ENTRE News – What disease is considered trivial but turns out to be very deadly? The answer is Small Cell Lung Cancer, What is small cell lung cancer?
Consultant hematologist oncologist at RSCM, Andhika Rachman, said small cell lung cancer is a rare cancer whose cancer cell growth is relatively fast. Sufferers can be of various ages, from young people to adults.
“It’s so serious, almost 100 percent of patients who have been diagnosed rarely survive until three months (die),” said Andhika at the launch of Kalbe Farma’s Serplulimab in South Jakarta.
Small cell lung cancer occurs when healthy cells in the lungs mutate or turn into cancer cells. These cells then divide and multiply uncontrollably. Eventually, cancer cells gather to form tumors in the lungs.
These tumors may release cancer cells that are picked up and carried by the blood or lymph throughout the body. Once these cells spread, they can create new cancerous tumors in the lymph nodes and other body organs.
Small cell lung cancer can also cause a buildup of fluid in the lungs or in the space around the lungs. This can cause the lung to collapse by pushing air out of the lung.
On average, said Andhika, patients who are detected with small cell lung cancer have entered an advanced stage. Patients also usually choose not to be treated because they feel the cancer is serious enough.
“For those who are not treated, this is the most common and on average it doesn’t last up to three months,” he said.
Cigarettes are the main cause
Small cell lung cancer can be avoided easily. The trick is not to smoke at all. Because Andhika said the main cause of this type of cancer is smoking, both regular cigarettes and electronic cigarettes.
“99.9 percent is caused by smoking. So actually avoiding it is easy, just don’t smoke,” he said.
Apart from cigarettes, the use of e-cigarettes also has the potential to cause users to experience small cell lung cancer. In fact, the risk of developing small cell lung cancer for e-cigarette users is also much greater FOR4D.
“The opportunities are greater and of course it is more dangerous to use e-cigarettes,” he said.