Lung Cancer as a National Health Condition Worldwide - Term Paper Example

Prevalence of diabetes in Australia Introduction Lung cancer results from abnormal cell growth or division of the lung cells (CANCER UJ RESEARCH, 2014). The disease has been one of the major causes of deaths in the whole world. In Australia for instance, the national health centre confirms it as the leading cause of death (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011). There are various causes of the disease which are either lifestyle or occupational causes. Life style cause of lung cancer has been majorly attributed to smoking (Funatogawa I, Funatogawa T & Yano, 2012). In Scotland for instance, there has been high smoking rates that results in high rate of lung cancer diagnosis in the country. However, this paper draws attention Japan lung cancer low cancer prevalence though the country has the highest number of smokers. Therefore, the discussion defines and explains lung cancer as a health issue that has been increasingly prevalent in the world with reference to Australia and compares the situation to countries like Scotland and Japan. Lung cancer The condition is as a result of abnormal cell growth that reproduces faster than normal body cells (CANCER UJ RESEARCH, 2014). These abnormal cells grow by sticking together thus forming clusters that has been termed as tumours. When the cancerous cells begin their growth in the lung, they are then referred to as primary lung tumours (Mitchell et al, 2013). There two major types of lung cancer. A lung ancer may be small cell or non-small cell depending on their sizes when viewed under the microscope. Non-cell type has been recorded as the most prevalent lung cancer accounting for 80% of these health cases or conditions (ScotPHO, 2013). This type mostly affects the lining of bronchus. However, the lung cancers that are non-small in nature spreads slowly to other organs than the small cell types. In the contrary, lung cancers that are small cell in kind starts in the lungs core or middle and studies have associated it with smoking of cigarettes and it contributes to 20% lung cancer cases (Funatogawa I, Funatogawa T & Yano, 2012). Causes of lung cancer Lung cancer has been majorly linked to cigarette smoking, accounting to a larger percentage of this lung disease (Funatogawa I, Funatogawa T & Yano, 2012). However, there has not been a clear reason as to why some smokers develop lung cancers while others do not. The risk of getting lung cancer is high with older age thus people are at higher risks at the age of around 50 years (Funatogawa I, Funatogawa T & Yano, 2012). However, commencing smoking at younger age increases the chances of getting the disease. Besides, lung cancer can also be caused by environmental conditions like passive smoking and long time asbestos exposure (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011). Other occupational causes of lung cancer include contacts in processing of nickel, steel, chrome as well as prolonged coal gas and arsenic exposure. Furthermore, radiation also leads to lung cancer. On the other hand, radon has also been associated to lung cancer (CANCER UJ RESEARCH, 2014). It is a natural gas that is found in dirt and rocks. This gas may be trapped in buildings and houses thus exposure residents to health risks. Lung cancer symptoms It is difficult to detect lung cancer in its early stages but X-rays have proved hepful in discovering the disease (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011). Some symptoms of the disease include changing cough, hoarse breath as well as increased breathlessness during work or exertion. Other symptoms include fatigue, lung infection recurrence and swellings in the arms and faces (Mitchell et al, 2013). Headaches and bone pains are felt when the condition has spread to other body parts. Diagnosis of this disease may be carried out through numerous tests. Doctors normally ask about health conditions of the patients being concluding the condition. Lung cancer tests include X-rays, sputum and CT scan tests. Severe cases are diagnosed using bronchoscopy (ScotPHO, 2013). Lung cancer prevalence in Australia A disease prevalence is the number of people previously diagnosed with the health condition within a given time period (Australian Government Cancer Australia, 2014). Therefore, lung cancer prevalence in Australia is basically the total number and trends of the disease in the country. a research done in 2007 showed that cases of cancer had been on the steady rise for the past 26 years in the country (Australian government cancer Australia, 2014). The analysis indicated a whooping 19, 854 cancer diagnosis in this time period. In the year 2012 for instance, the country had 53, 300 lung cancer diagnoses and men accounted for the large number of the disease diagnosis (Lung Foundation Australia, 2014). On the other hand, studies suggest that by the year 2020, there will be a round 13, 640 lung cancer cases diagnoses in Australia (Australian Institute of Health Care nd Welfare, 2011). For the past two decades, lung cancer has considerately decreased among the Australian males though the disease has increased among women with a large percentage, a round 72% increase. This reflects the smoking behaviours of both females and males (Lung Foundation Australia, 2014). However, the mortality rate of lung cancer has is high among the indigenous poor populations while lower among the affluent population (Koefler, 2012). Therefore, even if lung cancer prevalence in Australia shows a predictable trend, it is a national health concern since it is mostly killing the indigenous population who cannot afford treatment. The table below shows cancer prevalence in Australia. The statistics puts lung cancer as the number one cause of death. Table   Estimated† mortality for the 10 leading causes of cancer deaths by sex, Australia, 20 Male Female Site/type (ICD-10) Estimated 2010 Site/type (ICD-10) Estimated 2010 1. . Lung (C33–C34) 4 800 Lung (C33–C34) 3 300 Prostate (C61) 3 300 Breast (C50) 2 900 Bowel (C18–C20) 2 100 Bowel (C18–C20) 1 700 Lymphoid cancers (C81–C85, C88, C90, C91) 1 700 Lymphoid cancers (C81–C85, C88, C90, C91) 1 300 Unknown primary (C77–C80) 1 500 Unknown primary (C77–C80) 1 300 Pancreas (C25) 1 