 years in follow up with your family doctor.

The family doctor can also recommend certain tests and investigations, if there is a suspicion of lung disease you will be referred to the specialist for an centain diagnosis.

Some patients have no symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer. Symptoms usually appear as the disease progresses. It is very important to monitor our body and see a doctor regularly for routine tests.

Lung cancer or COVID-19?7

Some symptoms of lung cancer may overlap with those manifested of Covid-19 disease, but here's how they differ.

Lung cancer or COVID-19?7

Some symptoms of lung cancer may overlap with those manifested of Covid-19 disease, but here's how they differ.

Features more suggestive of lung cancer

  • Unexplained persistent cough
  • Unexplained persistent breathlessness
  • Fatigue of duration > 4 weeks
  • Persistent or recurrent chest infection

They may have a insidious onset and are persistent.

Features more suggestive of COVID-19 infection

  • Dry cough
  • Breathlessness
  • Fever
  • Myalgia
  • Loss of smell
  • Loss of taste

Acute onset.

What do risk factors mean?

A risk factor is an event, characteristic, or behavior which increases the likelihood that a person will be affected by an illness. Different cancers have different risk factors, which can be demographic, genetic, behavioral or environmental. It is important to talk to your GP about the risk factors associated with lung cancer, and for him to assess whether you are part of the population at risk. Depending on the factors, your doctor will recommend specific tests or investigations.

What do risk factors mean?

A risk factor is an event, characteristic, or behavior which increases the likelihood that a person will be affected by an illness. Different cancers have different risk factors, which can be demographic, genetic, behavioral or environmental. It is important to talk to your GP about the risk factors associated with lung cancer, and for him to assess whether you are part of the population at risk. Depending on the factors, your doctor will recommend specific tests or investigations.

What are the risk factors for lung cancer?

Smoking is considered the main risk factor for lung cancer. People who smoke cigarettes are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than people who do not smoke. This risk increases with the number of years of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. The more years a person smokes and the more cigarettes smoked each day, the more risk goes up.14

Are there other risk factors?

  • Exposure to radon, a radioactive gas - the second most important risk factor for lung cancer
  • Exposure to a chemical environment in which substances such as asbestos or arsenic are present
  • Air pollution
  • Passive smoking
  • Pre-existing lung disease
  • family history of lung cancer

Are there other risk factors?

  • Exposure to radon, a radioactive gas - the second most important risk factor for lung cancer
  • Exposure to a chemical environment in which substances such as asbestos or arsenic are present
  • Air pollution
  • Passive smoking
  • Pre-existing lung disease
  • family history of lung cancer

References

  1. American Cancer Society, Lung Cancer Signs & Simptoms https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html
  2. Cancer Net, Lung Cancer - Non-Small Cell - Introduction, ttps://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lung-cancer/view-all
  3. American Cancer Society, Lung Cancer Statistics https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accesat martie 2021
  4. David Planchard, Benjamin Besse, European Respiratory Journal 2015 45: 1214-1217; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00046915
  5. Depistarea cancerului pulmonar, European Lung Foundation, https://europeanlung.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Lung-Cancer-Screening-Factsheet_RO.pdf. Accesat martie 2021
  6. Birt L, Hall N, Emery J, et alResponding to symptoms suggestive of lung cancer: a qualitative interview studyBMJ Open Respiratory Research 2014;1:e000067. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2014-000067
  7. Roy Castle Foundation, Differentiation-of-the-Cs-in-lung-cancer_-Cancer-vs.-COVID.pdf (roycastle.org)
  8. http://www.scumc.ro/cancerul-pulmonar/. Accesat martie 2021
  9. Globocan, Estimated age-standardized incidence and mortality rates (World) in 2020, Romania, females, all ages https://gco.iarc.fr/ Accesat martie 2021
  10. Globocan, https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/642-romania-fact-sheets.pdf .Accesat martie 2021
  11. https://www.lung.org/ . Accesat martie 2021
  12. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lung-cancer/lung-cancer-treatment
  13. INSP„Stilul de viață sănătos și alte intervenții preventive prioritare pentru boli netransmisibile, http://insp.gov.ro/sites/1/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Ghid-Volumul-1-web.pdf
  14. https://www.lungcancer.org/find_information/publications/163-lung_cancer_101/273-risks. Accesat martie 2021