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October 10, 2025
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Umgxuma lomphimbo uqala lapho amaseli emphimbweni yakho ekhula ngokungaphatheki futhi enza iziphumu. Yingomunye wemiklamo evamile kakhulu yomdlavuza emhlabeni jikelele, kodwa ukuyiqonda kangcono kungakusiza ukuthi uqaphele izimpawu ekuqaleni futhi wenze izinqumo ezinolwazi mayelana nempilo yakho.
Lesi simo sithinta inyama ehlanganisa izindawo zakho zomoya kanye nezingxande ezincane zomoya lapho i-oksijini ingena khona egazini lakho. Nakuba ukuxilongwa kungase kuzwakale kukhulu, ukuthuthuka kwezokwelapha kuye kwathuthukisa kakhulu izinketho zokwelapha nemiphumela eminingi yabantu abaphila nomgxuma lomphimbo.
Umgxuma lomphimbo uqala lapho amaseli emphimbo ajwayelekile eguquka futhi azale ngokungaphatheki, edala izigaxa ezibizwa ngokuthi iziphumu. La maseli angajwayelekile angaphazamisa ikhono lemphimbo yakho lokuletha i-oksijini emzimbeni wakho futhi angasabalala kwezinye izingxenye zomzimba wakho uma engawelashwa.
Iphimbo yakho yizitho ezifana nesipongu esifubeni sakho ezithatha i-oksijini lapho uphefumula futhi ikhiphe i-carbon dioxide lapho uphefumula. Umdlavuza ungathuthukiswa kunoma iyiphi indawo emphimbweni yakho, kodwa ngokuvamile uqala kumaseli ahlanganisa izindawo zomoya.
Lesi sifo siqhubeka ngokuhlukile kumuntu ngamunye. Eminye imiklamo yomgxuma lomphimbo ikhula kancane ezinyangeni noma eminyakeni, kuyilapho abanye bengathuthuka futhi basabalale ngokushesha. Ukutholwa kwangaphambi kwesikhathi nokuphathwa kungenza umehluko omkhulu emiphumeleni.
Odokotela bahlukanisa umgxuma lomphimbo ube izinhlobo ezimbili eziyinhloko ngokusekelwe ekutheni amaseli omdlavuza abonakala kanjani ngaphansi komkhiqizo. Ukuqonda uhlobo lwakho oluthile kusiza iqembu lakho lezokwelapha ukukhetha indlela yokwelapha ephumelela kakhulu esimweni sakho.
Umgxuma lomphimbo ongenayo iseli encane (NSCLC) umelela cishe u-85% wazo zonke izimo zomgxuma lomphimbo. Lo mklamo ngokuvamile ukhula futhi usabalala kancane kunomgxuma lomphimbo oneseli encane. Izinhlobo ezintathu eziyinhloko zihlanganisa i-adenocarcinoma (evamile kakhulu), i-squamous cell carcinoma, ne-large cell carcinoma.
Umphukane olukhulu lwamaphaphu (SCLC) uqukethe cishe i-15% yezimo zomdlavuza wamaphaphu. Lolu hlobo luya lukhula futhi lusasazeke ngokushesha kunomdlavuza wamaphaphu ongahlukile (NSCLC). Cishe uhlale uhlotshaniswa nokubhema futhi ngokuvamile usasazeka kwezinye izingxenye zomzimba ngaphambi kokuba kuvele izimpawu.
Kukhona nezinye izinhlobo ezimbalwa zomdlavuza wamaphaphu, okuhlanganisa iziphumu ze-carcinoid, ezikhula kancane kakhulu, ne-mesothelioma, ethinta ukugqoka okuzungezile amaphaphu futhi ngokuvamile ihlotshaniswa nokudalulwa kwe-asbestos.
Umdlavuza wamaphaphu ekuqaleni ngokuvamile awubangeli izimpawu ezibonakalayo, kungakho eziningi zezimo zingatholakali kuze kube yilapho isifo siqhubekile. Noma kunjalo, ukwazi izimpawu zokuqala kungakusiza ukuthi ufuna ukunakekelwa kwezokwelapha uma kudingeka.
Ake sibheke izimpawu ezingase zivele njengoba umdlavuza wamaphaphu uqhubeka. Khumbula, lezi zimpawu zingabangelwa nezimo eziningi ezingathí sina:
Abanye abantu baba nezimpawu ezingavamile lapho umdlavuza usasazeka kwezinye izingxenye zomzimba. Lezi zingase zihlanganise ubuhlungu emathanjeni, izikhathi zokuzwela, ukukhathazeka, ukubomvu kwesikhumba namehlo, noma ukukhula ebusweni noma entanyeni.
