Clinton News-Record, 1984-03-28, Page 32HOPE page 8
Facts on lung cancer
Lung cancer is now one of the best known
and most feared of all diseases. There are
good reasons for this reaction. In Canada in
1982 about 9,400 people were diagnosed as
—i axing lung cancer, and 8,700 Canadians
%died of `rt: However; this situation c -
change= in the coming years t_ primarily::.
through decreasing the nursiber of cigarette
smokers.
Although other substances such as
asbestos and coal tar products can cause
lung cancer, at least 90 percent of the
disease is related to smoking. The other in-
nate
n-haled Cancerrprodheing. substax ce& ...
crease the risk for the smoker. Non-smokers
are less often affected by these substances.
Not only does smoking contribute to lung.
cancer but also to cardiovascular disease,
an even greater killer of Canadians, and to
other chronic lung diseases such as em-
physema.
Lung cancer is largely preventable, and
the best protection is never smoking. For
those who do smoke, quittingis the best
course of action. In ex-smokers the risk of
developing lung cancer falls rapidly over
the years, becoming similar to thatof non-
srrmokers. after. 10 to 15. years of .total
abstinence. Fortunately, the greatest im-
provement is in the first two to three years.
Today lung cancer is the Ieading cause of
death from cancer in men and the third
leading cause in women (and indeed soon to
Gerty Holmes, campaign chairman with the Clinton Branch of the Canadian Cancer
Society, and Steve Brown, special events chairman, also with the Clinton Branch, look over
`some of the many pamphlets which the Cancer Society produces. They got together recently
by Joani
Buchanan)
--to diss s the April farad -raising .. campaign for ..the. ClintoA area -._(Photo ne
Pamphlets available at office
Everyone has questions about cancer.
What is cancer? What are the risk factors?
How isit detected and diagnosed? What.
types of treatment are available and how
effective are they? What are the hopes for
the future?
To answer these and other questions, the
Canadian: Cancer- Sodiety'has produced a
series of pamphlets which contain
authoritative information that's easy to
read and understand.
They are free. So why not answer your
questions by asking for these pamphlets a
your local Huron County Unit office, 2
Isaac -Street, -Clinton,, phone -482-.7832<- _ ....
t
0
Pap test is important...
• from page 7
microscope. In a "cone -biopsy", the doctor
removes a cone-shaped piece of the cervix
which may not only be helpful in diagnosis,
but also as treatment. Another simple
diagnostic procedure is a "colposcopy,"
which is done in much the same way as a
Pap test. The doctor uses a special
microscope to examine the tissues of the
cervix and vagina.
If abnormal cells are found, one simple
treatment is "cryotherapy," a procedure
which `freeze -burns' away the abnormal
cells and is often done in a special clinic. It
is unlikely to have any effect on a woman's
fertility or future child bearing. Another
simple treatment is "laser cautery," where
a very fine, precise beam of focused light
vaporizes pre -cancerous cells on the cervix
or vagina.
GOOD ADVICE
If you are told that your test is normal;--
you
normal j you willnaturally feel very happy.
Remember though that the preservation of
good health requires that the test should be
repeated regularly. You should also remain
alert to any unusual symptoms such as spot-
ting after intercourse, or bleeding after the
menopause. You should see your doctor at
the first sign of anything abnormal. Keep m
mind that though the Pap test is very suc-
cessful in detecting cervical cancer, which
is found in the neck of the womb, it isn't as
effective in detecting the other major form
of uterine cancer, endometrial cancer. This
is a type of cancer found in the lining of the
uterus which is called the endometrium.
Here, the reporting of any abnormality and
regular gynecological exams will help in the
early detection and treatment.
HAS THE PAP TEST HELPED?
The mortality rate from cancer of the cer-
vix was generally on the increase until the
early 1950s. That's when the Pap test was in-
troduced to Canadians on a large scale by
the Canadian Cancer Society.' Since then
there -has -been -a significant -decline lin the
death rate from cervical cancer. One of the
most important reasons is early treatment
as a result of the Pap test,
surpass -ail -others - if -present -smoldng-irends -
in women are not altered). Therefore, it is
vital that both public and professional ef-
forts be directed at effectively controlling
this "epidemic".
WHAT IS LUNG CANCER?
Because of the different manner in which
tissue cells in the same organ system may
respond to varying types of exposure to
cancer producing agents, several different
types of cancer may be found in any organ.
This is well illustrated by the primary
-cancers---affecting -the. •,lung which are..
described below. The first three types arise
in the lining membrane of the airway in the
area most exposed to inhaled pollutants.
•Squamous cell cancer represents the
largest number of lung cancers (approx-
imately)
approximately) 40-50 percent.
•Large cell undifferentiated cancer is
found in about 15 percent -25 percent of lung
cancer cases.
