Cancer sucks! Lung Cancer especially sucks because it takes your ability to breathe well away. I know how that feels despite not having lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer worldwide.
In 2020 so far, 228,820 new cases of lung cancer has been diagnosed. That is 116,300 men and 112,520 women. As of now there have been 135,720 deaths that are attributed to lung cancer in 2020. That means 72,500 men and 63,220 women have lost their lives to this type of cancer in the last 9 months.
Black men are fifteen percent more likely to get lung cancer than white men. And men get it more often than women so far, although, the numbers are closing in that women are getting it more often.
Everyone thinks if you just smoke than that is the only reason you will get lung cancer. That is not the truth, that is a myth. Although, smoking damages the cells that line the lungs when you inhale a cigarette and it changes the lungs immediately. There are other things that can cause lung cancer too.
Causes of Lung Cancer
- Second hand smoke
- Radiation therapy
- Exposure to radon gas. Radon gas can be in any building that you spend a great amount of time in, your home, school, business, work, store, and any other building.
- Asbestos
- Having a family history of lung cancer
- And of course smoking
So anyone, anywhere can get lung cancer and that is why it is the most common cancer to get.
Here are some symptoms of lung cancer:
- A cough that doesn’t go away
- Coughing up blood
- Shortness of breathe
- Chest pain
- Hoarseness
- Losing weight without trying to
- Bone pain
- Headaches
If you have any of these symptoms go to your primary doctor and ask him to run of the tests that can detect lung cancer.
Tests Used to Diagnose Lung Cancer:
- Chest x-ray
- Computed tomography (CT Scan)
- Low dose CT scan
- Sputum cytology
- Biopsies
- Biomarker for stage four lung cancer
Thankfully, there are some treatments that can help you if you catch it soon enough can even extend your life.
Treatments for Lung Cancer:
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery
- Radio frequency ablation
- Chemotherapy
- Laser therapy
Here are some recommendations to prevent and to live well with lung cancer. We at Wellness Works NW believe anyone can live well even with lung cancer. Here is how:
- Don’t smoke and if you are a smoker then participate in a stop smoking program
- Avoid secondhand smoke
- Test your home or where you spend your time for radon gas
- Avoid carcinogens in your home and at work
- Eat well
- Exercise most days
- Combat stress that is in your life
- Combat anxiety that is in your life
- Get support while getting treatments
- Manage the pain. There are pain meds and non-pain meds ways to combat pain.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions or let people know what you are going through
As I stated above cancer sucks! It’s painful. It has a way of making you feel guilty because you think you didn’t take care of your body. I’m here to let you know that is not the truth, cancer can happen whether you take care of your body or not. However, taking care of your body will help you live as well as possible.
Karen at Wellness Works NW can help you quit smoking, find an eating plan that works with your needs, and come up with range of motion and therapeutic exercises to help you battle lung cancer. The WWNW Team is here to help you. If you have lung cancer we support and are rooting for you.
Here are some links I would like to share with you:
- Getting a lung cancer diagnosis: the details you’ll want to know by AstraZeneca staff
- Lung Cancer by American Cancer Society Staff
- Image Credit: Lung Cancer by Mayo Clinic Staff
- Lung Cancer by Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD and edited by Jay W. Marks MD for MedicineNet
- Lung Cancer Also called: Bronchogenic carcinoma by MedlinePlus Staff
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Jamie Holloway is a co-owner of Wellness Works NW and she is also our Research Manager and writes our Chasing Wellness with Jamie Holloway and Dear Jamie columns. Jamie is also an Independent Wellness Advocate at dōTERRA. She lives in the Portland, Oregon area. Since October 2011 she has been sharing her Journey Toward Health and Wellness with Vasculitis through her blog at JamieChasesButterflies.com. We hope you are as inspired as we are with the raw candor Jamie uses in her writing. If you would like to help support Jamie’s writing efforts please Donate now.
