The latest incidence status of lung cancer, common causes of lung cancer and protective measures

  The latest statistics show that in 2014, the number of new lung cancer cases in the United States was 224,000 (116,000 men and 108,000 women), ranking the second highest incidence of lung cancer in both men and women; the total number of lung cancer deaths was 159,000 (86,000 men and 73,000 women), topping the list of tumor deaths; and the number of new lung cancer cases in China was as high as 600,000 in 2013. For lung cancer treatment, the 5-year survival rate is only 10-15% in terms of overall efficacy.  With such a high incidence and mortality rate of lung cancer, the attention to lung cancer should be constantly increased.  Since the early diagnosis of lung cancer has not yet broken through, many small nodules and ground glass shadows cannot be diagnosed at an early stage; therefore, a lot of scientific researches are being conducted around early diagnosis.  It is recommended that people with high risk of lung cancer should receive regular low-dose spiral CT examinations in specialized hospitals. (Definition of high-risk group for lung cancer: male, age >45 years, smoking index >400 years, family history of lung cancer, history of high-risk occupational exposure). It is also important to focus on the COPD population: studies have shown that COPD patients are 1.5 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-COPD patients.  The causes of lung cancer are generally divided into endogenous and exogenous causes. Endogenous causes include chronic inflammation, genetic susceptibility genes (e.g., family history of tumor, etc.); exogenous causes include smoking, atmospheric pollution (e.g., haze, industrial exhaust, etc.), house renovation, kitchen fumes, etc., of which PM2.5 is of particular concern.  For patients with chronic lung diseases such as COPD, it is recommended to actively treat and enhance physical fitness and exercise to reduce recurrent lung infections to avoid inducing lung cancer.  Smoking is positively correlated with the occurrence of lung cancer. Studies have shown that the earlier the age of smoking and the higher the smoking index, the higher the incidence of lung cancer; the significant increase in lung cancer among women today is also closely related to the fact that more women are starting to smoke. Therefore, it is recommended to quit smoking, and it is especially recommended that adolescents do not get into the habit of smoking. In addition, smoking not only directly affects one’s own health, but also has a negative impact on the health of the surrounding population, leading to a significant increase in the prevalence of lung cancer in passive smokers.  With the development of industry, industrial waste gas has become an important cause of air pollution. Among the industrial emissions, factory gas emissions: hydrogen cyanide, chromic acid mist, ammonia, benzene (toluene, xylene), styrene, phenols, etc. are all strong carcinogens. In recent years, many cities are planning to move more factories to the suburbs and other sparsely populated areas, which is a measure to improve the urban environment; moreover, we should call for the closure of some factories that emit emissions that seriously exceed the standards, so as to promote factories to invest in funding to improve production and reduce pollution.  Automobile exhaust emissions cause air pollution and lead to higher incidence of lung cancer and other tumors. With the development of national economy and the rise of automobile industry, more and more motor vehicles are appearing in developed countries and cities. The automobile exhaust contains a large number of toxic gases, mainly: carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), photochemical smog, particulate pollutants (PM), etc. Hydrocarbons (HC) with multiple rings, i.e., polyaromatic hydrocarbons, are strong carcinogens, and hydrocarbon components are also important substances that cause photochemical smog; while nitrogen dioxide photolysis under strong light causes an increase in ozone concentration, which is the basic reason for the formation of photochemical smog; these substances cause drowsiness, eye inflammation, neurotoxic effects, and cause temporary difficulties in whistling, long-term lung damage, and are also strong They are also strong carcinogens and can cause cancers such as lung cancer and thyroid cancer. The composition of particulate matter is complex, in which fine particles are the products of human activities, such as charcoal particles formed by incomplete combustion of fuel; volatile hydrocarbons emitted when the car starts and idles are also the main pollutants of vehicle exhaust. Particles (also known as particles) are hazardous to human health and the size and composition of the particles are related. The smaller the particles, the longer they are suspended in the air, and the greater the proportion of them that enter the human lungs and stagnate in the lungs and bronchi, the greater the hazard. In addition to the harmful effects of particulates on the human whistle system, the presence of pores can adhere to toxic substances such as SO2, unburned HC, NO2 or carcinogenic substances such as benzpyrene, which can easily induce lung cancer and other tumors. It is recommended that drivers open the car’s external circulation before going on the road is the car inside and outside fresh air interchange, on the road is changed to internal circulation. In case of traffic jam try not to open the windows and doors to avoid the outside polluted air into the car. It is also recommended to reduce the purchase of private cars, so as not to cause further deterioration of the environment.  