Types and Statistics of Lung Cancer
The two main types of lung cancer are Small Cell Lung Cancer and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. These categories refer to what the cancer cells look like under a microscope. People with an increased risk of lung cancer may consider annual lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scans. Lung cancer screening is generally offered to older adults who have smoked heavily for many years or who have quit in the past 15 years.
About 98% of all lung cancers are carcinomas, a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas grow from transformed cells that originate as epithelial cells. In time, this uncontrolled growth can spread beyond to other parts of body, either by direct extension, or by entering the lymphatic circulation.
The vast majority (85%) of lung cancer is correlated with long-term tobacco smoking. About 10-15% occur in people who never smoked. These cases are often caused by a combination of genetic factors and exposure to radon gas, asbestos, and second-hand smoke. The major method of prevention is by avoiding smoking and air pollution.
Treatment and long-term outcomes depend on the type of cancer, the stage (degree of spread), and the person’s overall health. In 2020, worldwide, lung cancer occurred in 2.2 million people and resulted in 1.8 million deaths. It is the most common cancer-caused mortality both in men and women.
The above graph depicts Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Singapore. Lung Cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common cancer in Singaporean women. According to the Singapore Cancer Registry, there were 7780 new cases of lung cancer between 2013 – 2017.
The prevalence of smoking in Singapore is among the lowest worldwide, and has been reduced between 12-14% in the year of 2010s compared to 18.3% in 1992. It’s estimated that smoking costs Singapore in health care costs and lower productivity of at least $600 millions every year.
Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Signs and symptoms related to lung cancer include:
- Respiratory Symptoms: Coughing (including blood producing cough), Wheezing and Shortness of breath
- Systemic Symptoms: Weight Loss, Weakness, Fever
- Symptoms due to cancer lump pressing on adjacent structures: Chest Pain, Bone Pain & Superior Vena Cava Obstruction
If cancer grows in the airways, it can obstruct airflow and thus causing breathing issues. This obstruction can also lead to the accumulation of secretions behind the blockage, and thus increasing the risk of pneumonia.
A lot of Lung Cancer symptoms are not specific: Poor appetite, Weight Loss, Fever. In many cases, by the time patients develop symptoms and seek medical attention, the cancer has metastasized beyond lung. A couple of symptoms that might indicate cancer spreading include weight loss, bone pain, and neurological symptoms (headaches, fainting, convulsions).
No National Screening of Lung Cancer in Singapore
At present, there is no national screening program for Lung Cancer in the country. Low-dose Computed Tomography (CT Scans) is sometimes used to screen lung cancer, albeit the risk of false positives as tuberculosis and flu are endemic. For each accurate positive scan there are about 19 false positive scans. These high rate of false positive scans may cause unneeded treatment. Lung Cancer patients usually come for screening after having persistent cough, weight loss, or coughing up blood (hemoptysis).
In United States, the Preventative Services Task Force recommends yearly screening using low-dose CT to those who have a total smoking history of 30 pack years, and those who are between 55 and 80 years old unless they have not smoked for the past 15 years consecutively.
Vitamin C supplementation might reduce the risk of developing lung cancer.
Causes of Lung Cancer
Cancer usually develops after DNA experiences genetic damage and epigenetic changes. These changes affect normal functions of cells, including cell proliferation, natural programmed cell death (apoptosis) and DNA repair. As more damages occur, the risk of cancer increases.
1. Smoking
Tobacco smoking is the undoubtedly the number one contributor to lung cancer. Cigarette smoke contains at least 73 known carcinogens, including benzo[a]pyrene, NNK, and 1,3-butadiene. Passive smoking (inhaling smoke from other people’s smoking), may cause lung cancer. Living and working with a smoker can lead to passive smoking. A number of studies from the US, UK, and some European countries have consistently concluded a significantly higher risk among those exposed to passive smoking.
2. Radon Gas
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas generated by the breakdown of radioactive uranium, which is a decay product of uranium, found in Earth’s crust. The radiation decay products ionize genetic material, causing cellular mutations that can become cancerous.