•Oat cell cancers (small cell undifferen-
tiated lesions) account for 15 percent to 20
percent of all lung cancer. Because it
spreads rapidly from its characteristically
central location, surgery is rarely the best
treatment. However, encouraging results
have been obtained with chemotherapy with
this kind of lung cancer.
•Adenocarcinoma, usually arises in the
outlying. areas of .the lung. The .incidence
rate is lower (10 percent -15 percent) than
for the preceding types and the disease may
occur in non-smokers. •
.Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma arises in
even more outlying areas and accounts for
less. than 5 percent of the total number of
cases. It may also occur in non-smokers.
•Rare cancers of other types may also be
found, althoughthey too represent a very
small percentage (less than 5 percent) of
the tot 1nuanber of cases, -
CAUSES OF LUNG CANCER
As cigarette, smoking is the major cause
of lung cancertoday, it is important to
understand haw it affects the lungs. Smok-
ing causes. lung cancer in two ways. First of
all smoke inhalation damages the normal
cleansziig' pried geS by which the lung p
ror-
tects itself from injury. Thetube-like-struo*
tares:tbronachi)..which:ccnduet inhaiedair4o
time lung tissue are lined with a single layer
of cells on which lies a protective coating of
mucus. Hair-like cilia on these cells beat in
rhythmic fashion to move the mucus con-
tinually upwards from the lung, removing
any inhaled particles which have been trap-
ped in the sticky mucus. The effectiveness
of this cleansing rnechanisrn- is-destroyeel
very quickly by smoke inhalation because
the cilia disappear and the lining thickens in
an attempt to protect the delicate underly-
ing tissues from damage.
When these changes have occurred, the
lung can no longer keep itself clean. Con-
sequently, cancer -producing agents in the
cigarette smoke remain trapped in the
mucus on the surface lining of the airway
long enough to pass into the cells before
these substances can be removed by
coughing, the only cleansing mechanism
which remains. Once within the body, these
chemicals, or, their products, carr alter: the
nature of the cells slowly and progressively
until cancer develops.
Cigarette smoking is therefore a cancer -
:producing form of poollution. in the inhaled-
_air_which the abilit to
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destroy the cleansing mechanism, but a so
dangerous, . cancer -producing chemicals.
Otherinhaled carcinogens will of course
represent an additional hazard for the
smoker once the effective cleansing func-
tion no longer protects the lung. However,
when they are inhaled by a non-smoker who
has a healthy bronchial lining, there is less
risk.
It is important to realize that once the
cause of damage - tobacco smoke - is
withdrawn, the cleansing function can be
repaired: Therefore, it is never too late to
stogi sixiokuig.
The risk of lung cancer increases with the
total amount of exposure. In cigarette smok-
ing, several factors are'involved in deter-
mining the actual exposure, including the
duration of smoking, the number of cigaret-
tes smoked and the depth of inhalation. Con-
trary to previous theories, women who
share the same smoking history as men also
share identical risks.
The person at greater risk is one who has
smoked for many years (e.g., over 20
years), who has averaged more than 20
cigarettes per day and who has. inhaled free-
ly. For this person the risk may be increas-
ed by as much as 15-30 times compared to
that of a non-smoker:Starting smoking ear-
ly makes it possible for a person to have
smoked heavily for at least 20 years bythe
age of 35.
The person who has smoked only pipes or
cigars and never cigarettes, tends to "puff"
rather than inhale freely, and therefore has
less risk of developing lung cancer than a
cigarette smoker, although it is an increas-
ed risk compared to a non-§moker's. It is
important to realize that it doesn't:do much
good for cigarette smokelrs . to Switch to
pipes and cigars. Unfortunately; once the
.:habit of inhalation has -been learned as. .a
cigarette smoker, the individual who swit-
ches tends to continue inhaling when smok-
ing either pipes or cigars. Indeed,' the total
smoking exposure may actually be increas-
ed by this Change.
OTHER RISK FACTORS
As already indicated; the interference
with the lung's cleansing processes explains
the peculiar significance of cigarette smok-
ing. Other forms of inhaled pollutants, par-
ticularly repeated industrial exposures,
may increase the risk for the smoker who
has already destroyed .the cleansing
mechanism within his lung, although they
can also affect the non-smoker. This effect
has been noted in exposure to the following
at.agents: asbestos, chromium, nickel, coal
tar products and radioactive uranium.
Indeed the risk of developing lung cancer
`has been increased 50 times for •' asbestos
workers who also smoke in comparison with
the risk in the non-smoking general popula-
tion. In comparison the risk for a non-
smoking asbestos worker is only five times
greater than the risk in the non-smoking
general population. He is therefore at a
much lower risk, although it is not complete-
ly safe for the non-smoker to work in areas
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