Cancer Care Associates, Oklahoma City, OK

If you could prevent an early death, wouldn't you? Incredibly, there were more than 4.8 million smoking-related premature deaths worldwide in the year 2000 alone. In Oklahoma, it's estimated that tobacco use kills 6,000 each year – that's about 16 people every day.

Quitting smoking is a big step and often takes an emotional factor to succeed. For Dr. Steven Buck, an oncologist with Cancer Care Associates, it took the birth of his son. "I quit the day my son was born," he said. "I was doing it for him." Smoking is a direct factor in lung cancer, and as more people kick the habit, the numbers show a positive change. Incidences of lung cancer have been decreasing, and Dr. Buck credits the success of smoking cessation programs for helping with that reduction.

The cessation programs and counseling are so successful that MediCare and some insurances now cover them. "Getting help to fund smoking cessation provides more motivation for patients," Dr. Buck said. "And that helps people to be more successful in stopping smoking. "Newer chemotherapy and biologic treatments also are helping in the fight against lung cancer. Many doctors now are using adjuvant chemotherapy, which is an early treatment right after surgery. This aggressive treatment is especially helpful for those with a high-risk of reoccurrence. New drugs and research also are helping patients fighting lung cancer.

"There are newer modalities of therapy that effect growth signals or blood vessel growth in the tumors. These are added to the chemo for an increased response rate with little additional toxicity," explained Dr. Buck. An earlier diagnosis is needed though. An ef fective screening tool, such as those for breast cancer and prostate cancer, would be especially helpful.

"If we had an effective screening tool it would be implemented," Dr. Buck said. "Some doctors are looking at using CAT scans but the final report for that is still under analysis. "Currently, persistent and progressive symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, bone pain, lumps or chronic cough (especially if bloody) are the late signals we currently respond to. More is needed. "A simple chest X-ray can give false assurances," said Dr. Buck. "One of the sure ways to detect cancer is with a bronchoscopy where a doctor can look inside the lung and do brushings and a biopsy. "Research continues to focus on new treatments.

Often lung cancer patients are seen as people who smoked and caused their own disease. Dr. Buck says that's not fair and that incidences are occurring more often now even in non-smokers. "It's not fair to not fund research and treatment," he said. For now his best advice is to quit smoking, and to get help by calling 1-866-PITCH EM or 1-800-QUIT NOW.