According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, an estimated 224,000 new cases of lung cancer will occur in the U.S. in 2018 with an estimated death of 154,000. It remains to be one of the most prevalent cancers and one of the most common causes of death among men and women worldwide. In the U.S., an approximate of 6.5% of men and women will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime according to the National Cancer Institute 2011-2013 data.
Cigarette smoking is the main cause of lung cancer although passive smokers may be at risk of acquiring the disease. Doctors believe that smoking and repeated exposure to other cancer-causing substances can damage the cells that line the lungs which causes them to act abnormally, mutate, and later on develop into cancer. Other risk factors include exposure to second hand smoke, exposure to radon (a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that naturally exists in soil and considered the second leading cause of lung cancer), exposure to hazardous chemicals (such as uranium, asbestos, cadmium, chromium, nickel and some petroleum), particle pollution, and genetics.
Lung cancer is most is most common among the elderly (65 years old and above) with almost 70% cases diagnosed, 3% among people aged 45 and below with the median age at 70. It does not present signs and symptoms in its early stages but the most common according to the American Cancer Society include:
Worsening cough that doesn’t go away
Coughing-up of blood
Chest pain that is worst in breathing, coughing or laughing
Hoarseness of voice
Weight loss and appetite
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Feeling tired or weak
Bronchitis and pneumonia or other lung infections that don’t go away and keeps coming back.
Prognosis (chance for cure or survival) for this disease is poor and although it is generally classified as an incurable cancer, it is almost always treatable as long it is detected in its early stages. If you suspect you have lung cancer, consult your doctor to get the right diagnosis. A combination of surgery, chemotherapy or radiation may be done. Targeted therapies and immunotherapies are becoming known and widely used as well.
In 2008, the Cuban Regulatory Authority approved the use of Cimavax Egf among adults with advanced stages of cancer. It is the first worldwide registered therapeutic vaccine for non-small lung cancer developed in Cuba by the Center for Molecular Immunology in conjunction with the center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. It is an active immunotherapy which uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. The idea of immunotherapy is from the understanding that cancer cells are present in the body and being fought by the body’s immune system but when the latter is weak and can no longer destroy them, these cancer cells become life threatening.
Cimavax Egf works by helping the body’s immune system produce antibodies that works against a protein that causes growth cancer cells. It is much less harmful to the body than chemotherapy and according to clinical trials conducted in Cuba, it can help prolong a patient’s life from 4 to 6 months. Lung cancer patients younger than 60 years old have also shown survival in clinical tests, an average of 18.5 months. These patients survived longer with this vaccine than those under controls who only lived an average of 7.6 months. Cimavax Egf is also less toxic with fewer side effects as compared chemotherapy. It helps reduce cough and difficulty breathing with fewer side effects such as chills, fever, and nausea.
It is not a cure for lung cancer but Cimavax Egf is known to be well-tolerated but is quite inexpensive. Four to six months may be a short time to prolong one’s life, but it is a good sign that treatments are slowly advancing considering lung cancer is difficult to detect and the most difficult cancer to treat. If you are considering treatment with this vaccine, consult your doctor and discuss the risks, side effects and benefits involved.
Disclaimer:
This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and should not be relied as medical advice. Always consult your doctor before taking any medication or supplements.
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