EVERY hour an Australian family loses a loved one to lung cancer – it is Australia’s number one cancer killer.
Devastatingly, just 17 per cent will survive more than five years.
But there is hope.
In recent years, advances in new treatments have seen an increase in the survival rate and quality of life for people impacted by the disease.
In the last 20 years, lung cancer mortality rates have decreased more than any other cancer.
This November, to mark Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Swan Hill District Health want to raise the community’s awareness to the risk factors that can increase a person’s possibility of developing lung cancer; such as exposure to second hand smoke, exposure to air pollution, asbestos, diesel exhaust and silica.
With smoking tobacco the greatest cause of lung cancer in Australia, about 90 per cent of lung cancer cases in males and 65 per cent in females are estimated to be a result of tobacco smoking according to the Cancer Council Australia.
Tobacco smoke contains more than 7000 chemicals – over 70 of which are known to cause cancer.
When you inhale cigarette smoke, these chemicals enter your lungs and spread through your body via blood and lymph systems.
Some common symptoms of lung cancer include: shortness of breath, changes to the voice, coughing or spitting up blood, a new cough that does not go away, loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should discuss it with your GP.
Quitting smoking at any age can lower the risk of lung cancer long term and as soon as you quit smoking there are immediate and long-term health benefits, even if you already suffer from smoking-related health problems.
Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer.
Quitting smoking is hard and many smokers need several attempts to give up for good.
If you are interested in quitting smoking and not sure where to begin, your GP can assist in pointing you in the right direction or you can head to www.quit.org.au
