Statistics suggest that lung cancer claims more lives on an annual basis as compared to conditions like breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon cancer put together. Depending on the stage of the condition, lung cancer can metastasize to different parts of the body. While there is no known cause of cancer, the foods listed below can contribute to it’s development. One should eliminate these foods from their daily meals to lower the risk of cancer.
Sugary food and drinks
High sugar levels in the body can often lead to an increase in fat storage. It can also lead to increased blood insulin levels. Disrupted sugar levels in the blood could act as a contributing factor to the development of comorbidities like lung cancer. Additionally, sugar does not provide any nutrients to the body. Excess sugar can be harmful as it could support the growth of cancer cells. Regular intake of sugar can result in an unnecessary disruption in the body’s nutritional and hormonal balance.
High sodium foods
Salted, smoked, cured, or canned meat or fish products have high salt content. Frozen foods like ready-to-eat burritos and pizzas are some more examples of foods with high levels of sodium. Foods with high sodium have been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. One should also be careful before adding extra salt or dressing to the food. Excess salt in food can cause water retention, leading to shortness of breath.
Dairy products
Patients with health concerns relating to the lungs should try to avoid or completely eliminate dairy from their daily meals. Intake of unpasteurized dairy and dairy products can lead to health complications and E.coli infection. This is in addition to the risk of increased inflammation caused by dairy products in some patients. It is therefore considered to be a bad addition to food for patients with lung cancer.
Cold cuts
Cold cuts are processed foods available for consumption. They contain nitrates in high amounts. Regular intake of these chemicals contributes to the decline of lung health and may act as a carcinogenic agent. The nitrates, therefore, make cold cuts bad foods for lung cancer patients.
Patients with lung cancer should seek timely health care. Doctors may prescribe a treatment plan designed to improve the patient’s condition and manage their symptoms.
Carboplatin
Carboplatin is an intravenous treatment option used to treat small cell and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It works by hindering the growth of cancer cells. This treatment option is administered once every four weeks.
Cisplatin
Like carboplatin, cisplatin also can be used to treat both types of lung cancer. It is usually administered every three to four weeks. Carboplatin slows down or completely stops the growth of cancer cells.
Paclitaxel
Marketed as Taxol®, Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. It is also capable of inducing cancerous cell death.
Pralsetinib
Marketed as Gavreto®, Pralsetinib is used to treat RET fusion-positive NSCLC. It belongs to the class of compounds known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Some other compounds in this class are commonly employed to treat ALK positive NSCLC. Pralsetinib is a targeted TKI used to treat tumors, and it possesses compounds to combat ALK positive metastatic NSCLC. When under NSCLC treatment, one must check if their insurance policy covers targeted therapy treatment that involves Pralsetinib. Cigna National Formulary Coverage Policy is one of the plans that covers Pralsetinib.
One of the risk factors of lung cancer is genetic predisposition. This means that there is a higher risk of lung cancer if a parent, sibling, or someone in the family has the disease. Heritage genealogy testing and research can help understand which individuals face a higher risk of certain cancers. They also help you understand if any gene mutations are present in the bloodline.
