Nepal PM Koirala diagnosed with lung cancer

Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has been diagnosed with lung cancer, his personal physician has said. Koirala left for the US last week for treatment of his lung condition. 'It is unfortunate to say that Prime Minister Koirala has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Upon the recommendation of doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, he will undergo radiotherapy,' doctor Kabir Nath Yogi was quoted as telling Kantipur online. (Read: Now, a therapeutic vaccine to treat lung cancer)

Koirala, 74, had admitted before leaving for the US that he used to be a chain smoker, and chewed pan and gutka in his younger days. 'The doctors at Sloan Kettering told us that after receiving radiotherapy, it is expected that the prime minister's health condition will improve,' Yogi said. According to a press statement released Thursday by Nepal's Permanent Mission to the UN, doctors involved in Koirala's treatment have advised him to go for radiotherapy for treatment of the localised lesion of the lung since his chronic bronchitis does not permit a major surgery of the lung. The radiotherapy will be done Friday. Koirala is in the US since June 16 for treatment after a suspicious black spot was seen in one of his lungs in a CT-scan test conducted in Kathmandu. (Read: Breakthrough in lung cancer therapy)

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer refers to uncontrolled cellular growth in the lung tissues. These lumps and tumours interfere with the normal functioning of the lungs, stopping it from performing its primary duty of providing oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Lung cancer, considered one of the most deadly forms of the disease, causes close to 1.4 million deaths per year, according to a World Health Organization estimate. The two main types of this cancer are small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

Tobacco smoking, both active and passive, is the foremost reason for development of lung cancer. According to a new study, smoking ultra-long or long cigarettes can put you at greater risk of lung cancer. Heavy exposure to asbestos, radon, uranium, arsenic, genetic predisposition, and lung scarring from any prior illness can all cause lung cancer. Due to environmental pollution, lung cancer is increasing rapidly among Indian women in the 45 to 55 age group. Fine particulate matter in the air that lodges itself in the lungs causes harm over time, and damage starts early.

Cough, haemoptysis (coughing up blood), wheezing, shortness of breath, weight loss and chest pains are some of the common symptoms. But these symptoms usually show up in the advanced stage, often making the treatment ineffective. Scientists are now developing a breathalyser device that can detect lung cancer in early stages. Lung cancer may be diagnosed on chest X-rays and CT scans. Biopsy confirms the diagnosis. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, either alone or in combination. Some of the latest advances in treatment are experimental drug called MK-3475, combination of drugs in targeted therapy against lung adenocarcinomas and therapeutic vaccine.

With inputs from IANS

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