Unfortunately, lung cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers.
Out of 100 patients, only 10 to 15 patients survive for five years upon
diagnosis. Things look even bleaker for those diagnosed with stage four
with only two out of 100 patients living up to five years.
Subang
Jaya Medical Centre clinical oncologist Dr Matin Mellor says early
diagnosis for lung cancer is difficult as there are no symptoms to
indicate the presence of the disease.
Every time patients
complain about coughing or chest pain, they almost always co-relate with
an advanced stage of the disease. Some of the cases are diagnosed
incidentally when patients come in with a different health issue.
“It is difficult to detect it early because the lungs have a big
capacity. There are two lungs, so if there is any issue, there will not
be any symptoms. Even if half of the lung is destroyed, you can still
function normally.
“It is only when the tumour grows to a certain
size or reaches a critical level that the symptoms manifest
persistently, something you can no longer ignore. If the cancer blocks
the main function of the lungs, then you may have early symptoms such as
a cough.
“But if it is peripheral, you may not have any
symptoms. Only when it grows more central will you get the symptoms. But
by then the cancer will have moved to an advanced stage.”
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