3. Asbestos
Asbestos is known to cause a variety of lung diseases including lung cancer. Tobacco smoking and exposure to asbestos together have a synergistic effects on the development of lung cancer. Smokers who work with asbestos have a 45-fold increased risk of developing lung cancer compared to the general population.
4. Air Pollution
Outdoor air pollutants, especially chemicals released from the burning of fossil fuels, increase the risk of lung cancer. Fine particulates (PM2.5) and sulfate aerosols, which may be released in traffic exhaust fumes, are associated with slightly increased risk of developing lung cancer.
TXL Research on Lung Cancer
Disclaimer: The information presented in this website is only for education purposes. This information does not substitute nor replace medical advice.
1. TXL Helps to Inhibit Cell Growth and Induce Apoptosis (Programmed Cell Death) in Human Lung Carcinoma Cell Lines
In 2005, the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published the research by Andy Sun et al in National Taiwan University. The research investigates the anti-tumor activity of TXL towards 15 human cancer cells, including H1299, Human Lung Carcinoma Cancer Cell Lines. THL (Tien Hsien Liquid) mentioned in the research is the Taiwan Pronunciation of the current TXL (Tian Xian Liquid).
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Apoptosis is defined as a type of cell death in which a series of molecular steps in a cell lead to its death. Apoptosis is also called as programmed cell death. In cancer cells, apoptosis means programmed cell death of cancer cells.
Figure 1: Inhibition of Lung Cancer Cell Growth by THL
A. Dose-dependent effect of THL on C-33A/Hepatocellular and H1299/Lung cancer cells (upper panel) and normal human PBMC (lower panel). Cells were cultured in media containing various concentrations of THL for 24 hours. Viable cells were counted using the trypan blue dye exclusion method and expressed as a percentage of the control (without addition of THL). The data represent the average of three independent experiments with the standard deviation. *P 0.05 and **P 0.001 using an unpaired Student’s t-test for the comparison between untreated and THL-treated cells.
This A graph explains that TXL shows a strong and dose dependent inhibitory effect on Human Lung Cancer Cells’ growth. At a concentration of 1% (v/v), all of the lung cancer cells in the experiment were not alive anymore.
B. Time-dependent growth-inhibitory effect of THL on C-33A, H1299/Lung, and HepG2 cancer cells (upper panel) and normal human PBMC (lower panel). Cells were cultured in media in the absence or presence of 1% (v/v) THL for 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 72 hours. Viable cells were counted using the trypan blue dye exclusion method. The data represent the average of three independent experiments with the standard deviation. *P 0.05 and **P 0.001 using an unpaired Student’s t-test for the comparison between untreated and THL-treated groups at the specific time point.
Picture 2: TXL Helps to Induce Apoptosis (Programmed Cell Death) in Human Lung Carcinoma Cells
A. Morphologic changes of the Lung Cancer/H1299 cells treated with THL. Lung Cancer Cells treated for 12 hours without (left) or with (right) 1% (v/v) THL were photographed under a phase-contrast microscope.
This morphologic changes picture clearly shows that after coming in contact with 1% THL, the lung cancer cells decreased significantly.
B. Fluorescent staining of nuclei of H1299 cells treated for 12 hours without (left) or with (right) 1%(v/v) THL by Hoechst 332. The photographs were taken under a fluorescence microscope.
C. TUNEL staining of H1299/Lung Cancer Cells untreated or treated with 1% (v/v) THL. The cells were first processed with TUNEL to detect the fragmented nucleosomal DNA and then stained with PI to label the nuclear DNA. The same microscopic field was pictured under a fluorescence microscope using a blue or green filter, respectively.
Compared to untreated control, a majority of the THL-treated cells were TUNEL positive (with fluorescent nuclei), indicating that THL-treated cells were undergoing apoptosis.
Results of the Research: TXL could help to induce apoptosis in all human cancer cell lines tested but not in normal/healthy human cells. TXL treatment of Lung Cancer cells resulted in activation of caspase-8, -9, and -3 and the inhibitors of these caspases could partially block TXL-induced apoptosis.
