IN celebration of Cancer Awareness month, AstraZeneca sponsored a media event titled 'Let's Take the Plunge' to bring closer public attention to the symptoms, detection and treatment of lung cancer. Two expert resource persons, Dr. Christine Chavez, pulmonologist, The Medical City, and Dr. Soledad Balete, medical oncologist, Chinese General Hospital, discussed recent developments in the battle against lung cancer. Dr. Pauline Anne Peronila-Cauton, oncologist, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, moderated the proceedings.Pulmonologist Dr. Chavez took the initial plunge presenting research findings from the frontlines. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the top cause of cancer death not only in the Philippines but globally as well. Majority of lung cancer incidences are diagnosed in their advanced stage, which results in poor survival rates.Smoking is the most important risk factor in developing lung cancer, though it could also affect non-smokers. Across the world, over 50 percent of women and 15-20 percent of men with the disease have never smoked and some of the more significant risk factors are second-hand smoke, air pollution or exposure to and family history of lung cancer. Technically, anyone with lungs is at risk for lung cancer. Among the common symptoms of lung cancer are persistent or worsening cough, coughing up blood, chest pain that worsens with coughing, deep breathing or laughing, and recurring chest infections. While these signs and symptoms may be indicative of lung cancer, the onset of early-stage lung cancer could still progress without outward manifestations.

Early-stage detection