Lung Cancer and Men

Lung cancers are cancers that begin in the lungs rather than cancers that spread to it.

According to the American Cancer Society in 2006 there there will be about 174,470 new cases of lung cancer. Of these 174,470 new cases of lung cancer 92,700 will affect men. Lung cancer will account for 28% of all cancer deaths.

Lung cancer is a killer and survival rates are poor. There are only about 330,000 long-term survivors of lung cancer.

Approximately 60% of people who are diagnosed with lung cancer die within one year                                                                         of diagnosis, 75% die within 2 years.

Early diagnosis does increase your chances of survival. If lung cancer is found before it spreads to lymph nodes or other organs, the average 5-year relative survival rate is about 49%.

Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Common signs and symptoms of lung cancer include;

A persistent cough or a change in a smoker's usual cough

Bright red or rust colored blood in sputum

Feeling unwell, tired

Poor appetite

Weight loss

shortness of breath

Hoarseness of the voice

Pain in the chest, shoulder or back pain. Pain or a dull ache can increase when breathing in deeply

Swelling in the face and neck

Repeated pneumonia or bronchitis

Risk Factors for Lung Cancer
There are a number of risk factors associated with lung cancer-
smoking, passive smoking,
exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos, uranium, chromium, radon gas and nickel
Age-lung cancer is more common in men over 40 years old. Lung cancer is most common in the elderly.

  

The average age of people diagnosed with lung cancer is 70 years old. 3% of all cases                                                                             are found in people under the age of 45.[
Genetic predisposition- Is is believed that in some families, smokers may be more likely to develop lung cancer due to an inherited faulty gene.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

If you have been recently diagnosed with lung cancer you have a more favorable outlook because of improvements in treatment.

Article Sources:
"Lung Cancer Statistics." Lung Cancer. 7 Nov 2006. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 29 Nov 2006 <http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/statistics/>.

Payne, Sarah. "Lung Cancer." Gender and Health Research. 2004. World Health Organization. 29 Nov 2006 <http://www.who.int/gender/documents/en/lungcancerlow.pdf>.