Conclusions: TXL has been used by numerous patients with cancer for many years with no known adverse effect. Our present study showing that TXL had a broad-range tumor killing function has provided a molecular basis underlying TXL therapeutic activity. Furthermore, because TXL had apoptotic effects only on cancer cells but not on normal cells, this selectivity suggests that THL could be a potential cancer therapeutic agent.
2. TXL Assists to Inhibit Metastasis/Migration Ability of Human Lung Cancer Cells
Cancer metastasis is defined as the spread of cancer cells from the primary site of the body where they first formed to another parts of the body. In April 2010, BMC Cancer Journal published the research of Jean-San Chia et al. from National Taiwan University regarding Tien Hsien Liquid’s ability to help the inhibition of tumor metastasis and angiogenesis.
According to National Cancer Institute of Cancer Terms, Tumor Angiogenesis is defined as “the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow.” So both Metastasis and Angiogenesis are ways in which tumors can grow and survive in a person’s body. Therefore, effectively supressing tumors requires supressing both the spreading and the growth of the tumors.
Results of the Research: THL inhibited the migration and invasion ability of various cancer cells in vitro, decreased the secretion of MMP-2, MMP-9, and uPA and the activity of ERK1/2 in cancer cells, and suppressed pulmonary metastasis of CT-26 cancer cells in syngenic mice. Moreover, THL inhibited the migration, invasion, and tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro, decreased the secretion of MMP-2 and uPA in endothelial cells, and suppressed neovascularization in Matrigel plugs in mice.
Besides its inhibitory effect on endothelial cells, THL inhibited hypoxia-induced HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor-A expression in cancer cells. Finally, our results show that THL inhibited the growth of human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer xenografts in NOD-SCID mice. This suppression of tumor growth was associated with decreased microvessel formation and increased apoptosis caused by THL.
Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that THL had broad-spectra anti-cancer activities and merits further evaluation for its use in cancer therapy.
Figure 3: Inhibition of Metastasis
This is the image of wound healing assay. The image shows that after 20 hours of incubation, the higher the concentration of TXL, the more difficult it is for the cancer cells to migrate from point Left to Right, showing a larger unfilled gap in the middle compared to the untreated group.
This figure indicates that TXL can inhibit the movement of lung cancer cells.
3. TXL Helps to Inhibit Angiogenesis (Vascularization of Cancer Cells)
Figure 4: Effect of TXL on the 231-CM-induced angiogenesis in Matrigel plugs. Upper panel, Representative pictures of control (without 231-CM), 231-CM containing, 231-CM+THL-containing Matrigel plugs at Day 14 after implantation into mice. Lower panel, quantitation of hemoglobin level in the plugs.
Jean-San Chia et al.’s research also investigates whether TXL supressed vascularization of cancer cells in vivo using Matrigel plug assay. 231-CM is a culture of human breast adenocarcinoma cells. The red color of 231-CM in Matrigel indicates that adenocarcinoma cells can induce new blood vessel formations in Matrigel plugs.
In the presence of TXL, the plugs showed light yellowish color instead indicating the absence of angiogenesis. The amount of hemoglobin content in the plugs is used to measure the extent of angiogenesis.
This figure suggests that TXL can inhibit neovascularization of cancer cells in vivo.
4. Increase in Quality of Life
Research shows that TXL helps to improve the Quality of Life in cancer patients. Patients who consume TXL experience better physical and cognitive functions, with less fatigue.
5. Immunomodulating Effect
Immunomodulating means the ability to stimulate or regulate immune system which may help the body fight cancer, infection, or other diseases. TXL helps to stimulate Lymphocytes (by elevating CD3, CD4/CD8 and CD19), which are a crucial part of the immune system responsible to fight cancer cells, viruses and bacteria. The T lymphocyte, especially its capacity for antigen-directed cytotoxicity, has become a central focus for engaging the immune system in the fight against cancer. Basic science discoveries elucidating the molecular and cellular biology of the T cell have led to new strategies in this fight, including checkpoint blockade and adoptive cellular therapy.
