Research and Critical Analysis 9

1

Discussion

Globally, lung cancer is the most common type of cancer that contributes to most deaths. Sharma et al. (2018) reported that the disease led death of more than 1.7 million in 2015, particularly due to cigarette smoking. According to Villanti et al. (2013), use of tobacco leads in terms of contribution to lung cancer, with more than 70 percent of men and about 55 percent of women dying of lung cancer as a result of smoking. A news article by Grady (2015), points out that more than 42 million Americans smoke, which includes 21% of men and 15% of women. The article reveals that the rate of death among smokers is two or three times higher than non-smokers, and they are highly likely to die more than ten years before those who have never smoked. These statistics clearly indicate that smoking behavior significantly differs based on sex. In particular, men smoke more pipes and cigars compared to women, which explains why men are potentially predisposed to a greater risk of developing cancer due to smoking. Substantial physiological differences based on gender also lead to sex differences when it comes to the impact of smoking, especially for women. In particular, women have a different airway behavior and smaller lung size compared to men, which increases their vulnerability to lung cancer even when they smoke less than men do. Sharma et al. (2018) also noted that the rate of lung cancer mortality due to smoking is higher among men than women. Therefore, it is inevitable that cigarette-smoking related lung cancer is extremely common and a serious killer to the victims. The population that is most vulnerable includes men and women who smoke, including those exposed to second-hand smoking.

Mitigation

Medical research has been unable to establish a sure way that may be utilized in preventing and mitigating lung cancer. However, there are numerous ways that each individual may need to practice as a way of lowering the risk of developing lung cancer. For individuals who have never smoked, there is a need to ensure that they avoid starting, which helps in ensuring that they keep their lungs healthy, which lowers the risk of developing lung cancer (Villanti et al., 2013). For smokers, it is important to stop smoking. Smokers may need to consult a healthcare professional for stop-smoking aids and strategies that they leverage to quit smoking. Secondhand smoking is also a major cause of lung cancer. Therefore, individuals who work or live with a smoker should urge him/her to smoke outside or quit. It is essential to avoid areas where people usually smoke such as restaurants and bars. More importantly, non-smokers should avoid carcinogens at their places of work, which includes avoidance of exposure to toxic chemicals. Above all, people who seek to keep lung cancer at bay should ensure that they exercise regularly and eat a diet full of vegetables and fruits.

Recommendation

Lack of exercise, being overweight, and smoking are critical risk factors that increases the susceptibility of an individual to lung cancer. For those who have already developed smoking-related lung cancer, it is recommended that they quit smoking the soonest possible (Villanti et al., 2013). A study conducted by Sharma et al. (2018) revealed if a patient with lung cancer continues to smoke during radiotherapy or chemotherapy, their rate of survival is severely compromised compared to those who quit smoking. This is because continued smoking after an individual is diagnosed with lung cancer is associated with such effects as reduced cancer treatment efficacy, impaired healing, increased risk for cancer recurrence, diminished general quality of life, impaired healing, and decreased survival. According to O’Keeffe et al. (2018), after lung cancer is diagnosed early, quitting smoking can go a long way in helping victims survive longer as it serves to prevent the disease becoming worse or delays return of the cancer. In addition to quit smoking, smoking-related cancer patients should consider such treatment alternatives as targeted therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, or a combination of the alternatives. Surgery helps in the removal of the cancer tissue while chemotherapy leverages specific medicines aimed at killing or shrinking the cancer. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy rays in killing the cancer, with targeted therapy involving use of drugs to hamper the spread or growth of cancer cells.

References

Grady, D. (2015). Smoking’s toll on health is even worse than previously thought, a study finds. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/health/smokings-health-toll-worse-than-previously-thought-study-says.html

O’Keeffe, L. M., Taylor, G., Huxley, R. R., Mitchell, P., Woodward, M., & Peters, S. A. (2018). Smoking as a risk factor for lung cancer in women and men: a systematic review and meta-analysis.  BMJ open,  8(10), e021611. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021611

Sharma, A., Bansal-Travers, M., Celestino, P., Fine, J., Reid, M. E., Hyland, A., & O’Connor, R. (2018). Using a smoking cessation quitline to promote lung cancer screening.  American journal of health behavior,  42(6), 85-100. https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.42.6.9

Villanti, A. C., Jiang, Y., Abrams, D. B., & Pyenson, B. S. (2013). A cost-utility analysis of lung cancer screening and the additional benefits of incorporating smoking cessation interventions.  PloS one,  8(8), e71379. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0071379