Uma uqaphela noma iyiphi yalezi zimpawu ihlala isikhathi esingaphezu kwamasonto ambalwa, kufanele ukuxoxe ngazo nodokotela wakho. Ngezinye izikhathi, lezi zimpawu zinazinye izizathu, kodwa ukuzihlola kukunika ukuthula kwengqondo.
Umgogodla wephunga uqala lapho okuthile kulimala amakhemikhali ephusheni lakho ngokuphindaphindiweyo isikhathi eside. La makhemikhali alimale awahlukile futhi angakha ama-tumors. Ukuqonda izimbangela eziyinhloko kungakusiza wenze izinqumo ezinolwazi mayelana nempilo yakho.
Ukubhema utshaba yiyona imbangela ehamba phambili yomdlavuza wephunga, ebangela cishe u-85% wezehlakalo. Amakhemikhali alimazayo ekubhemeni isigarethi alimaza amakhemikhali ephusheni lakho njalo lapho uphefumula. Lapho ubhema isikhathi eside futhi ubhema izigarethi eziningi nsuku zonke, ingozi yakho iyanda.
Ngisho noma ungabhemi, usengathuthukisa umdlavuza wephunga ngezimbangela ezingezona lezi:
Ezinye izimbangela ezingavamile zihlanganisa ukubhekana ne-diesel exhaust, ezinye izinto zensimbi ezisetshenziswa emsebenzini wezimboni, kanye nezinguquko ze-genetic ezifuywe. Kodwa-ke, kubalulekile ukwazi ukuthi cishe u-10-15% lwabantu abathuthukisa umdlavuza wephunga abanazo izici zengozi ezaziwayo.
Ukuba nesici esisodwa noma ngaphezulu sobungozi akusho ukuthi uzophuthuma umdlavuza wephunga. Abantu abaningi abanazo izici zengozi abazutholi leyo gciwane, kanti abanye abanazo izici zengozi eziningi ezaziwayo bayithuthukisa.
Kufanele uhlele i-aphoyintimenti nodokotela wakho uma uhlangabezana nanoma yiziphi izimpawu zokuphefumula ezihlala isikhathi esingaphezu kwamasonto amabili kuya amathathu. Ukubheka kwangaphambi kwesikhathi kungasiza ekutholeni izinkinga lapho zitholakala khona kalula.
Ungalindi ukuya kudokotela uma ukhwehlela igazi, uhlushwa ubuhlungu obukhulu esifubeni, noma unezinkinga ezinzima zokuphefumula. Lezi zimpawu zidinga ukuhlolwa ngokushesha yidokotela, ngisho noma zivame ukubangelwa izimo ezingelona i-kansa.
Uma ungumqhubi wama-sigarethi okwamanje noma wangaphambili, cabanga ngokuxoxa nodokotela wakho ngokuphenya i-kansa yephango. Ukuhlolwa njalo kubaluleke kakhulu uma unezinye izimbangela zingozi noma uma kuvela izimpawu zokuphefumula.
Themba izinzwa zakho ngomzimba wakho. Uma kukhona okubonakala kuhlukile noma okukukhathazayo, kuhlale kufanele ukuxoxe nodokotela wakho. Bangakusiza ukuthola ukuthi kuyadingeka yini ukuhlolwa okwengeziwe.
Izimbangela zingozi yizinto ezikhuphula amathuba akho okuthola i-kansa yepango, kodwa ukuba nazo akuqinisekisi ukuthi uzothola leyo gciwane. Ukuqonda lezi zinto kungakusiza wenze izinqumo ezilwemi ngempilo yakho nendlela yakho yokuphila.
Nawa amaphuzu aphambili angakhuphula ingozi yakho yokuthola i-kansa yepango:
Ezinye izimbangela zingozi ezingavamile zihlanganisa ukuvezwa ezintweni ezithile zethusi njenge-chromium ne-nickel, ukukhishwa kwamafutha e-diesel, kanye nezinguquko ze-genetic ezifuywe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukudla okuncane ezithelo nasezimila kungakhuphula kancane ingozi.
Izindaba ezinhle ukuthi ungakwazi ukulawula amanye ala makhulu. Ukuyeka ukubhema kunoma iyiphi iminyaka kunciphisa ingozi yakho kakhulu, futhi ukuhlola ikhaya lakho nge-radon kuyisinyathelo esilula ongalithatha ukuze uvikele umndeni wakho.