Aside from T Lymphocytes, other classes of Lymphocytes include Natural Killer Cells, T Helper Cells, and B Cells.
TXL Phytoceutical has been used in international market since 1991. After 30 years of experience in supporting cancer patients, today the Research of TXL towards cancer has produced 26 international published peer-reviewed research articles, including 2 clinical researches, one for Breast Cancer in Taiwan National Hospital, and the other one for Nasopharyngeal Cancer in Dharmais Hospital Jakarta Indonesia.
TXL is also recognized in the Drug Dictionary of National Cancer Institute with code name THL-P.
TXL Experience from Lung Cancer Clients Worldwide
1. The Origin of TXL and Me
Miss Bi-Yuan Wang, born in 1967 Taiwan is a survivor of Lung and Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, here’s her story.
Disclaimer: There is no guarantee for specific results. Results vary among individuals. The information presented here is for education purpose only. The information presented in this website does not replace medical advice from medical professionals.
In February of 1995, my illness was diagnosed as the fourth stage of nasal cancer by the doctor. Nothing can describe how I felt at that time. The doctor said the success rate of Radiotherapy for stage 4 was only 15% chance. The doctor couldn’t be sure about the success rate if I took chemotherapy too. At that time, I didn’t know how serious the side effects of western medication can impact the body, so I wanted to give it a try even if it just increased 1% success chance.
Beginning of an arduous battle
Since the treatment began, I experienced side effects of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy like all the other cancer patients. I felt so sick and vomitted severely, my cheek was inflamed and ached with a feeling of burning. My oral cavity had ulcers, and the corner of my mouth was inflamed. My vocal cords were burned so badly that for some time I can not talk and needed to write down what I wanted.
Chemotherapy not only made me drowsy but also difficult to fall asleep. The worst part was the swollen and painful throat made me unable to eat. Even simple thing such as swallowing was difficult for me.
Body and mind were exhausted, and I felt like I had nothing left
On the days of taking chemotherapy, I did my best to fight my illness, but I did not dare to expect too much. I remembered every time after I finished injecting chemotherapy shots, I had to get up to urinate every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day for detoxification. I began regretting taking therapy after experiencing Radiotherapy’s side effects. Frankly speaking, who could assure me that after undergoing western treatment there is no possibility of recurrence or spreading of cancer cells?
Dependent origination with TXL
After trying so hard and long to fight the disease, my condition finally improved. I had strabismus (eyes squint) for a long time, my eyeballs could finally move. It was lucky that the first newspaper I started reading after I got my vision back had an advertisement of “anti-cancer medicine.” Owing to my condition, I suddenly became sensitive to any word about cancer, I paid attention to the article and learned that it was TXL’s advertisement.
Magical Wave Motion Theory
To be honest, I have tried to learn all the medicinal herbs, formula, and healthy products on the market which claimed to be able to fight cancer when I decided to take non-toxic naturopathic medicine. Why would I finally choose TXL later? there is a story.
At that time, there was a friend in direct selling company who kept introducing me the products of pollen and Glossy Ganoderma which she claimed to have curable effects on cancer. At first, I tried to stay away from her because of economic reasons. In order to make me believe in her products, this friend took me to her company to take an examination with a “wave motion” machine newly made in Japan. This machine can show whether your body is healthy using the wave motion (shows Qi). You can tell whether any health product is suitable for you by the index shown in the machine.
First, you choose measurements you want to check, such as cancer, liver function, intestine and stomach etc. After setting, hold the testing stick tight so that the wave would go through your body and the machine would show index to analyze the health condition of your body. The most magic part was if you wanted to know whether certain products were suitable for you, simply hold the testing stick in one hand and touch the product with the other hand, and the number shown on the machine would indicate if it was the right product for you according to the wave emotion theory.
