Lung cancer can be asymptomatic in its early stages. At the same time, the main symptoms may be different and often appear at late stages of lung cancer, when they become obvious. This was told in a conversation with RuNews24.ru IA oncologist, FGBU “N.N. Petrov Oncology Center”. N.N. Petrov Oncology Center Ministry of Health of Russia Victoria Shabinskaya.
According to the doctor, chronic cough, blood in sputum, shortness of breath, prolonged hoarseness of voice, difficulty in swallowing, frequent recurrent inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) especially of one localization, chest pain, unreasonable weight loss. The appearance of these symptoms and their existence for a long time - a reason to consult a doctor for further diagnosis.
“There is no mass screening for lung cancer. In particular, fluorography, conducted annually, is not a screening method for lung cancer. Low-dose chest CT in a high-risk cohort has proven best in studies. The study would be suitable for male smokers over 55 years of age current or former with a history of smoking a pack a day for 30 years. Markers in the blood would be a convenient indicator, but at the moment none has sufficient sensitivity and specificity to detect early forms,” explained Victoria Shabinskaya.
The oncologist emphasized that smoking is a major risk factor, as smoke contains numerous carcinogens. At the same time, the probability of getting lung cancer is considered low until the age of 40, and increases by the age of 70-75, with a gradual decrease thereafter.
The classic patient is a man who has been a regular smoker for decades. The risk in this population is increased 10 to 20 times compared to never smokers.
“Duration of smoking, number of packs per day, time of onset, and type of product influence the development of the disease. The risk decreases after about 5 years of cessation, which is seen even with 'late' cessation. After 10-15 years, the risk is almost the same as in non-smokers, but it is impossible to completely reduce it to the risk of non-smokers”, - specified the interlocutor of the edition.
Passive smoking is a risk not only for lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but also for asthma and respiratory infections. It is believed that the risk of getting lung cancer in a woman whose husband smokes, increases by 1.5-3 times compared to the baseline, and increases in proportion to the intensity of smoking.