Umphunga wamaphunga ungabangela izinkinga ezahlukahlukene, kokubili ezivela emphungweni ngokwawo, futhi ngezinye izikhathi ezivela ekwelapheni. Ukuqonda lezi zinto kukunceda ukusebenzisana neqembu lakho lokunakekelwa kwezempilo ukuze uzivikele noma uzilawule ngokuphumelelayo.
Izingozi ezivela emphungweni ngokwawo zingase zivele njengoba isifo siqhubeka. Lokhu kwenzeka ngoba ama-tumors angaphazamisa umsebenzi wamaphunga ovamile noma asakazeke kwamanye amazwekazi:
Izingozi ezihlobene nokwelashwa zingase zenzeke kepha ngokuvamile zilawuleka ngokunakekelwa kwezokwelapha okufanele. Lezi zingase zihlanganise ukukhathala okuvela e-chemotherapy, ukuvuvukala kwesikhumba okuvela e-radiation, noma ukwanda kengozi yokutheleleka ngesikhathi sokwelashwa.
Iqembu lakho lokunakekelwa kwezempilo liqapha eduze lezi zingozi futhi linezindlela zokuzivimbela noma ukuzilawula. Izinkinga eziningi zingalawulwa kahle, zikuvumela ukuthi ugcine ikhwalithi enhle yokuphila ngesikhathi sokwelashwa.
Nakuba ungakwazi ukuvimbela zonke izimo zokukhuluphunga kwamaphunga, unganciphisa kakhulu ingozi yakho ngokwenza izinqumo ezithile zokuphila nokuqeda izinto ezaziwa njengezingozi. Isinyathelo esibaluleke kakhulu ukugwema utshaba lwe-tobacco ngazo zonke izindlela zalo.
Uma uqhuma, ukushiya kukona into ebaluleke kakhulu ongayenza impilo yempumulo yakho. Ingozi yakho yomdlavuza wempumulo iqala ukwehla ngaphakathi kwezinyanga zokushiya futhi iyaqhubeka iwehliseka ngokuhamba kwesikhathi. Ngisho noma uqhumile iminyaka eminingi, ukushiya kusasinikeza izinzuzo ezinkulu.
Nazi izindlela eziyisihluthulelo zokuvimbela ongazisebenzisa:
Uma udinga usizo lokushiya ukubhema, izinsiza eziningi ziyatholakala kufaka phakathi imithi, ukwelulekwa, namaqembu wokusekela. Umhlinzeki wakho wezempilo angakusiza ukuba udale uhlelo lokushiya olusebenza esimweni sakho.
Ukuxilongwa komdlavuza wempumulo kuhilela izinyathelo nezivivinyo eziningi ukuze kubonwe ukuthi umdlavuza ukhona yini, futhi uma kunjalo, uhlobo oluphi nesigaba salo. Udokotela wakho uzoqala ngomlando wakho wezokwelapha nezimpawu, bese uya ekuhlolweni okuqondile njengoba kudingeka.
Inqubo yokuxilongwa ivame ukuqala ngezivivinyo zokwenza izithombe. I-X-ray yesifuba ingabonisa izindawo ezimangalisayo, kodwa i-CT scan inikeza izithombe eziningi kakhulu zeempumulo zakho futhi ingathola iziphumo ezincane ezingabonakali kwi-X-ray.
Uma ukwenza izithombe kusikisela umdlavuza, udokotela wakho uzodinga ukuthola amasampula ezihlabathi ukuze aqinisekise ukuxilongwa. Lokhu kungase kuhilele:
Uma kutholakale ukuthi umuntu une-cancer, kuyadingeka ukuhlolwa okuqhubekayo ukuze kubonwe ukuthi i-cancer isakazeke kangakanani. Lezi zivivinyo zokuhlola izinga zingafaka i-PET scans, i-brain MRI, i-bone scans, noma ukuhlolwa kwegazi. Ukuhlola izinga kusiza iqembu lakho lezokwelapha ukulungiselela uhlelo lokwelapha oluphumelelayo.
Lonke inqubo yokuxilonga ingathatha amasonto ambalwa, okungaba ukucindezeleka. Khumbula ukuthi iqembu lakho lezempilo lisebenza ngokucophelela ukuthola ulwazi olunembile oluzoqondisa izinqumo zakho zokwelapha.
Ukwelapha i-cancer yelunga kuncike ohlotsheni lwe-cancer, izinga layo, nokuhle kwezempilo yakho jikelele. Iqembu lakho lezokwelapha lizohlangana nawe ukudala uhlelo lokwelapha oluqondene nawe oluhlinzeka ngemiphumela emihle kakhulu ngenkathi ucabanga ngezifiso zakho kanye nekhwalithi yokuphila.