On that day, the index number I got was 2 on cancer condition and I was kind of depressed when I saw the number. I was also very surprised that this machine can tell exactly whether a person is healthy or not simply by wave motion theory.
In order to find a product that can improve my condition, my friend put the pollen and Glossy Ganoderma which she strongly recommended in my hand and the machine showed 7 which meant this product is suitable for my bod. When I exchanged the products to TXL, the number magically rushed to 11 which excited me a lot. In fact, I took not only TXL but also other anti-cancer products such as shark cartilage (chondroitin), hyperimmune milk, saccharomyces cerevisiae, Spirulina (dietary supplement), citric acid etc.
All these were products with curable effects on cancer as everyone knew. However, their index number on the machine was not as high as TXL.
Tired-out body as if full-scale reconstruction is underway
My chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the hospital happened to finish at that time. I had to suspend all the western therapies in order to rest my body. The doctor asked me to go home and wait for notification. After I got home, feeble and exhausted, self-reliance became important. I felt helpless and I was not sure if I could handle any kind of situation.
I started taking TXL for the purpose of eliminating pain. Half a month passed, my state of illness showed an achievement. I remembered that I used to be exhausted all the time and I would faint on my halfway to the toilet. After drinking TXL, I could go to convenient store near my house to buy newspapers and then walked home.
The burned skin of my cheeks caused by the radiation was shed slowly and became a new lighter complexion skin. My throat had started to be able to swallow thick liquid food such as congee, juice and milk. I got a better appetite and I could carefully swallow some solid food.
Reaction of Detoxification meant I was about to fully recover from all illness
One or 2 months after taking TXL, I woke up and found that I had a “rubella.” I didn’t feel itches, after checking with the dermatology in the hospital, I learned that it was call “urticarial.” I went through books looking for information on “urticarial.” I realized that it happens when abnormal protein inside the body was destroyed and that meant that the body was getting rid of the remains of waste material. It was an effect of detoxification.
One week later, the urticarial has dissapeared. After that, my body had great and obvious improvement. First, the double vision condition which has bothered me for half a year has finally dissapeared! I was excited and joyful about getting my vision back. I had suffered from insomnia for a long time, now my physiological clock gradually adjusted back to normal. I started to look better, and no more like a sick patient.
In order to test the “limit” of my physical strength after recovery, I went to town’s outskirt with my relatives for fresh air. To our surprise, I could climb up a hill without gasping for breath during the whole journey.
The Joy of Regeneration
I am energetic and I look good with better complexion now besides my husky voice, my being slightly hard of hearing and my lifelong tinnitus. These won’t stop me from living a normal life. My appetite has improved greatly, and my throat is almost healed. Now, my appetite is so good that I can eat a lot when I’m hungry, every food tastes good to me.
When I go back to the hospital sometimes, I like to walk through the passage way of the hospital waiting room at the radiotherapy department which is full of cancer patients. I want to show them my rebirth, a new me who is young and vigorous.
2. Exceeding Doctor’s Survival Expectation
In 2013, Mr. Phang from Indonesia felt pain in his chest. After checking into a hospital in Malaysia, he was diagnosed with a lung tumor. In April 2013, Mr. Phang did chemotherapy, his body condition dropped. The doctor also diagnosed that Mr. Phang could only survive under 1 year with such a condition.
Picture is only for illustration.
After being referred by the boss’s wife, starting in June 2013, Mr. Phang started drinking TXL. In the first year, I consumed 5 bottles of TXL per day. Quality of life improved, side effects of chemotherapy reduced. Mr. Phang continued to take TXL until 2015. In that year Mr. Phang did radiation, there was a feeling of pain in his chest that returned, after doing 3 cycles of chemotherapy it turned out that there was no significant effect on cancer cells.
8 years later, Mr. Phang is still living healthily, far beyond the life expectancy diagnosed by a doctor in 2013. Every 3-4 times Mr. Phang has a health check-up with Dr. Sita at Siloam Hospital. To maintain health and prevent relapse, Mr. Phang continues to drink Tian Xian Liquid.
