Lung cancer: the high health price for legacy of smoking

“Sadly an increasing number of Australian women are paying the price for taking up smoking at a time when tobacco companies ruthlessly marketed their products as a socially acceptable habit. For smokers today the proven link to lung cancer makes it more important than ever to consider your future health and wellbeing by quitting smoking. MBF encourages you to take that positive step – talk to your doctor or call 13QUIT - getting help will significantly improve your chances of success.” MBF’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Christine Bennett.

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is cancer of some of the cells in part of the lung. It usually starts in the lining of an airway.

There are different types of lung cancer and they are classified according to the type of cell affected. There are two main types – small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer makes up around 15% of lung cancers and is very strongly linked with smoking. It tends to start in the middle of the lungs. Because it usually spreads early, surgery is not often used for this type of tumour, and it is best treated with drugs (chemotherapy) usually combined with radiotherapy.

Non-small cell lung cancers affect the cells that line the tubes into the lungs (main bronchi) and smaller airways.

What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms of lung cancer can include one or more of:

Persistent cough
Breathlessness
Blood-streaked phlegm
Pains in the chest
Recurring pneumonia
Recurring bronchitis. ¹

Sometimes people present to their doctor with little more than tiredness and weight loss, because most of these symptoms are common in smokers anyway and they can become used to them.

How is lung cancer treated?

Treatment of lung cancer is based on a number of factors, such as your overall health, the type and stage of your cancer, and your own preferences. Treatment options typically include one or more treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or targeted drug therapy.

Why is lung cancer important?

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer in Australia. 1 Up to 9 out of 10 cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking. The incidence of lung cancer relates in part to the high number of people who smoked during a time when cigarettes were sold with little or no curbs on tobacco marketing. Even so, there remains an unacceptably high percentage of people who have taken up smoking or continue to smoke, despite the incontrovertible evidence now available.

Am I at risk of getting lung cancer?

As with many cases of cancer generally, the cause of lung cancer is not known in all cases. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer but it is not known why one smoker develops lung cancer and another does not. Smoking causes up to 90% of lung cancer. ²

The younger someone starts smoking, the higher the risk of getting lung cancer. 1 in 10 smokers will develop lung cancer. Passive smoke causes lung cancer but the exposure to carcinogens is less, so although the risks are less than if you yourself smoke, you are still exposing others, often people close to you, to the risk of developing lung cancer.

Other risk factors include:

Gender – female smokers seem to have a higher chance of getting lung cancer than males who have smoked the same amount
Exposure to second hand smoke
Exposure to asbestos – your risk is even higher if you smoke and you have been exposed to asbestos
Family history
Excessive alcohol use ³

Can I still get lung cancer if I have stopped smoking?

Smoking remains the greatest risk factor for lung cancer. Your risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day and the number of years you have smoked. Quitting at any age can significantly lower your risk of developing lung cancer. ³

General statistics

Lung cancer is the cancer that currently causes the most deaths in Australia and is attributed mainly to smoking ⁴
In 2004, 22.5% of males and 18.8% of females aged over 14 years were current smokers ⁴
In 2005, 140,000 high school students over the age of 12 had smoked in the last week.
For women, the number of new cases of lung cancer is projected to increase by 38% from 2,891 in 2001 to about 4,000 in 2011 ⁴
For men, the number of new cases is projected to increase by 17% from 5,384 in 2001 to about 6,300 in 2011 ⁴
One in 10 smokers will develop lung cancer ²

MBF statistics

80% of members admitted with a lung cancer diagnosis are aged between 50 and 80
There has been a 24% increase in male members, who were admitted with a lung cancer diagnosis between 2002 and 2006
There has been a 21% increase in female members, who were admitted with a lung cancer diagnosis between 2002 and 2006
There has been a 23% increase in female members aged between 60 and 74, who were admitted with a lung cancer diagnosis between 2002 and 2006. Changes for other age groups are not yet as apparent, but the take-up of smoking in the female population was later than it was in males

Where do I go if I want to quit smoking?

Once you have decided to quit, getting help will give you a much greater chance of success. Order a Quit pack online (www.quit.org.au), call the Quitline on 13 7848 (13 QUIT) or talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Where do I go for more information?

Talk to your doctor. The internet is a great source of information but make sure the websites are accurate. The following websites may be helpful:

Cancer Council Australia (www.cancer.org.au)

National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov/cancer_information)

The Australian Lung Foundation (www.lungnet.org.au)

ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) (www.ashaust.org.au)

Sources:

¹ Better Health Channel, Victorian Government

² The Cancer Council Australia

³ Mayo Clinic, USA

⁴ Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

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