The deadliest type of cancer: experts gave advice on early diagnosis
Kyiv • UNN
The Shalimov Center for surgery and transplantology spoke about methods of early diagnosis of lung cancer, which is the deadliest type of cancer. The main symptoms and current treatments, including minimally invasive Thoracoscopy, are described.
Lung cancer ranks first in the world in terms of cancer mortality. Every year, more than 1.7 million people die from this disease. And the biggest problem is timely detection. The national scientific center of surgery and transplantology named after Shalimov told what you should pay attention to and what methods of treating this disease exist, writes UNN.
Most cases are diagnosed in the late stages, when only palliative care is available to patients. But if the disease is detected at an early stage, the chances of success increase significantly: more than 88% of patients live for more than a year from the moment of diagnosis.
What should alert you:
- persistent cough;
- coughing up blood;
- chest pain;
- hoarseness and shortness of breath;
- drastic weight loss and loss of appetite.
In the initial stages of lung cancer, the standard treatment method is surgery, which allows you to remove the tumor. Depending on the location and size of the tumor, various methods are used: from wedge — shaped resection, in which a small area of lung tissue is removed, to pneumonectomy-removal of the entire lung.
The modern method of minimally invasive Thoracoscopy (VATS) allows you to perform surgery by making small incisions. This approach reduces the trauma of the procedure and promotes faster recovery.
In stages II and III, combined treatment is often used, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy that destroys the tumor at the molecular level. An individual treatment plan is drawn up depending on the patient's condition and the stage of the disease.
The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get tested on time and not ignore even minor symptoms. Lung cancer can occur not only because of smoking, but also because of various carcinogens, polluted air, and genetic predisposition.
"Do not hesitate — consult a doctor. Timely diagnostics save lives, " the Center stressed.
