In India, Lung cancer is among the top 5 leading cancers and it is ranked the second highest occurring cancer in men. According to the latest WHO report, the number of deaths occurring due to lung cancers is more than 60,000 in India. Lung cancer is cancer that originates in the cells lining the lungs as a consequence of the rapid multiplication of lung cells. The cancerous cells may extend gradually to the lymph glands and affect the neighboring organs.
Smoking tobacco is the leading causative factor for lung cancer in India. Although smoking is the chief factor causing lung cancer. Lung cancer can be developed in both non-smokers as well due to passive smoking. There are also other significant factors that increase the risk of lung cancer, including a previous history of exposure to radiation therapy over the chest region, and a family history of lung cancer. However there are certain environmental factors such as exposure to radon gas, asbestos, inhaling arsenic or chromium fumes can also put you at greater risk of developing lung cancer because these chemicals tend to irritate the airways and raises the inflammation.
Lung cancer is categorized into two types i.e (i) Non-Small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Among the two types, non-small cell lung cancer has been presented in greater frequency. People who have the habit of heavy smoking are likely to develop small cell lung cancers, whereas non-small cell lung cancer is a wide term that covers various subtypes of cancers such as adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. A majority of the patients affected with lung cancers are diagnosed only at advanced stages because at the mild stages, people remain asymptomatic or just feel unwell. The common symptoms include persistent cough, trouble breathing, chest discomfort, wheezing, coughing with blood, extreme fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.
People affected with lung cancer can develop various complications if the cancer is unnoticed or left untreated at its mild to moderate stages. The complications are fluid accumulation in the lungs that worsens the breathing, intense pain can be felt due to the spread of cancerous cells to the bones or walls of the lungs. At advanced stages, lung cancer can strike the brain and becomes metastatic cancer. In order to increase the survival rate, health organizations are persuading people with a high risk of lung cancer to undergo an annual screening test to detect the presence of precancerous risk. The screening test for lung cancer is encouraged particularly for active smokers for more than 15 years and for those having a family history of lung cancer. A low-dose CT scan will be performed as a part of screening tests to detect the abnormalities and obtain a picture of lung functions.
To confirm the lung cancer, your oncologist may conduct a few investigations such as bronchoscopy, sputum study and biopsy to identify the type and stages of lung cancer. Followed by the diagnosis, the treatment will be planned based on the patient’s profile, demographics and response to previous treatments. The treatment for lung cancer includes surgery where the surgeon might remove a part of the affected lungs or entire lungs along with marginal tissues. Some cases, based on the category of lung cancer, your oncologist may prescribe you with radiation or chemotherapy before performing the surgery with the objective of reducing the tumor size prior to a surgery.
For treating advanced lung cancers, oncologists may plan on immunotherapy. Atezolizumab is one of the drugs that is used actively in treating advanced lung cancer. Atezolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that acts by boosting the immune system and activates the immune cells to fight against the cancer cells. Tecentriq is one such product that contains Atezolizumab as the primary constituent. It is available as Tecentriq 1200mg Injection in the market. The objective of Tecentriq 1200mg is to reduce the progression of cancer. Apart from its use in lung cancer this medicine is also indicated for treating the cancers of liver, breast and bladder. However, it is advised to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor before starting the treatment.