Vol. 6, Issue 11, Part A (2020)

The number of new cases is increasing rapidly in most of the developed as well as developing countries. For most other cancers the death rates are either improving or at least, leveling off. But with lung cancer, where the progress in therapy is minimal, and with the increasing use of tobacco, the decrease in incidence or mortality Appears dismal. The lung cancer epidemic was first noted in males in the US and a number of European countries during the 1940. By the early 1950’s epidemiologic studies using case control approaches had provided strong evidence that cigarette smoking was the predominant cause of the disease. During the 1950’s and 1960s, prospective cohort it is estimated that 1-1.5 million cancers/ year are caused by tobacco use. Although some knowledge is presently available regarding the world tobacco related cancer burden, quite a lot needs to be better known. In order to evaluate the burden correctly, one needs to have precise statistics concerning 3 items.

1. Cancer occurrence

2. Prevalence of tobacco use in its various forms

3. Precise relationship between tobacco use and disease for each country

Objectives of the study

Primary objective: To find out the pattern of Tobacco smoke exposure and its relation to various histological types of Lung cancer with special reference to passive smoking.

Secondary objective: To identify the clinical predictors of histological types of Lung Cancer among the patients attending the tertiary care centre under the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Dr. SM CSI Medical College, Karakonam.

Methodology

Study design: Descriptive study.

Study population: Included patients attending the Department of Respiratory medicine with symptoms and signs suggestive of lung cancer.

Setting: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Medical College, Karakonam.

Inclusion criteria: Patient with definite histological evidence of lung cancer.

Exclusion criteria: Patients without any histological evidence of Lung cancer and those with metastatic Lung cancer.

Period of study: December 2010 - June 2020.

Results and Conclusion: 71% of Lung Cancer patients are found to be smokers. When smoking status is considered in relation to histological types 85% of squamous cell and 82% of small cell carcinoma patients are smokers. These histological types are already proven to have the clearest association with smoking. 50% of Adenocarcinoma patients, the commonest histological type in nonsmokers, are found to be smokers. Among the nonsmokers, predominantly females, 81% are passive smokers. The main histological type in passive smokers is Adenocarcinoma.