Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Düzce University Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mertay Boran said that lung cancer is currently the type of cancer that causes the most deaths all over the world.
Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Düzce University Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. Mertay Boran gave information on November 17, World Lung Cancer Day. Stating that the tumor tissue formed by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells originating from the tissues and cells that make up the normal lung is called lung cancer, Dr. Mertay Boran said, “Lung cancer consists of rapidly proliferating cells. This uncontrollably growing tumor tissue first proliferates in the lung and continues to proliferate over time, spreading into neighboring organs in the chest cage or to other organs of the body through pathways such as lymph and blood vessels.”
Stating that lung cancer is currently the type of cancer that causes the most deaths all over the world, Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. Boran emphasized that lung cancer causes 12.7 percent of all cancers and 18.2 percent of cancer deaths in the world. Pointing out that lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in men, Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Mertay Boran stated that it is the fourth most common type of cancer in women.
“The most common symptom is cough”
Drawing attention to the fact that all lung cancers are asymptomatic in the initial period, Member Mertay Boran said, “They start asymptomatic, but various symptoms appear over time. In 10 percent of patients, there may be no symptoms even in more advanced stages. The most common symptom is cough. Coughs lasting longer than 1 month should be investigated. The most common symptoms are cough, bloody sputum, expectoration and shortness of breath. It may also progress with symptoms of pneumonia such as expectoration, fever and loss of appetite. As the stage of lung cancer progresses, symptoms such as chest pain, hoarseness, headache and back pain may occur. Symptoms in lung cancer usually occur in advanced stages.”
“Long-term smokers and people with a family history of lung cancer are more at risk”
Emphasizing that cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor in the development of lung cancer, Mertay Boran said, “The number of cigarette packs smoked daily and long years of smoking significantly increase the risk. Risk factors for lung cancer in never smokers are exposure to cigarette or tobacco smoke and familial genetic factors play an important role. People who smoke for many years and people with a family history of lung cancer are more at risk.”
“When detected in the early period, it can be treated with healing”
Noting that lung cancer is a cancer that can be cured when detected at an early stage, Boran said, “The treatment of lung cancer varies according to the type of cancer, the stage of cancer and the general health status of the patient. Depending on the stage of lung cancer and the general condition and comorbidities of the patient, treatments such as surgical treatment, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy can be applied alone or in combination. In a lung cancer detected at an early stage, surgical removal of the cancer is the most commonly used method and is very important in the successful outcome of lung cancer treatment.”
Stating that surgery is decided after radiological and clinical evaluations in lung cancer, Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Dr. Mertay Boran said, “With the surgery to be performed in the treatment of lung cancer, complete recovery and long-term cancer-free life are aimed. While surgery is most commonly performed in the early stage (stage 1 and stage 2), surgery can be performed less frequently in stage 3 and stage 4. In lung cancer surgery, part of the lung (lobectomy, segmentectomy) or the whole lung (pneumonectomy) is removed. Surgery is started with a thoracotomy incision to remove the tumor. Small thoracotomy incisions, videothoracoscopy and robotic methods are widely used in suitable patients.”
“We successfully perform surgical treatment of lung cancer”
Underlining that lung cancer surgical treatment is successfully performed in Düzce University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Thoracic Surgery Clinic, Dr. Boran said, “The operated patient is discharged in a short time after intensive care and ward follow-ups. Patients who are decided to receive complementary chemotherapy after surgical treatment are also given chemotherapy in our hospital. After the surgery, we follow up the patients for 5 years. Since there is no robot in our hospital, robotic surgery is not performed.”
Emphasizing that it is important not to smoke and not to be exposed to cigarette smoke in order not to get lung cancer, Boran said, “Factors such as not using any form of cigarettes, not being exposed to cigarette smoke, regular sports activities, regular nutrition, avoiding intense sadness and stress situations that weaken the immune system are important in not getting lung cancer. We make these recommendations to our patients for long-term cancer-free life after surgical treatment of lung cancer.”
Regular screening is important for smokers after the age of 50
Emphasizing that lung cancer is the type of cancer that causes the most deaths, Düzce University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Thoracic Surgery Head Dr. Assoc. Prof. Mertay Boran said, “However, lung cancer is a treatable and preventable cancer. Long-term life can be achieved with early detection of lung cancer in smokers after the age of 50 with regular screening and successful surgical treatment.”
İHA Haber Kodu: 20241115AW329618