Regional Medical Center | Thrive for Life | Fall 2018

LUNG CANCER IS the leading cause of cancer deaths among U.S. men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. Current and former smokers are at a higher risk of getting lung cancer with age. If you smoke but quit, you can lower your risks. Less often, exposure to radon or other environmental factors contribute to lung cancer. But some people can develop lung cancer without any known risk factors—so effective prevention is unclear. Because symptoms often don’t appear until the disease is already advanced or widely spread, many lung cancers are difficult to cure, making screenings and early detection even more critical. If found early, when the cancer is small and hasn’t spread, treatment can be effective, and people have a better chance of living longer. Watch for these symptoms Sometimes lung cancer symptoms are mistaken for other problems, such as infection or long-term effects of smoking. This may delay diagnosis. Treatment can be more effective if you seek medical care when symptoms are first noticed, enabling diagnosis at an early stage. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are: ●   ● Persistent or worsening cough ●   ● Cough with blood or rust- colored sputum ●   ● Chest pain, often worse with deep breathing, coughing or laughing ●   ● Hoarseness ●   ● Weight and appetite loss ●   ● Shortness of breath ●   ● Fatigue or weakness ●   ● Persistent or recurring infections, like bronchitis or pneumonia ●   ● New onset of wheezing Should you be screened? Screening can help detect lung cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. Research shows that if everyone at high risk were screened, 12,000 lives could be saved in the U.S. every year. The best screening test is a low-dose CT scan. It can also find other abnormalities that may need attention. But screening is not for everyone. Ask your doctor if you should be screened. American Cancer Society guidelines for annual CT scan screening include those who: ●   ● Are 55 to 74 years old and in fairly good health. ●   ● Still smoke or have quit within the last 15 years. ●   ● Have a history of smoking at least two packs a day for 15 years or one pack a day for 30 years. Sources: American Cancer Society; Radiological Society of North America S ave your life. Save your lungs. Up in SMOKE November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. To find a physician at RMC, visit rmccares.org/our-doctors or call 256-231-8880 . RMC Anniston’s cancer program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Regional Medical Center 8 LUNG HEALTH