Chaffin P, Reininger S
Nurse Pract. 1981 Jan-Feb;6(1):10-7.
Despite much research and clinical application of various treatment modalities, the five-year survival rate in bronchogenic carcinoma is very poor. With over 90,000 lung cancer deaths recorded in 1977, and over 100,000 deaths estimated in 1980, we should emphasize prevention as well as cure in our daily patient contacts. Patients particularly at high risk are (a) men over 45 years of age with more than 10 pack-years of smoking, (b) patients (men and women) with chronic cough, recent pneumonia, or hemoptysis. (c) Patients with a stable solitary nodule, (d) patients with occupational exposure. Hopefully, with prevention, early diagnosis, and improved treatment, our role in management of the lung cancer patient will be easier. Management of the patient with bronchogenic carcinoma will follow in the second part of this article.