Lung cancer is a multiplication of abnormal cells in the lung. It usually presents in the form of a lung nodule, which is a small area of abnormal tissue in the lung.
Lung cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of death attributable to cancer in Quebec: more than 10,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer and more than 6,000 die from lung cancer every year. One of the main reasons for this large number of deaths is that lung cancer is often diagnosed late, when it has started to spread to other organs. This often reduces the chances of a cure, despite treatment.
Causes of lung cancer
Smoking
Smoking (inhaling tobacco smoke) is responsible for more than 85% of lung cancer cases. The number of years of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked influence the risk of developing lung cancer.
For people who quit smoking, the risk of lung cancer decreases significantly over the years, but is still higher than for people who never smoked.
Air quality
People exposed to air contaminated with certain toxic substances have a higher risk of developing lung cancer. These pollutants are as follows:
radon (a radioactive gas naturally present in the ground)
carcinogenic substances such as silica, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, etc. Workers in rubber manufacturing plants; iron and steel foundries; chimney sweepers, asphalt paving and roofing companies are more at risk
Personal/family history and genetic background
People who have had lung cancer in the past are more likely to develop lung cancer again.
Some lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and chronic bronchitis, can scar the lungs and increase the risk of developing lung cancer.
People who have a first-degree family member (father, mother, brother, sister or children) who has been diagnosed with lung cancer have a slightly higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Radiation exposure
People who have received radiation therapy to the chest have an increased risk of developing other types of cancer, including lung cancer. These people are at even greater risk if they smoke.
People at risk
In general, people with a higher risk of lung cancer are people who smoke or who have smoked cigarettes daily for at least 20 years continuously or on and off.
Symptoms
Lung cancer usually develops without any noticeable symptoms, especially early in the disease. If symptoms do occur, they may include:
blood in the sputum that is coughed up or unusual sputum
new or unusual cough
new and persistent shortness of breath
new chest pain
new debilitating pain or pain that wakes you up at night (for example, in the chest, ribs or shoulders)
unintentional weight loss of more than five kilograms in the last 12 months
Seek medical advice
If you have one or more of these symptoms, call Info-Santé 811 or consult a doctor or specialized nurse practitioner (SNP) immediately. These symptoms are not necessarily caused by cancer. Other health problems may also be the cause.
As part of the lung cancer screening process, I QUIT NOW services are offered to people:
who smoke or who quit smoking less than six months previously
whether or not they decide to participate in screening
These services will remain accessible throughout the screening process for people who participate. People who are eligible for screening who do not wish to receive these services can still participate in screening.
In addition, you can reduce the risk of developing lung cancer by:
avoiding exposure to known toxic substances (for example asbestos or second-hand smoke) without adequate protection
Lung cancer screening aims to detect cancer at an early stage, before symptoms of the disease appear. This increases the chances of being able to treat and cure the disease. If you are interested in screening, go to the page Information about lung cancer screening.
Treatment
When someone is diagnosed with lung cancer, a special oncology team will work out a personalized treatment plan with them. This treatment plan may vary depending on different factors, such as the stage of the cancer and the person’s health status. The treatment plan will also take into account the wishes and concerns of the person with cancer, as well as their family. It may include one treatment or a combination of treatments.
For a smoker, stopping is the first treatment and an essential part of quality cancer care. The decision to quit smoking when diagnosed with cancer is one of the best things a person can do to improve the treatment and their quality of life.