Joselito Malig

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lung cancer

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17540528550321754052850745.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=" A radiologist shows a nodule on a lung scan of a tobacco smoker. Pascal Pochard-Casabianca, AFP/file"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"> A radiologist shows a nodule on a lung scan of a tobacco smoker. <em>Pascal Pochard-Casabianca, AFP/file</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — You may take pride in not smoking—after all, it significantly lowers your risk of developing lung disease. </p><p>But every day, you&#x27;re still surrounded by clouds of cigarette and vape smoke, often disguised by food-scented flavors that help mask the stench of pollution. </p><p>Layer that with constant exposure to environmental and occupational hazards, and the question becomes unavoidable: are you really as safe as you think?</p><p>For health experts, the toxic mix of tobacco, vape, air pollution, and workplace risks often points to one alarming outcome -- lung cancer. </p><p>It remains one of the most prevalent and deadliest cancers among Filipinos, according to the World Health Organization.</p><div><strong>TOP KILLER AMONG DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCER</strong></div><p>Cancer, or neoplasms, has consistently ranked among the top causes of death among Filipinos, according to data from the Philippine Statistic Authority.</p><p>Among the many types of cancer, lung cancer remains one of the most common. </p><p>Data from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) show that in 2020, 12.5% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases in the Philippines affected the lungs.</p><p>The same data reveals a gender disparity: lung cancer is more prevalent among men, with about two in every ten male cancer patients diagnosed with it—significantly more than their female counterparts.</p><p>Dr. Randy Joseph Castillo, chair of the Council on Lung Malignancy of the Philippine College of Physician and spokesperson of the Lung Center of the Philippines, attributed this to smoking habits.</p><p>“In essence, parang four out of five na mada-diagnose ng lung cancer na lalaki ay smokers,” he said.</p><p>(In essence, four out of every five men that are diagnosed with lung cancer are smokers.)</p><p>Among women, a different pattern tends to emerge. Castillo noted that adenocarcinoma—a type of cancer that begins in the glandular cells lining the lungs—is more common in female patients.</p><p>But smoking isn&#x27;t the sole culprit. A wide range of risk factors contribute to the development of lung cancer, including prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals in the workplace or environment, age, family history, and preexisting lung conditions.</p><p>Like many cancers, lung cancer is increasingly affecting younger individuals. Castillo recalled treating a patient in their 20s who was diagnosed with advanced-stage lung cancer.</p><p>“Nagkaroon siya ng tubig sa baga. Initially we were just thinking given his age na pneumonia or tuberculosis. He was diagnosed at stage four. Both of his parents are smokers, he was also a smoker so he really had a high risk factor.”</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175405293669220250801130828_lungcancer.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Lung Cancer"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>LATE DIAGNOSIS</strong></div><p>Lung cancer is considered treatable in its early stages—specifically stages one and two. However, because its symptoms often mimic those of more common and less severe respiratory conditions, many patients tend to ignore them.</p><p>Because of this, Castillo said most diagnoses happen only in the later stages—typically stage three or four—when the disease has already progressed significantly.</p><p>One major difference between early and late-stage lung cancer is tumor size. In stage one, tumors are generally smaller than three centimeters. At this point, the only noticeable symptom may be a persistent cough, something that can seem harmless or easily dismissed.</p><p>But Castillo warned that anyone with known risk factors, especially smokers or those exposed to secondhand smoke, should take even minor symptoms seriously, particularly if the cough is accompanied by blood.</p><p>By stage two, the tumor is bigger — around three to five centimeters and may being to spread to nearby lymph nodes.</p><p>“Mas pronounced na yung kanilang symptoms. Yung iba hinihingal na. Yung iba may tinatawag tayong wheezing o parang may huni sa dibdib kasi lumalaki na yung bukol na maaring makaapekto sa daanan ng hangin.”</p><p>(The symptoms are more pronounced. Some tire more easily while others start wheezing because the tumor is getting bigger and may already be affected airways.)</p><p>In stage three, the tumor typically grows even larger, approaching or exceeding five centimeters, and has more extensively affected lymph nodes.</p><p>By stage four, the most advanced phase, the cancer has metastasized beyond the lungs, spreading to other organs such as the liver, bones, or brain. At this stage, treatment becomes significantly more complex.</p><div><strong>EARLY SCREENING = EARLY TREATMENT</strong></div><p>While treating a patient with advanced-stage lung cancer is far from a lost cause, Dr. Randy Joseph Castillo says it often requires intensive and complex care. </p><p>This typically involves systemic treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy—approaches that demand time, resources, and patient resilience in systematic treatments like chemotherapy, targeted therapies or immunotherapy.</p><p>That’s why health experts strongly advocate for proactive healthcare behavior, including regular cancer screenings, especially for individuals with known risk factors. Early detection, they say, can save lives in up to 90 percent of cases.</p><p>If detected an early stage, local treatments like radiation therapy and surgery are often sufficient and significantly more effective.</p><p>Screening is highly recommended for people at elevated risk, particularly current smokers, those who have quit within the past 15 years, individuals with a family history of lung cancer, and adults aged 50 and older.</p><p>In July, state health insurer PhilHealth launched a revitalized primary care package from Konsulta to YAKAP (Yaman sa Kalusugan Program) which aims to provide members coverage for consultations and cancer screening tests to promote prevention and early disease detection.</p><p>Despite advances in treatment, experts agree that the most effective way to prevent lung cancer, or any serious illness, is to avoid known risk factors altogether. In the case of lung cancer, that means steering clear of smoking and vaping.</p><p>Studies show that permanently discarding the butt not only lowers the risk of 12 types of cancers but also chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CPOD), cardiovascular disease and poor reproductive health outcomes.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G_12_ufmwnU??si=QUs5aDHIobuQazjz&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>For health experts, the toxic mix of tobacco, vape, air pollution, and workplace risks often points to one alarming outcome -- lung cancer.</p>

For health experts, the toxic mix of tobacco, vape, air pollution, and workplace risks often points to one alarming outcome -- lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains among top killers in PH

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Lung cancer remains among top killers in PH

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 01, 2025 08:56 PM PHT

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Updated August 01, 2025 09:08 PM PHT

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lung cancer

Lung Center of the Philippines

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