07/11/2026
𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡🫁💛
Every breath matters, and that is why lung cancer cannot be ignored. Globally, lung cancer remains one of the most devastating cancers, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries, including those in the Asia-Pacific region. In the Philippines, lung cancer recorded 23,728 new cases in 2022, making it the second most common cancer overall and the leading cause of cancer death with 20,953 deaths in the same year.
Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the tissues of the lungs, most commonly in the cells lining the airways. The primary risk factors include cigarette smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, radon gas, asbestos, air pollution, and occupational carcinogens. Common symptoms include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, and unexplained weight loss, many of which appear only in the later stages of the disease.
While lung cancer cannot always be prevented, some steps can reduce the risk. The most important thing you can do is to not start smoking, or if you already smoke, to quit, as well as avoiding secondhand smoke, getting your home tested for radon, and following health and safety guidelines at work to limit exposure to carcinogens. As future healthcare providers, let us help raise awareness about lung cancer prevention and encourage the people in our lives.
References:
https://linkmix.co/55270281
Caption by: Urielle Angeles
Layout by: Alexa Mallari
