MEN'S HEALTH MATTERS:Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in men in the Republic, writes Thomas Lynch
Q I am a 55-year-old man and a life-long smoker. Recently a friend of the same age has been told he has lung cancer and is going to have an operation. I am frightened for him but also for myself. I have tried unsuccessfully to give up smoking before. Is it too late now?
ANo, it is never too late to give up smoking. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in men in the Republic.
The most recent data available from the National Cancer registry found that 980 men died from the disease in one year. Lung cancer will soon overtake breast cancer as the commonest cause of cancer death in women.
Unfortunately, lung cancer is a bad disease but your friend is clearly lucky that his cancer has been found at a stage where surgery may be potentially curable.
Modern surgery is very safe and in the majority of cases involves removal of half the lung on one side (quarter of the lungs in total).
The majority of patients will come through the operation and most patients will have a good quality of life afterwards with few noticing any significant change in their breathing.
Most patients have chemotherapy after the operation and with recent advances the side effects seen in the past are much less of a problem. The majority of patients can expect to be cured following surgery.
For those patients who present with more advanced disease the main options are chemotherapy or radiation treatment or sometimes both. These treatments are aimed at improving quality of life and duration but are rarely curative.
The most important intervention in lung cancer is to try to prevent it and smoking is the single most important culprit. It is very sad to see the friends and relatives of patients who have lung cancer continue to smoke and perhaps the biggest tribute you could pay to your friend is to give up smoking with him.
At 55 it is not too late to give up smoking. The benefits in terms of heart disease and stroke will be much more immediate but there are clear benefits in terms of lung cancer in relatively few years.
We all know that it is very difficult to stop smoking but it is probably easier now than a number of years ago due to the smoking ban in public places and the general acceptance that smoking is bad for you.
There are also drugs available to help you stop smoking and you can get advice from your GP. However, you have to want to stop yourself.
One of the sad things we see as healthcare professionals is a patient who has been unsuccessful in stopping smoking all their life being able to stop with relatively ease when they develop lung cancer.
Whether or not you are successful in stopping smoking, you should be on the look out for symptoms which may mean you are developing lung cancer. Almost everyone knows that coughing up blood can be a symptom of lung cancer, but some smokers miss the chance of cure because they ignore that new cough or the chest infection that lingers. You should consult your GP if you develop any of these symptoms and be extra vigilant if you are a smoker.
Remember, when it comes to lung cancer, prevention is certainly better than cure. The Republic has one of the world's highest incidences of lung cancer in men and women. Stop smoking now as it is never too late.
• This weekly column is edited by Thomas Lynch, consultant urological surgeon, St James's Hospital, Dublin with a contribution from Mr Vincent Young, consultant cardiothoracic Surgeon, St James's Hospital, Dublin