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Photographer Paul Ninson captures the daily lives of lung cancer patients.
USA TODAY, get creative
Barry Manilow was diagnosed with cancer spots in his lungs early on and is on the road to recovery.
The 82-year-old singer revealed on Instagram that a long battle with bronchitis led to the discovery of the cancerous plaque.
“Even though my bronchitis has cleared up and I’m back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI to make sure everything was okay,” he said in a statement on Instagram. “The MRI revealed a cancerous spot in my left lung that needed to be removed. It was sheer luck (and great doctors) to catch it so early. That’s good news.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and the second most common cancer diagnosis.
Here’s what you need to know about this disease.
How common is lung cancer?
Lung cancer mainly occurs in older people. According to the American Cancer Society, most people diagnosed with the disease are over 65 years old. Cancer is responsible for approximately 1 in 5 deaths. Each year, more people die from lung cancer than from colon, breast, and prostate cancer combined.
Testing for lung cancer is of the utmost importance. Dr. Saiama N. Waqar, a professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a thoracic oncologist at the Siteman Cancer Center, previously told USA TODAY that the earlier you get the disease, the better your chances of survival.
The biggest risk for lung cancer is smoking. According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that 85% of lung cancer deaths are related to smoking. Former smokers are still at risk. “Even if someone quits[smoking]the risk doesn’t go away. It still needs to be evaluated,” Waqar said.
Manilow had been a smoker for 30 years. “I started when I was nine years old. I grew up in Brooklyn,” he told the Evening Standard.
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of lung cancer include:
- A new cough that won’t go away.
- Chest pain.
- Coughing up blood, even if it’s a small amount.
- Hoarse voice.
- shortness of breath.
- Wheezing.
When lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body, you may experience the following signs and symptoms:
- Bone pain.
- headache.
- Lose weight without effort.
- Loss of appetite.
- Swelling of the face and neck.
What actions can you take to prevent lung cancer?
Due to advances in early detection and treatment, and because more people are quitting or never starting to smoke, the number of new lung cancer cases is decreasing, and so are deaths.
The best thing you can do to reduce your risk of lung cancer is to stop smoking. “If you don’t smoke now, don’t. And if you do, quit,” Waqar says. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers resources to help you quit smoking, including access to counseling services. If possible, you should also try to avoid second-hand smoke.
Additionally, because exposure to radon gas and asbestos are risk factors for lung cancer, the CDC recommends getting your home tested for radon and taking steps to reduce occupational exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos.
Contributors: Taijuan Moorman, Caroline C. Boyle
