Lung Cancer

What is the impact of lung cancer?

Lung cancer causes the most cancer deaths. It is the second most common cancer in the UK. The peak of deaths from lung cancer happened in 1973, with 26,000 deaths in that year alone.

Does smoking cause lung cancer?

The British Medical Research Council published important research in 1950, which showed a direct link between smoking and lung cancer. However, it was a while before the government acted to discourage smoking.

How much does lung cancer cost the NHS?

According to the government's own figures, each lung cancer patient costs the NHS more than £9,000 a year. The disease, which is mostly caused by smoking, costs far more to treat than any other cancer and has a devastating impact on the wider economy as well as a stark human cost.

What are the problems with diagnosing lung cancer?

Lung cancer can be hard to detect. People are often diagnosed late, as patients think their symptoms are something else or not serious.

How do we diagnose lung cancer?

Improvements have been made to diagnosis and there is now a specific process to diagnose lung cancer:

• ❖ CT scans work to give a detailed image about the inside of the body.
• ❖ Patients are injected with a non-toxic dye that makes the lungs show up on the scan.
• ❖ A PET-CT may be used in less advanced cases, along with a radioactive dye. Together, they are used to identify cancerous cells.
• ❖ In advanced cases, bronchoscopes are put into the lungs to collect a tissue sample for testing.

How do we treat lung cancer?

There are many treatments available, due to modern medicine and technology.

• ❖ Part or all of the lung can be removed.
• ❖ Lung transplants can be carried out.
• ❖ Chemotherapy.
• ❖ Radiotherapy.
• ❖ Scientists are researching how genetics might be used to treat lung cancer. Genetics might be able to show which treatments would be more effective for the individual.

How does the government try to prevent lung cancer?

The government has taken steps to reduce the number of lung cancer cases in the UK, by highlighting preventative measures people can take.

• ❖ In 1965, cigarette advertising on TV was banned.
• ❖ In 2005, cigarette advertising was completely banned.
• ❖ In 2007, smoking was banned in all enclosed public places and workplaces.
• ❖ In 2007, the legal smoking age was raised from 16 to 18.
• ❖ In 2012, cigarette packets were removed from display in shops.
• ❖ In 2015, smoking in cars carrying children was banned.
• ❖ The dangers of smoking are now taught in schools. Shops are not allowed to have tobacco products on display.

How has lung cancer spurred increased government intervention?

Measures have included laws that protect workers from being exposed to cancer-causing substances, such as asbestos, arsenic, nickel, and chromium. Additional laws prevent smoking in the workplace to lower the risk of lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke.