LUNG CANCER
Famous internationai victims of this cancer include actor Paul Newman, the Marlboro men:
Wayne McLaren and David McLean; Christopher Reeve’s widow, who never smoked but lived in Radon gas territory (see below).
Yul Brynner, Singer Nat “King” Cole, J. Krishnamurti. Three bon vivant Bombay Gymkhana members — Ashok Mank’adGautam Thapar, Jean
laieckjee— died within one month of’this cancer.
You are the danger zone ,if you
- smoke —this means bidis and chutta too. The more cigettes smoked and the younger the age at which you stedthe greater the risk. %f.smdkers develop it.
- Half of all heavy smokers will never touch 70. Even light smokers only face on 60% hence surviving to 70. are a pasive smoker. That
- you don’t smoke, but live with heavy and inconsiderate smoker who puffs’indiscriminately into your space and face.
- work with occupational hazards such as asbestos, coke, radiation, arsenic, and also smoke.
- live in an area where Radon, a colourless and odourless gas, is prevalent (it’s mostly found in places where granite rocks abound).
Radon accounts for 1% of lung cancers.
Ominous Clues
- a persistent cough
- coughing up blood
- shortness of breath
- difficulty in swallowing coupled with weight loss
Confirmation
- Get to your doctor stat. Most non-survivors turn up at a clinic when it is too late for effective treatment.
- A simple chest X-ray can detect most lung cancers. This can be corroborated by a sputum test, a CT scan and a microscopic examination of lung tissue.
The fight back plan
Kick butt with this 10-point plan.
1. Set a date. Then stop. Cold turkey.
2. Bin everything — cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays.
3. Drink lots of water to flush out your system.
4. Get some exercise — it’ll help you relax.
5. Prepare for situations when you are used to smoking, be it at the bar or after a bang-up row with your spouse.
6. Never let yourself have just a puff. It can lead to thousands.
7. Buy treats with your ciggie money.
8. If you feel awful, think positively: Your body is recovering.
9. Eat fruit, raw veggies, chew sugar free gum. It’ll keep your mouth occupied and you won’t pile on weight.
10. Take one day a time. Don’t have one today.
The good news is that if you stop, within five years your risk of lung cancer will drop dramatically, and medicos have it that up to 50% will return to normal within 10 years. Nicotine patches can help curb cravings as the patches release a measured percentage into your bloodstream.
- If you are at risk, have a chest X-ray done every year.