Decoration: The toxic substances released from house decoration materials include toluene, formaldehyde, asbestos, organic volatiles, ammonia, radon, etc. Nearly 20 of them have been recognized as carcinogens and mutagens. The results of air pollution testing in newly renovated houses in 2003 published by Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center show that, in addition to radon gas, formaldehyde, benzene, organic volatiles, ammonia, etc. all exceed the standard to different degrees, indicating that indoor air pollution in newly renovated houses seriously affects health and even causes cancer.  Benzene exists in various paints, adhesives and organic solvents, and it is not easy to arouse people’s awareness because of its aromatic smell. Benzene has been identified as a strong carcinogen by the World Health Organization. The way to prevent it is to use green and benzene-free paints or choose good quality paints that contain less benzene.  Formaldehyde is a colorless and irritating gas that is a universal building material adhesive. Formaldehyde is the first class of human carcinogen, which can cause leukemia, lung cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer and paranasal sinus cancer. Wood core board, multi-layer plywood, density fiberboard, chemical fiber carpet, wall coverings, foam, plastic veneer, etc. used in the decoration all contain the ingredients of formaldehyde, which is the main source of pollution within the decoration time. Researchers in the UK found that the incidence of lung cancer in people who are frequently exposed to formaldehyde is 1.6 times higher than the general population. Therefore, it is safer to move in after six months of house decoration.  Asbestos was widely used in various industrial applications and buildings until the 1980s when it was discovered that the tiny fibers of asbestos could easily invade the human whistle and be deposited there, causing asbestosis to cause fibrosis of the lungs and pleura, pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer and cancer in other parts of the body. Asbestos is an extremely toxic carcinogen, and its tiny fibers will float in the air longer than other dusts, for two to three weeks. Ordinary masks do not prevent the invasion of asbestos fibers into the human whistle, and asbestos into the human body to cause disease latency period of up to 30 years. Ventilation of new homes after renovation is an effective way to remove asbestos fibers. If there is asbestos contamination in a new home and the owner is a smoker, the risk of cancer is 90 times higher than that of non-smokers and those who are not exposed to asbestos. Indoor plants such as aloe vera and hanging orchids can be placed to help degrade the concentration of formaldehyde and benzene; choose some substances that can remove harmful gases such as decoration deodorizers, air purifiers, formaldehyde eliminators, etc.  PM2.5 refers to the particulate matter with a diameter less than or equal to 2.5 microns in the atmosphere, also known as lung-accessible particulate matter. The impact of PM2.5 on human health and the quality of atmospheric environment is great. The physiological structure of human body determines that there is no filtering and blocking ability for PM2.5. PM2.5 enters the alveoli and is engulfed by macrophages and then stays in the lungs, and if the body’s clearance function is not good, it will produce local irritation, leading to the production of nodules and ground glass shadow and inducing early lung cancer. Therefore, it is recommended to reduce going out and exercising outdoors on hazy days, and to wear anti-PM2.5 masks. Eat more foods that promote body metabolism, such as black fungus, asparagus and broccoli, and strengthen exercise.  In addition to smoking, lung cancer in women is closely related to air pollution in the small kitchen environment. The risk of lung cancer increases with the number of dishes cooked each week, the frequency of eye irritation during cooking, and the degree of smoke in the kitchen. Poor ventilation in the kitchen, poor separation from the bedroom, or cooking in the bedroom can also increase the risk of lung cancer. Therefore, it is recommended to use good quality cooking oil, minimize frying and deep-frying of food, wear a mask when cooking, and use brand-name range hoods to improve kitchen ventilation.  It is believed that through the above measures, the environment can be improved and the occurrence of lung cancer can be properly reduced.