Evaluating the increase in lung cancer events, Dr. Özkan Demirhan said, “We encountered classical lung cancer cases at the beginning of the pandemic. Patients came with symptoms such as cough, sputum bleeding, chest pain, weakness, weight loss, nail bed swelling, joint pain, headache, and muscle aches. So we saw the classic signs of lung cancer. In the period after the pandemic, thorax tomography (CT) came to the fore. In thoracic CT corona virus scanning, PCR and antibody-antigen testing together became the first-line diagnostic formula. At that time, we started to see an increase in the number of patients. I think this may be due to the fact that state hospitals are pandemic hospitals. We saw an increase in the number of patients with lung cancer, but while we were thinking a little bit optimistically, that we would catch patients at an early stage, we saw very advanced cancer events. This surprised us. We encountered metastases in the brain, liver, bone, and opposite lung of patients who had no complaints. While the patients over 60 were classical lung cancer patients, the other patients were not very old. We even saw it in the 40s-50s. In our attempts with diagnostic purposes, we encountered successive small cell lung cancer cases, although the rate was lower than non-small cell lung cancer cases. This was one of the results that surprised us because we were surprised that small cell lung cancer was seen so frequently. Of course, the number of early-stage lung cancer cases was not small, of course.”
Does it mean that Covid triggers such a situation?
Demirhan explained the question of whether Covid-19 triggers lung cancer as follows: “I don’t think Covid will trigger it. It has nothing to do with Covid. There is a global pollution today. The environment we live in, the pollution of the air, the deterioration of what we eat and drink, the fact that we lead a stressful and troublesome life, and the inability to support immunity are major factors in this. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in men after prostate cancer. In the Corona period, we saw lung cancer more in men. However, it is not insignificant for women. We were able to operate some of them and some we could not. In thoracic surgery operations, the development of complications or problems after the disease is more common than in other branches. After the operation, the patient has a risk of getting a spectacular infection. After the anxious period of the first time passed, that is, when the new standard was passed, we definitely did the covid test on all patients. We do not undergo surgery without a tomography, but we have taken greater care to protect both the patient and ourselves during this period. It is different, none of the patients who have decided to have surgery so far have had a positive covid test. In other words, there was no patient whose covid test was positive but whose surgery was canceled.”
Does covid stay away from people with lung cancer, this should also be investigated
Assoc. Dr. Özkan Demirhan continued his statements as follows. “Does covid stay away from people with lung cancer, this also needs to be investigated. We have never come across Covid and lung cancer together. We suspected one of our patients because the scene was a covid image. We consulted radiology again, because the frosted glass view seen in covid can also be seen in lung cancer, it can also be seen in other infectious diseases. That frosted glass image that is easily seen in a viral infection, bacterial infection, or fungal infection. Therefore, we add tests to distinguish covid from them. We are not satisfied with tomography alone. There are blood tests (antigen-antibody test), throat swab and nose swab tests called PCR. There is a possibility that these tests will also come back negative. 100 percent is not enough for a diagnosis. In those kinds of situations, CT scans increased. A lot of scanning has been done in this sense. Since Covid most often involves the lung and has systemic involvement, tomography has become one of the ways of screening, but it is necessary to evaluate the patient together with his clinic.”
Patients should not delay their routine inspections after lung cancer surgery
Emphasizing the importance of people who have undergone surgery should not disrupt their routine check-ups, Demirhan said, “We specifically tell patients not to interrupt their routine check-ups after lung cancer surgery. However, during this period, some patients call and say that they are afraid to come to the inspection. We strongly recommend that they have their inspection done at a hospital they trust. Inspections can be delayed by a month or two, but we inform the patients that if there is a complaint, they should definitely be considered. Currently, hospitals are religious, so it will be more correct if they do not disrupt their routine inspections. Absolutely, provided that they follow the rules of mask, distance and hygiene. We recommend that they have the examination done as quickly as possible and leave the hospital without delay.” spoke in.
This trio should not be skipped: Movement, vitamin D and vitamin C…
Pointing out the value of vitamin D, Özkan Demirhan said, “I definitely recommend my patients to go out in the sun, especially during the pandemic period, as they stay still and without sun. I definitely recommend them to go out in the sun on the balcony, in the park or in front of their houses. It is valuable that they come into contact with the air by protecting themselves. I want them not to be inactive. They should not sit still. Worst case scenario, they often have to throw some variety in the house. When sitting or standing still, the body leaves itself and the risk of deep vein thrombosis and embolism, called blood clots, increases. That’s why movement is so valuable. I definitely recommend a low dose of vitamin D when you can’t be exposed to the sun’s rays. I definitely recommend vitamin D in the form of 5-6 drops a day. A stable diet is also very important. I especially recommend that they eat poorly from carbohydrates, elderly people should pay attention to this. I recommend taking zinc and vitamin C as well as vitamin D. I do not consider vitamin C essential for individuals who are fed properly with fruits and vegetables.” used the terms.
