Lung cancer is a serious disease, but it can be beaten. I have spent years researching and treating this disease, and I have seen how ruthless it can be, as well as the great progress we have made in fighting it.Here is what you need to know to protect yourself or someone you love.
What’s happening inside your lungs?
Your lungs aren’t just passive airbags – they’re complex factories. Every breath you take involves millions of tiny sacs called alveoli, which exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. But sometimes cells in these sacs change (often because of toxins like cigarette smoke or pollution). These changed cells behave like a factory worker gone mad, multiplying and damaging the lungs. These tumours can spread to other organs if left untreated.
There are two main types of lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common, making up around 85% of all cases. It grows more slowly and is often diagnosed early on. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is rarer, but it grows faster and is strongly linked to smoking.
What’s fueling this fire?
Smoking is the elephant in the room – accounting for 80% of cases. But let’s bust a myth: even if you don’t smoke, you can still get it. Secondhand smoke, radon gas (a silent killer seeping from soil into homes), and air pollution can all play a big role. I once treated a marathon runner who got lung cancer after years of training in a city with a lot of smog. Genetics can also load the gun; some inherited mutations can make cells more likely to be damaged.
The sneaky signs you might miss
Lung cancer is a master of disguise. Early on, it often doesn’t cause any symptoms. By the time you notice a cough that won’t go away, unexplained weight loss, or chest pain, the disease may already be advanced. One patient ignored fatigue for months, only to find a tumour had been stealing calcium from her bones. Don’t wait for obvious red flags. If you’re at high risk (smoking, living near radon, or having a family history of lung cancer), push for a low-dose CT scan. It’s like installing a security camera in your lungs and can catch intruders before they do serious damage.
Your weapons in fight lung cancer
Treatment has evolved from blunt force to precision warfare:
- Surgery remains the gold standard for early-stage tumors – think of it as removing a rotten apple before it spoils the bunch.
- Radiation has got smarter, using AI-guided beams to wipe out cancer while sparing healthy tissue.
- Chemotherapy still plays a role, but newer options like targeted therapy and immunotherapy are changing the game. Targeted drugs act like molecular snipers, taking out cancer cells with specific genetic weaknesses. Immunotherapy? It’s like handing your immune system a wanted poster – helping it recognize and attack disguised cancer cells.
How to reduce your risk
Prevention isn’t just about quitting smoking (though that’s the biggest single move). Test your home for radon – a $15 kit could save your life. Avoid idling in busy areas; diesel smoke is full of cancer-causing chemicals. And if you’ve ever thought, “I’ll just vape instead,” think again: e-cigarettes damage lung tissue in ways we’re only starting to understand.
The bottom line
Lung cancer isn’t a “smoker’s disease.” It’s a human disease. The stigma around it delays diagnosis and costs lives. If you’ve got lungs, you’re at risk – but you’ve also got power. Get screened if you’re eligible, advocate for clean air policies, and trust your gut if something feels off. Remember: Today’s treatments are light years ahead of what we had a decade ago. Survival rates for early-stage lung cancer now rival those of breast cancer. The battle is tough, but it’s one we’re increasingly winning.