Lung cancer on the rise MEDICAL EXPERTS OUTLINE THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

Medical expert panel at the media briefing

Lack of doctors and absence of ICU facilities are the main obstacles in treating  patients

Early detection of lung cancer is vital

Major factor for lung cancer is smoking

Air pollution and especially home air pollution,  have been identified as the main causes

Around 3,000 new lung cancer patients identified yearly

By Manjula D. Phillips 

Even though the hospital is equipped with new technology and surgical equipment, the old operating theatre, lack of doctors and absence of  Intensive Care (ICU) facilities are the main obstacles in treating  lung cancer patients, said thoracic surgeon Dr. Dhammika Rasnayaka during a media briefing yesterday at the District Chest Clinic Auditorium, Chest Hospital,   Welisara.

The Welisara Chest Society, the clinical society affiliated with the National Hospital for Respiratory Diseases (NHRD),  together with the Sri Lanka College of Pulmonologists,  held the media briefing yesterday and the event was organised  parallel to the World Lung Cancer Day which fell on Friday the 1st of August,  with the following main objectives --  raising public awareness of the risk factors, the importance of screening and early detection and the available treatments for lung cancer. 

The medical expert panel was consisted of Dr. Damith Rodrigo, Chest Physician, Dr. Eshanth Perera, Chest Physician, Dr. Dhammika Rasnayake, Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. Saman Iddagoda, Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. D.M.S. Handagala, Thoracic Surgeon.

Speaking at the media briefing,  Dr. Rasnayaka further stated that out of all the patients that are admitted yearly to the Chest Hospital, Welisara, twenty five per cent can be cured by surgical operations and 500 patients are getting cured yearly.  He also said it is very  important  to detect the lung cancer in its very early stages in terms of starting treatment as early as possible.

“There are four stages in the cancer; for the first three and half stages we can get it cured with treatments. Persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, trouble in breathing, fever, and unexplained weight loss can be the signs of lung cancer. If you have these signs, meet your doctor and, through him or directly you can reach the chest hospital, Welisara or any other district hospital in the country where we have chest physicians for  treatment.”   

“We do X- Ray and CT scan testings to identify the cancer,” chest physician Eshanth Perera underscored.

“There seems to be an upsurge among both men and women patients in the country  when we analyse  records for the past years. One major factor for  lung cancer is smoking. Apart from that, air pollution and especially home air pollution,  have been identified as the main causes. In addition, genetics  and certain food items we consume also play a part. Around 3000 new lung cancer patients are identified yearly in the country and around 3000 surgical operations are done.”

“We still  cannot tell,” said Dr. Damith Rodirgo, “if Electronic cigarettes, often called e-cigarettes or vapes, a trend popular nowadays among adolescents, could directly increase the possibility of lung cancer since we are unable to identify its ingredients. However we advise people to avoid smoking them as we advise people to quit smoking.”  

Photo by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe