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Lung cancer is a form that is quite difficult to treat. Simply put lung cancer is the cancer affecting the lung tissues making it difficult for exchange of gases in the respiratory system. It is very elusive and hence difficult to diagnose. The symptoms are not out of the ordinary and hence can mislead the physician.
The patients suffer a lot and treatment is limited and localized. Prevention is the best form of cure as far as cancer is concerned since all forms of cancer are torturous to the mind and body of the individual. Prevention is easier where lung cancer is concerned. Avoiding risk causing substances, the chances of developing it can be reduced or its occurrence can be prolonged.
Things That Can Be Done To Prevent Lung Cancer Are:
Quit Smoking:
The first and the foremost factor is, of course, smoking. This is the main cause of lung cancer. An estimated 87% deaths occur due to lung cancer caused by smoking. Make your body tobacco free. This is the best defense possible against lung cancer. Kicking the habit might be difficult but certainly would be better than suffering from cancer of the lung. Another aspect of smoking is the effect it has on people exposed to the smoke.
Secondhand smoke or the smoke emanating from cigarettes, cigars and pipes is carcinogenic. This smoke is known to contain more than sixty carcinogens or agents that can trigger the process of cancer development. These carcinogens cause changes in cell division and development. The abnormal divisions give rise to excess number of cells which do not have regulatory processes governing them and hence causes malfunctions leading to malignancies.
Eat fruits and vegetables:
Nature itself has provided us with the chemicals required to fight cancer. Antioxidants and flavanoids are substances that aid in repairing damaged cells and helps in protecting the nuclear material or the DNA. These substances are available in abundance in fruits and vegetables. Consuming five portions of fruits and vegetables in a day will go far in keeping cancer at bay. People who are physically active and fit have lesser chances of being succumbed by cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight would be beneficial.
Avoid Exposure to radon:
Radon is a substance that is highly carcinogenic. Exposure to radon and such other radioactive gases can cause lung cancer. Radon is a byproduct of uranium degradation. This is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas which cannot be detected easily. Homes built over natural deposits of uranium can have radon in them and exposure to this is dangerous. Homes should be checked and test for the presence of this deadly carcinogen.
Avoid Exposure to pollutants in workplace:
Pollutants like gasoline, arsenic, beryllium, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, mustard gas, coal products, chloro methyl ethers, diesel exhaust are carcinogens or agents causing cancer. Workplace can expose you to these agents and it should be reduced or limited in concordance with the employer.
Chemoprevention:
Many cancer specific natural drugs can some times reverse the process of cancer. These drugs can be taken to prevent cancer from occurring in patients with history of the condition. The area dealing with chemoprevention is under active clinical research.
To Your Health!
Did you realize that approximately 10% of lung cancer patients have never in their lives smoked cigarettes? When asked about lung cancer prevention, most people will tell you that the easiest way to prevent lung cancer is to never take up the dangerous habit of cigarette smoking. And while it's true that smoking often leads to lung cancer, the fact that 10% of lung cancer patients are not now nor have ever been smokers cannot be easily explained.
Cancer in its simplest definition is the potential end result of a mutation or alteration that occurs within a gene. And sometimes, there is just no way to stop (or prevent) a gene from changing, nor is there a way to control the genes you inherit. When one gene in particular, the epidermal growth factor receptor gene, undergoes a mutation, the mutation is such that it basically gives the green light for cancerous cells to grow and also to divide. Such a situation is totally unavoidable.
Unfortunately, taking lung cancer prevention steps won't eliminate your chance of developing today's number one cause of death. That's not to say that it's okay to continue certain risky behaviors. You should take whatever steps you can to control the risks in your life. Not smoking, wearing a seatbelt, driving responsibly, and avoiding drugs and alcohol are all ways to control risk.
The Risks You Can Control
Even though lung cancer prevention is not guaranteed, there are ways to keep the risks associated with developing lung cancer to a minimum. Let's take a look at some environmental factors.
Probably the best lung cancer prevention tip (besides not smoking) is to stay away from sources of passive smoke like burning cigarettes and exhaled smoke. Second-hand smoke in the long-term can do as much damage as first-hand smoke. When you breathe second-hand smoke, those dangerous chemicals still enter your respiratory system, although in weaker levels. If you live with a smoker or you spend a lot of time with one, ask that person to smoke outdoors or somewhere where you won't have to inhale their smoke.
Try to stay away from the environmental pollutants that can cause lung cancer. These include asbestos, coal, soot, arsenic, nickel, chromium and radon. Use of asbestos has been banned in the United States, however it is still present in buildings and materials that were manufactured before its use was banned and in countries that have not passed such legislation. Anytime there is the possibility that you might come into contact with asbestos or the other pollutants listed above, be sure to wear a mask and take whatever other protective measures you can to limit the amount you inhale.
Moving to the suburbs may not prevent lung cancer, but there is evidence of a correlation between cites with major air pollution problems and increased rates of lung cancer.
Life is full of choices, but when it comes to lung cancer prevention the choices you make could mean the difference between life and death, so choose wisely!