Don’t ignore persistent cough: Oncologist

Hyderabad: Lung cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, but oncologists stress that timely diagnosis and advances in treatment are significantly improving survival rates. While smoking remains the biggest risk factor, doctors are increasingly diagnosing lung cancer in non-smokers as well, highlighting the role of air pollution, passive smoking, occupational exposure, genetic factors and environmental pollutants.

One of the biggest challenges with lung cancer is that it often develops silently. In its early stages, patients may have no symptoms, allowing the disease to progress unnoticed. When symptoms do appear, they may include a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain, breathlessness, wheezing, unexplained weight loss, fatigue and recurrent chest infections. Since these symptoms can mimic common respiratory illnesses, many people delay seeking medical attention.

Dr Sravan Dubbasi, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, said quitting tobacco remains the single most effective way to reduce the risk of lung cancer. Maintaining good indoor air quality, avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals and reducing exposure to second-hand smoke can further lower the risk.

People with a long history of smoking or other high-risk factors should discuss annual low-dose CT (LDCT) screening with their physician, as it can detect lung cancer at an early and more treatable stage.

Treatment options have evolved rapidly in recent years. Depending on the type and stage of the disease, patients may benefit from surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or a combination of these approaches.

Precision medicine, guided by genetic and molecular testing, is enabling more personalised treatment, offering better outcomes and improved quality of life even for some patients with advanced disease.