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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women, but early detection is saving lives. Dr. Manny talks to an expert about how ne...
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Hello welcome to help dog -- dog -- lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.
But early detection is changing the way doctors diagnose and treat the condition.
That is saving lives in the process joining me now is doctor Roger Flores chief of the drastic surgery announce on a school of medicine.
Thank you for being here thanks for having -- how many people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year.
So is the number one cancer killer as you said about 225000.
A year are diagnosed and the majority will die -- a result of their disease.
Why.
We have so -- -- -- You -- commonly it's been associated with smoking in 80% of people who developed lung cancer will would have been smokers but there are 20%.
Who've never smoked.
And there may be genetic component there's also secondhand smoke is -- So but smoking continues to be one of the leading.
Small hole is the number one culprit what galls me the most part is that teen smoking is on the rocks.
And I have kids and I actually talk at their high schools -- trying and this week indicates they laugh at us they do they laugh let us I got teenagers.
-- laugh about access at.
-- act so it -- it was the risk factors as I said mostly history.
Of smoking is the major risk factor right now okay.
How do we.
Prevent.
So the best way to prevent it is to help.
I'll pull it is helpful -- -- -- it was all right okay now but if that was not the case -- we're not winning the war in smoking.
What methodology used to we have to screen for lung cancer.
So that was a source of big debate -- -- chest X three screening vs no screening and there was a lot of controversy involved now cat scan.
Is the optimal screening procedure I think that's still controversial.
Well that are a recent study just came out in 2011.
Around September.
Where there was a randomized control trial comparing CT screening vs chest -- -- and they found a huge difference in mortality a mortality benefit.
That.
Exceeds breast cancer screening.
Colon cancer screening prostate cancer screening.
In just five years there is a 20% decrease in lung cancer mortality.
In the CT screen group.
And that's huge that's the biggest difference that it was seen in any type of cancer -- it.
The argument that I have heard and you know I'm I'm a believer in CDs can but now the argument that I have that I have heard is that.
-- is closely.
And see that not everybody agrees in what they're looking at.
And -- that the concern about higher surgical rates for benign right we're gonna while benign disease as far as cost is concerned.
I think after more data is in you'll find it actually is cost effective and it will save patients who were at -- end stage of their lung cancer.
Where they're on a breeding machine for months at a time where -- -- receiving.
Chemotherapy after chemotherapy and if you catch it early he take it out with surgery in your cured.
As far and is and the risk of radiation that same dose of radiation that you get from a low dose CT screening for lung cancer is the same as a mammography.
And then as far is.
Unnecessary surgical intervention it's important to go to the right place to a place that has a program.
Where you have multiple people were looking at the scans where you have diagnostic radiologists.
Were well versed in looking at CT screens for lung cancer.
And what they will find is that instead of going to the operating room for -- and nodule they will continue to follow it.
Or recommend having a needle biopsy -- avoid any kind of surgery.
There is a precancerous stage and we see that let's say -- cervical cancer we may see it in other kinds of -- In lung cancer is it any way to predict those changes.
When you get a cat scan there's something called ground -- appearance and -- frequently is associated.
With the.
Precancerous.
Stage region used to be called BAC bronchial -- carcinoma.
Now it's called -- no carcinoma in -- to or minimally invasive and -- carcinoma.
When you catch the cancer at that point it's curable -- actually you're used to -- eagle in there.
Remove -- or treated with radiation dose blows against ideally you want surgery what is their education is too sick to undergo surgery then we will and then give radiation right.
But that secure -- its defense security and nowadays we have minimally invasive ways of going in there with three tiny holes to take out those cancer.
So you gave me good news -- good news is.
We know all that you can prevent the risk factors by some not so okay you go.
Number two screening methodology is coming around which is getting better.
Yes now the standard of care now the standard of care and then -- for me -- you catch it early early early.
You can be cured with smaller incisions with three small home runs you can you can get -- and not live with lung cancer and I for a excellent love the good news thank you for coming thanks for having all right.
I did you have any health questions you would have told me about email -- here at fox.
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