Lung Cancer the Leading Cause of Cancer Death in China With Over 7500 Deaths Daily [Definition, Signs & Treatment]

• comments
• 
• 

In 2015 alone, around 2.8 million lives were lost due to lung cancer in China, which translates to about 7,500 people dying every day, says a study published in the American medical Journal, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

According to the research team from the National Cancer Center of Beijing, American Cancer Society and University of Sydney, "cancer incidence and mortality have been increasing in China, making cancer the leading cause of death since 2010 and a major public health problem in the country."

Although it cannot be concluded yet, lead study author Dr. Wanqing Chen said that air pollution in the country could be the leading cause of the lung cancer cases. The findings of the study were based on the data taken from 72 local places like hospitals, community health centers, vital statistics and the Civil Administration Bureau, Pulse Headlines reported.

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that originates from the respiratory organ and has been the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States for both genders. And, even if the number of casualties every year from colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers were combined, the lung cancer death toll will still surpass it, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Studies have shown that cigarette smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer compared to those who never smoke. And the risk just gets higher depending on the length of time and the number of cigarettes smoked.

The risk of lung cancer increases with the length of time and number of cigarettes you've smoked. If you quit smoking, even after smoking for many years, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing lung cancer.

The problem with this disease is that patients may not show signs and symptoms in the earlier stages but only manifest when the lung cancer is already at the more advanced stages. Some of the symptoms are a lingering cough, presence of blood when coughing, chest pain, unintended weight loss, shortness of breath, bone pain and headaches.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer has three main types--- the non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer and lung carcinoid tumor. The treatment options depend on the type of lung cancer of the patients

Other factors to consider in choosing the right treatment plan include the patient's overall health, how advanced the cancer already is and the patient's preferences. Some forms of treatment could be surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or targeted drug therapy, or a combination of those.