The Medical journal of Australia
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A variety of treatments can be effective palliative therapy of symptoms of airway obstruction caused by endobronchial tumour: Nd-YAG laser resection may be indicated for tumours that are relatively short in length, situated in trachea, mainstem or proximal lobe bronchi. Cryotherapy may be an alternative to laser resection. ⋯ Endobronchial stents. Randomised trials are required to determine the relative merits of these treatments and the optimal management of endobronchial complications of lung cancer.
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It is both ethically and economically desirable to restrict the use of diagnostic medical radiation to only those who will benefit from it. However, patients should not refuse diagnostic tests based on an exaggerated estimation of the risks because most of these tests involve low doses of radiation. ⋯ No evidence of thyroid cancer, leukaemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been found in patients exposed to diagnostic levels of ionising radiation. For most diagnostic tests, the risks arising from the radiation exposure are too small to be observed and the benefits will almost always outweigh the risk.
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Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in Australian adults. Over 90% of lung cancers are due to exposure to tobacco smoke. Female smokers are more susceptible to developing lung cancer than male smokers. ⋯ The development of new, unexplained respiratory or systemic symptoms in a heavy smoker or ex-smoker should raise the suspicion of lung cancer. Early detection and consideration of tumour resection for all operable tumours are the main strategies for improving the cure rate of non-small-cell lung cancer at present. Reducing the prevalence of smoking remains the best method for reducing lung cancer deaths.