A couple both suffer from lung cancer! Is cancer contagious? Doctor: It is important to do these eight things

Expert of this article: Hu Zhongdong, chief physician of the Health Management Center of Changsha Third Hospital, deputy chief physician, member of the Youth Science Popularization Innovation Professional Committee of Hunan Medical Education and Technology Association

:Smoking is one of the important factors causing lung cancer, and people who smoke for a long time have a relatively high risk of developing lung cancer.

The latest global cancer burden data for 2020 released by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) show:

In 2020, there were 9.96 million cancer deaths worldwide, of which 1.8 million were from lung cancer, ranking first in the number of cancer deaths. In 2020, there were 3 million cancer deaths in China, of which 710,000 were from lung cancer, accounting for 23.8% of the total cancer deaths.

Lung cancer is divided into two major histological types, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC accounts for about 85%. Lung cancer is prone to metastasis, and common metastatic sites include the liver, brain, bones, pleura, lymph nodes, etc. Once metastasis occurs, it is considered to be in the late stage. The earlier lung cancer is discovered and treated, the higher the survival rate.

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As for the family and friends of smokers, they are also suffering from the harm of smoke to their bodies.

A woman's husband was a long-term smoker and was diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer a few years ago. Recently, during a physical examination, the woman found that she also had lung cancer, which was closely related to her long-term exposure to her husband's second-hand and third-hand smoke.

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A couple both suffer from lung cancer. Is this cancer contagious? Who is susceptible to lung cancer? Read on.

Who are the high-risk groups for lung cancer?

The "Guidelines for Lung Cancer Screening, Early Diagnosis and Early Treatment in China 2021" states that people at high risk of lung cancer should meet one of the following conditions:

1. Smoking: Number of smoking pack-years ≥ 30, including former smokers with number of smoking pack-years ≥ 30 but current smoking cessation time less than 15 years;

2. Passive smoking: living with smokers or working in the same relatively closed environment for ≥ 20 years;

3. Suffering from tuberculosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;

4. Have a history of occupational exposure (exposure to asbestos, chromium, silicon, coal smoke, coal dust) for at least 1 year;

5. Parents, children, and first-degree relatives such as siblings are diagnosed with lung cancer.

Note: Pack-years = number of packs smoked per day (20 cigarettes per pack) × number of years of smoking

For people at high risk of lung cancer, the guidelines recommend low-dose spiral CT (LDCT) screening, and the recommended screening age is 50-74 years old.

The "Chinese Expert Consensus on Lung Cancer Screening and Management (2019)" has stricter age requirements, and people over 40 years old should undergo lung cancer screening. And if the smoking volume is 20 pack years, that is, what we used to call the smoking index over 400, they should take the initiative to be screened.

At the same time, the problem of secondhand smoke is serious in my country, and those who have been exposed to passive smoking for more than 20 years should also undergo lung cancer screening.

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Will I be infected if I come into contact with lung cancer patients?

First of all, it needs to be made clear that lung cancer is not a contagious disease.

Infectious diseases must have three factors, namely, the source of infection, the route of transmission and the susceptible population. None of these three conditions can be missing.

According to current clinical medical evidence, cancer is not contagious, and cancer patients are not sources of infection. Therefore, you will not get cancer if you come into contact with lung cancer patients in your daily life.

The emergence of some "couple cancer" and "brother cancer" is mainly because if people who live together for a long time have bad living habits, unreasonable eating structure, etc., then their chances of getting the disease together will be greatly increased.

So is lung cancer hereditary?

Genetic factors play a role in the occurrence and development of lung cancer. If there is a cancer patient in the family, then under the stimulation of the same carcinogenic factors, the probability of the offspring getting cancer is generally higher than that of others.

Why is lung cancer difficult to detect in its early stages?

When it comes to lung cancer, many people immediately think of symptoms such as coughing and coughing up blood. In fact, early lung cancer usually has no symptoms or the symptoms are not obvious, which is very easy to be ignored.

Most units use chest X-rays for physical examinations, but they have low resolution and a high rate of missed diagnosis, and are more likely to miss nodules less than two centimeters or lesions on the diaphragm.

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Compared with chest X-ray, chest CT is like cutting bread into slices and observing them one by one. It can clearly show the organs and structures and smaller lesions. It can detect tiny lesions of a few millimeters and poorly located tumors, which can make up for the deficiencies of ordinary chest X-rays.

Is it necessary to have a CT scan every year?

Screening for early lung cancer must distinguish between high-risk and low-risk groups.

For the high-risk groups for lung cancer mentioned above, it is recommended to undergo low-dose CT screening once a year.

For low-risk people, if the first CT screening result is negative and they have been maintaining a healthy lifestyle, there is no need for annual examinations. Depending on their age groups, they can choose to undergo CT screening every 3, 5, or 10 years.

To prevent lung cancer, do these eight things:

Avoid active and passive smoking, and persuade relatives and friends to quit smoking;

The room should be ventilated and breathable frequently, and a high-quality range hood should be used;

When air pollution is particularly severe, wear a protective mask when going out;

People who are at risk of occupational exposure must take protective measures;

Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and avoid eating moldy or spoiled food;

Keep a regular work and rest schedule, get enough sleep, and actively and scientifically exercise;

It is important to have an optimistic and cheerful attitude, to be less sulky and more smiling;

People with high risk factors for lung cancer should receive regular screening and timely treatment.

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