Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest incidence rate and mortality rate in China, and many patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Before lung cancer develops, the body often emits warning signals, but these are often overlooked by people. If early detection and standardized intervention can be achieved, the treatment benefits of early-stage lung cancer are very promising.
Smoking, air pollution, and insufficient screening coverage are all major reasons for the high incidence of lung cancer in China.
In this issue, Professor Yang Nong, a specially-appointed expert from Hainan Cancer Hospital, will answer questions and provide professional analysis, teaching everyone how to scientifically prevent lung cancer risks.
Qustions & Answers
Q: What physical abnormalities may indicate the onset of lung cancer?
1. Signal 1: clubbed fingers
The end of the finger becomes thickened and enlarged inexplicably, resembling a small drumstick, which is not caused by labor wear or simply by weight gain.
The root cause of this symptom is often long-term chronic hypoxia in the body. Emphysema, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, and even early lung lesions may all trigger this manifestation, which must be taken seriously.
2. Signal 2: Persistent cough lasting for more than three weeks
Coughs triggered by the common cold usually resolve gradually within one to two weeks. If a persistent cough persists for more than three weeks, repeatedly occurs, or even involves blood in the sputum accompanied by chest tightness and shortness of breath, it should not be simply treated as ordinary bronchitis and delayed. This is a distress signal from the lungs. Even if only one of these two physical warning signs appears, it is recommended that you undergo low-dose spiral CT screening of the lungs.
Qustions & Answers
Q: It was found to be stage I lung cancer. How is the treatment progressing?
Stage I lung cancer is considered early-stage lung cancer, which has a high possibility of achieving clinical cure. This is also the golden stage for lung cancer treatment.
Stage I lung cancer is further divided into stage 1A and stage 1B. In stage 1B, the tumor diameter is mostly 3-4 cm, with some cases slightly invading the pleura or accompanied by mild atelectasis. Although the overall lesion is larger than that of stage 1A, it still falls within the early-stage category.
Regardless of the specific substage, radical surgery remains the preferred approach for early-stage lung cancer. Currently, thoracoscopic minimally invasive surgery is widely adopted for stage 1A, offering minimal trauma and rapid recovery. For elderly patients or those with compromised lung function, segmentectomy can also be considered, ensuring radical treatment while preserving lung function to the greatest extent possible. Importantly, patients with stage 1A typically do not require adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy after surgery, and can simply undergo regular follow-up.
The surgical approach for stage 1B is consistent with that for stage 1A. If there are high-risk factors such as vascular cancer thrombus and pleural invasion, adjuvant therapy is generally required after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence. For patients who are unable to undergo surgery or refuse surgery, stereotactic radiotherapy is also an effective and curative treatment option.
Qustions & Answers
Q: Why does China rank first globally in terms of lung cancer incidence rate?
Lung cancer is highly prevalent in China, with its incidence rate consistently ranking first globally. This is the result of a combination of multiple factors, and there are three main core reasons.
Firstly, the base number of smokers is huge, and there is still room for improvement in tobacco control efforts. Smoking is the primary risk factor for lung cancer. Harmful substances such as nicotine and tar in tobacco can stimulate lung cells for a long time, significantly increasing the probability of cell canceration. There are currently 350 million smokers in China, and 740 million people are exposed to second-hand smoke and third-hand smoke for a long time. The number of lung cancer deaths caused by second-hand smoke alone is as high as 100,000 each year, and tobacco hazards are the core cause of the high incidence of lung cancer.
Secondly, the combined effects of Chinese cooking habits and unhealthy lifestyles. Chinese people tend to favor stir-frying, deep-frying, and other cooking methods. The fumes generated during cooking contain strong carcinogens such as benzopyrene, which can cause continuous lung damage and increase the risk of lung cancer if inhaled for a long time.
In addition, a high proportion of people stay up late, experience high mental stress, and have irregular diet and lifestyle. Such bad habits can continuously weaken human immunity, reduce the repair ability of lung cells, and increase the risk of pathological changes and canceration.
Thirdly, the impact of air pollution and the insufficient popularity of lung cancer screening. In recent years, China's air quality has continued to improve, but air pollution issues still persist in some regions. Fine particulate matter such as PM2.5 can penetrate deep into human lung alveoli, continuously irritate lung tissue, and increase the risk of canceration. As early as 2013, the World Health Organization had classified air pollution as a Group I carcinogen.
More crucially, the prevalence of early screening for lung cancer in China is relatively low. The general public commonly holds the misconception that "if there is no discomfort, there is no need for examination." By the time most patients exhibit typical symptoms such as persistent coughing and blood in their sputum, their condition has already progressed to the middle or late stages.
Expert Introduction
Yang Nong, Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor
Long-term employed experts of Hainan Cancer Hospital and Hainan Chengmei Hospital
He currently serves as Vice President of the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, leader of the oncology department, and head of the "Yang Nong Famous Doctor Clinic"/"Yang Nong Famous Doctor Expert Team Clinic". He is also a chief expert of the National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project, a member of the Lung Cancer Special Committee of the National Tumor Quality Control Center, the director of the Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer, and the director of the Hunan Provincial Respiratory Oncology Clinical Medical Research Center. He has been dedicated to precision targeted therapy for lung cancer and gastrointestinal tumors, as well as to clinical research and teaching in complex, recurrent, and drug-resistant cases for nearly 30 years.
He has been honored with the title of "Outstanding Model of National Famous Doctors" in the 6th session, and has been recommended as "Annual Excellent Doctor" by patients across the country for 8 consecutive years, as well as being awarded the title of "First Brain Doctor, Famous Doctor". He has authored national guidelines, boasts over 500,000 fans across the internet, and has achieved over 120 million views in anti-cancer science popularization.
Medical expertise
Specialties: Precision treatment of lung cancer, breakthrough in difficult, recurrent, drug-resistant, and brain metastatic cases; individualized precision treatment for brain metastatic tumors of lung cancer; early diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and lung cancer; personalized comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for pan-solid tumors; clinical trials of the latest immunotherapy/targeted therapy drugs.
With nearly 30 years of experience in precision immunotherapy for lung cancer, he has led nearly 400 phase I-III clinical trials of new anticancer drugs (including national Class 1 new drugs), and is particularly skilled in treating complex cases such as refractory, recurrent, and drug-resistant conditions, as well as brain metastases.
He is also proficient in the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of multiple cancer types, individualized approaches, and interdisciplinary collaborations across various solid tumors (such as stomach, intestine, brain, etc.).
[Visit information]
1. Clinic Hours and Location
May 30th, 14:00-17:00
Sixth Consultation Area of Hainan Cancer Hospital
2. [Appointment registration]
Follow the official account of Hainan Cancer Hospital for "appointment registration"
3. Health consultation
18976324546
[Friendly Reminder]
To help the expert understand your condition quickly, please bring the following:
1. ID card, medical insurance card, and mobile phone
2. Accompanying direct relatives (with decision-making authority)
3. Relevant previous examination results, organized chronologically
4. Paper medical records from previous consultations
5. Surgical case slides, wax blocks, or 20-30 glass slides
6. Pathological diagnosis report
7. Hospitalization medical records
8. Recent relevant examination results
9. The patients current treatment plan
10. The most urgent questions to consult