The following assignment will describe the key concepts of health and well-being related to lung cancer. It will also outline the impact the disease has on individuals and the wider population as well as how it relates to the social determinants of health.
“Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United Kingdom” (Cancer Research UK 2014, Lung cancer incidence). There are two major types of lung cancer which are small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). “SCLC tends to spread widely through the body fairly early in the course of the disease, usually before it causes symptoms” (American Cancer Society 2013: 8). There are three main subtypes of NSCLC which are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large …show more content…
Your risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke and the number of years you have smoked. There is anecdotal evidence that some individuals do not believe stopping smoking when you’re older will prevent you from getting the disease. However quitting at any age can considerably lower your risk of developing lung cancer (Mayo Clinic 2015). Even if you do not smoke your risk increases if you are exposed to second hand smoke (Mayo Clinic 2015). People with a family history of lung cancer have an increased risk of the disease (Mayo Clinic 2015). Other risk factors include, exposure to radon gas, “radon is produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water that eventually becomes part of the air you breathe” (Mayo Clinic 2015, para 1). Exposure to asbestos, this is a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres. Before its dangers were known, asbestos was often used in building work. It is now banned in the UK (British Lung Foundation 2015). Age is another factor linked to lung cancer, with the highest incidence rates being in older men and women. “In the UK between 2010 and 2012, an average of 43% of cases were diagnosed in men and women aged 75 and over” (Cancer Research 2015, para …show more content…
An example of health promotion could be for a patient who smokes, the health professional could discuss quitting and offer a smoking cessation appointment. Determinants of health include where you live, income, education, genetics, and gender (Health Poverty Action 2015). Where you live could be related to lung cancer because if people are not aware that asbestos might have been used in their home and start to make renovations themselves then this can disturb the asbestos leaving the individual exposed to it. Genetics is a determinant you cannot change, your risk of developing lung cancer will increase if you have a family history of the disease. Plus in 2012 it was found that lung cancer cases were higher in men (Cancer Research UK 2015). Another way that lung cancer affects patients is through the dimensions of health. It disrupts the physical dimension with pain and changes in your body throughout the disease and treatment. The disease affects patients emotionally with the stress and anxiety which the disease brings. Additionally the social dimension often changes as family and friends may act differently because they do not know what to say to the patient (PBworks
“Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United Kingdom” (Cancer Research UK 2014, Lung cancer incidence). There are two major types of lung cancer which are small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). “SCLC tends to spread widely through the body fairly early in the course of the disease, usually before it causes symptoms” (American Cancer Society 2013: 8). There are three main subtypes of NSCLC which are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large …show more content…
Your risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke and the number of years you have smoked. There is anecdotal evidence that some individuals do not believe stopping smoking when you’re older will prevent you from getting the disease. However quitting at any age can considerably lower your risk of developing lung cancer (Mayo Clinic 2015). Even if you do not smoke your risk increases if you are exposed to second hand smoke (Mayo Clinic 2015). People with a family history of lung cancer have an increased risk of the disease (Mayo Clinic 2015). Other risk factors include, exposure to radon gas, “radon is produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water that eventually becomes part of the air you breathe” (Mayo Clinic 2015, para 1). Exposure to asbestos, this is a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres. Before its dangers were known, asbestos was often used in building work. It is now banned in the UK (British Lung Foundation 2015). Age is another factor linked to lung cancer, with the highest incidence rates being in older men and women. “In the UK between 2010 and 2012, an average of 43% of cases were diagnosed in men and women aged 75 and over” (Cancer Research 2015, para …show more content…
An example of health promotion could be for a patient who smokes, the health professional could discuss quitting and offer a smoking cessation appointment. Determinants of health include where you live, income, education, genetics, and gender (Health Poverty Action 2015). Where you live could be related to lung cancer because if people are not aware that asbestos might have been used in their home and start to make renovations themselves then this can disturb the asbestos leaving the individual exposed to it. Genetics is a determinant you cannot change, your risk of developing lung cancer will increase if you have a family history of the disease. Plus in 2012 it was found that lung cancer cases were higher in men (Cancer Research UK 2015). Another way that lung cancer affects patients is through the dimensions of health. It disrupts the physical dimension with pain and changes in your body throughout the disease and treatment. The disease affects patients emotionally with the stress and anxiety which the disease brings. Additionally the social dimension often changes as family and friends may act differently because they do not know what to say to the patient (PBworks