Stop smoking, avoid lung cancer

Habit the main trigger factor for almost nine out of 10 cases

Dr Jalaa Taher and Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri at a Press conference in Abu Dhabi.— KT photo by Nezar Balout

Lung cancer has killed 48 people out of the 53 reported cases in the emirate last year, most of whom were diagnosed in late stages (stage 4) or when cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

According to Dr Jalaa Taher, manager of non-communicable disease at the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD), these numbers were the cancer registry, which only started last year, and does not entirely represent the actual cases in the emirate.

“We think it could be even higher,” Dr Taher told reporters on Wednesday. She noted that lung cancer is often difficult to identify in early stages due to its similarity with other symptoms, such as weight loss and loss of appetite, and that signs and symptoms can take years to develop.

“We urge people who have any of the following symptoms — coughing up blood, persistent or intense cough, shortness of breath, a hoarse voice, harsh sounds with each breath, and recurrent lung problems such as bronchitis or pneumonia, to immediately seek medical attention to ensure early detection and treatment,” urged Dr Taher.

Lung cancer is, for the first time, included by HAAD in the four major cancer it monitors that include breast, colorectal and cervical. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in the emirate, after breast cancer, and the main cancer killer among Emiratis and men.

Under the theme ‘Breath Life’, lung cancer awareness is being held this month as part of HAAD’s six-month ‘Live Healthy and Simply Check’ campaign. Lung cancer is the most aggressive and fatal disease, killing 90 per cent of those diagnosed in stage 4.

Smoking is the main trigger factor, responsible for almost nine out of 10 cases. Passive smoking also increases the risk for lung cancer by 20-30 per cent due to the carcinogenic content of over 4,000 chemical compounds released with tobacco smoke.

“It is very unfortunate that many people continue to die of lung cancer on a yearly basis despite the fact that the main cause is known. Our on-going cancer awareness campaign provides an effective platform for informing the public about the dangers of smoking. This is coupled with the national efforts and laws to control tobacco use in the UAE,” said Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, director of Public Health and Research at HAAD.

“The best way to prevent lung cancer is to never smoke,” Dr Taher said, adding that midwakh and shisha should also be avoided. She cited an international study that equates one bottle of shisha with 30 sticks of cigarettes.

“Smokers can still reduce their risk of lung cancer by as much as 30 to 50 per cent, 10 years after they quit smoking,” she pointed out.

In addition to tobacco use, the second leading cause of lung cancer is an odourless radioactive gas called radon, which is emitted from rock and soil and seeps up into homes and other buildings. Other contributing factors include exposure to cancer-causing substances such as asbestos, silica and diesel vapours, air pollution, family and medical histories, and suppressed immunity, among others. At present, the only way to detect lung cancer at its early stage is the new low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), which reached international concession just this September.

LDCT– a special kind of x-ray that can detect early stage lung cancer — has yet to be tried to provide evidence-based effectiveness. However, the international recommendation is for the high risk people (smokers) from 55 years to undergo an annual scan till 78 years of age.

“Screening for lung cancer save lives, however, it is not an alternative to quitting smoking,” said Dr Taher stressed.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com