200 Pancreas (C25) 1 100 Myeloid cancers (C92–C94, C96.2, D45, D46, D47.1, D47.3) 970 Ovary (C56) 950 Melanoma of skin (C43) 1 000 Myeloid cancers (C92–C94, C96.2, D45, D46, D47.1, D47.3) 700 Oesophagus (C15) 890 Brain (C71) 530 Liver (C22) 800 Other digestive organs (C26) 740 All cancers‡ 24 400 All cancers‡ 19 Table1 cancer mortality in Australia (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011) Lung cancer treatment Treatment of lung cancer depends on factors like the disease type, its location of growth in the body and the miscroscopic sizes of cancerous cells (CANCER UJ RESEARCH, 2014). Medical professionals recommend surgery as the best treatment method for the disease (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011). In this case, in involves successful surgical operations to remove the abnormal cells with the hope of curing the hope of curing the disease. The surgical operation is referred to as lobectomy if it involves the removal of a section or lobe of the lung. However, a partial removal of the lode is referred to as wedge resection. When the surgery involves lung transplant, it is referred to as pneumonectomy(CANCER UJ RESEARCH, 2014). The surgeons are the health professionals in carrying out lung surgeries to remove the cancer cells. The second treatment method for the disease that has been gaining ground is radiotherapy (Mitchell et al, 2013). In this case, the health professionals expose affected regions to rays of high energy like X-rays that kills and in some cases shrinks the cancer cells (ScotPHO, 2013). There has been a great milestone in radiotherapy by the introduction of Raman spectroscopy that helps in cancer diagnosis and treatment. In Victoria for instance, radiotherapy has been preferred by many patients (Mitchell et al, 2013) Lung cancer prevalence in Scotland Lung cancer prevalence in Scotland is the highest in the UK compared to other constituent countries (ScotPHO, 2013). On the other hand, UK has also recorded a high lung cancer rate for the past three decades as the table below shows. Lung Cancer (C33-C34): 31st December 2006 One, Five and Ten Year Cancer Prevalence, UK   1 Year Prevalence 5 Year Prevalence 10 Year Prevalence Male 8 958 16 977 21 197 Female 6 844 13 692 16 944 Persons 15 802 30 669 38 141 Table 2 lung cancer prevalence in UK (CANCER UJ RESEARCH, 2014) Lung cancer in Scottland is one of the major health conditions in the world. This is because the country has a high smoking prevalence. The country is the highest hit by lung cancer cases in the UK and it is found in both males and females (ScotPHO, 2013). A statistics from the Information Service Divisions of NHS Scotland gives a history of lung cancer prevalence in the country. in the year 2011 for instance, around 2, 591 male lung cancer cases and 2,478 female lung cancer diagnoses were recorded in Scotland (ScotPHO, 2013). The current rates of the disease gives a ratio of 1:12 lung cancer diagnosis in men and 1:14 lung cancer diagnosis in women. Time survived since diagnosis   Number Rate per 100,000 % prevalence in population % in each time or age interval       Up to 1 year 2 578 49,4 0,049 35,7 > 1 to 5 years 2 740 52,5 0,052 37,9 > 5 to 10 years 1 039 19,9 0,020 14,4 > 10 to 20 years 874 16,7 0,017 12,1 Total up to 20 years   7 231 138,5 0,138 100,0       By age : those surviving up to 20 years   Number Rate per 100,000 % prevalence in population % in each time or age interval       Under 45 117 4,0 0,004 1,6 45-64 1 682 118,5 0,118 23,3 65+ 5 432 617,6 0,618 75,1 All Ages   7 231 138,5 0,138 100,0 Table 3 lung cancer prevalence in Scotland (ScotPHO 2013) Lung cancer prevalence in Japan Japan exhibits a different trend in lung cancer prevalence. The country is has one of the heavy smokers in the world with low cancer rates (Funatogawaa I, Funatogawa T & Yano, 2012). In fact, smoking cannot be comparable to western smokers who have higher rates of lung cancer. For instance, Japanese smoke more than the Scotish population that have high lung cancer prevalence. The Japanese case has been referred to as smoking paradox. The reason behind this low prevalence is hereditary and that Japanese consume a lot of fatty foods (Funatogawa I, Funatogawa T & Yano, 2012). Conclusion In summary, the paper has discussed lung cancer as health condition that has been considered as a national health condition in the world today. Besides, the discussion has covered treatment methods of lung cancer like surgery and radiotherapy. Most importantly, the work has given a detailed inference into lung cancer prevalence in Australia and compares this national health condition to Scotland and Japan cases. It is evident that Scotland surpasses Australia in lung cancer due to heavy smoking habit but the trend is rather different in Japan that have heavy smoking habit and low lung cancer prevalence. References Australian government cancer Australia (2014). Retrieved from http://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/cancer-types/lung-cancer/lung-cancer-statistics Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2011), Cancer in Australia: Actual incidence and mortality data from 1982 to 2007 and projections to 2010. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology 7(4), 325-338. Cancer UK Research. (2014). Lung cancer incidence statistics. Retrieved from http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/lung/incidence/uk-lung-cancer-incidence-statistics Funatogawaa, I, Funatogawa T & Yano (28 May 2012). Trends in smoking and lung cancer mortality in Japan, by birth cohort, 1949-2010. Bulletin of the World Health Organisation 91(1), 332-340. Koefler, S. (2012). Is cancer a death sentence for Indigenous Australians? The impact of culture on cancer outcomes. Australian Medical Student Journal, 3(1), 35-38. Lung foundation Australia (2014). Burden Of Lung Disease. Retrived from http://lungfoundation.com.au/general-information/statistics/ Mitchell, P. L., Thursfield, V. J., Ball, D. L., Richardson, G.E., Irving, L. B., Torn-Broers,Y., Giles, G. G., Wright, G. M. (2013). Lung cancer in Victoria: are we making progress?, 199(10), 674-679. ScotPHO (26 July 2013), lung cancer key points, retrieved from http://www.scotpho.org.uk/health-wellbeing-and-disease/cancer-lung/key-points Read More