Lung cancer is far from being a rare disease: according to the Foundation for Medical Research (FRM) 49,109 new cases were diagnosed in 2017 – 32,260 in men and 16,849 in women.
The disease usually begins around the age of 66: in 2017, 30,991 people died of lung cancer. And for patients, the prognosis is unfortunately grim: indeed, only 17% of patients are still alive 5 years after diagnosis…
Problem : lung cancer suffers from many misconceptions, which in particular lead to later screenings. To fight against these prejudices, the Patients en Réseau association has decided to put a web-series entitled “Haut le Poumon” online on the Health Actors TV platform.
Tobacco, symptoms, treatment, diagnosis… Through 18 short and instructive episodes, 7 patients suffering (or having suffered) from lung cancer recount their experience of the disease and “blow up” dangerous received ideas. and discriminating.
- Myth #1: Lung cancer only affects smokers
False. If smokers actually have a risk multiplied by 10 to 15 of suffering from lung cancer during their lifetime, it is also possible to develop the disease… without ever having smoked a single cigarette!
- Myth #2: Lung cancer makes you cough
True and false. If people who suffer from lung cancer can actually have a hoarse cough (fatty or dry), the disease can also be revealed through back pain, joint pain, swelling of the fingers, increased cardiovascular risk. .. or even be asymptomatic!
- Myth #3: Lung cancer is easily diagnosed
False. If the diagnosis can indeed be very fast (and fall in less than a month), patients can also undergo a therapeutic wandering which can last up to 10 months…
Discover the web series Lung up.
Read also :
Consuming too much coffee increases the risk of lung cancer
Detect lung cancer with Google
A risk of cancer with the nicotine of electronic cigarettes