Ukuhlinzwa kuvame ukuba yindlela yokwelapha ekhethwayo ye-cancer yelunga yesigaba sokuqala lapho i-tumor ingasakazanga ngaphandle kwamaphaphu. Kuye ngobubanzi nendawo ye-tumor, ochwepheshe bokuhlinzwa bangasusa ingxenye yephaphu, iphaphu lonke, noma nje i-tumor nezinye izicubu ezizungezile.
Ezinye izindlela zokwelapha eziyinhloko zifaka:
Nge-cancer yelunga ephambili, ukwelapha kugxile ekulawuleni isifo, ukunciphisa izimpawu, nokugcina ikhwalithi yokuphila. Abantu abaningi abane-cancer yelunga ephambili baphila izinyanga noma iminyaka ngokulawulwa okuhle kwezimpawu.
Iqembu lakho lokwelapha lingafaka ochwepheshe be-oncology, ochwepheshe bokuhlinzwa, ochwepheshe be-radiation, oongoti, nabanye ochwepheshe bezempilo. Bazolandelela intuthuko yakho futhi balungise ukwelapha njengoba kudingeka kuye ngendlela obuyisayo.
Ukuphatha umdlavuza wephunga ekhaya kuhilela ukunakekela impilo yakho yonke, ukuphatha imiphumela emibi yemithi, nokuba ukhululekile phakathi kwemihlangano yezokwelapha. Ukukhathalela okuhle kwangaphakathi kungakusiza uzizwe kangcono futhi kungathuthukisa imiphumela yemithi.
Gxila ekudleni kahle ngisho noma ungazizwa ulangazela. Ukudla okuncane, okuvamile okunezakhamzimba ezicebile eziphathekayo kungakusiza ugcine amandla akho. Hlala uthambile ngokuphuza amanzi amaningi usuku lonke, bese ubuza udokotela wakho ngezinsiza zokudla uma kudingeka.
Nawa amasu abalulekile okunakekela kwangaphakathi okumele uwacabangele:
Ungangabazi ukuxhumana neqembu lakho lezempilo ngemibuzo noma ukukhathazeka. Bangakunikeza isiqondiso sokuphatha izimpawu ezithile futhi bakwazise uma izimpawu zidinga ukunakekelwa okusheshayo.
Ukulungiselela imihlangano yakho yodokotela kusiza uqinisekise ukuthi uthola izinzuzo eziningi ngesikhathi sakho sokuhlangana. Ukuba uhleli futhi ubuza imibuzo efanele kungakusiza uzizwe uqinisekile ngezinqumo zakho zokunakekelwa.
Ngaphambi komhlangano wakho, bhala zonke izimpawu zakho, kufaka phakathi ukuthi zaqala nini nokuthi yini ezenzayo ukwenza kube ngcono noma kube sibi. Letha uhlu oluphelele lwemithi, amavithamini, kanye nezinsiza ozithathayo, kufaka phakathi imithamo.
Cabanga ukuletha lezi zinto ezibalulekile:
Ungesabi ukubuza imibuzo mayelana nanoma yini ongeyiqondi. Imibuzo emihle ingafaka ukuthi ubuze ngokuxilongwa kwakho, izinketho zokwelashwa, imiphumela emibi okulindelekile, nokuthi ukwelashwa kungathinta kanjani impilo yakho yansuku zonke.
Ukuthatha amanothi ngesikhathi sokuqokwa kwakho noma ukubuza ukuthi ungarekhoda ingxoxo yini kungakusiza ukuba ukhumbule ulwazi olubalulekile kamuva. Iqembu lakho lokunakekelwa kwezempilo lifuna ukuthi uqonde isimo sakho futhi uzizwe ukhululekile ngezinqumo zokwelashwa.
Umdlavuza wophunga yisimo esinzima, kodwa ukuqonda kuwunika amandla okwenza izinqumo ezicacile mayelana nempilo yakho. Ukutholwa kwangaphambi kwesikhathi nokuthuthuka ekwelapheni kuye kwathuthukisa kakhulu imiphumela yabaningi abaxilongwe ngomdlavuza wophunga.
Into ebaluleke kakhulu okumele uyikhumbule ukuthi isipiliyoni sabo bonke abantu ngomdlavuza wophunga sihlukile. Iprognosis yakho ixhomeke ezintweni eziningi kufaka uhlobo nesigaba somdlavuza, impilo yakho yonke, nokuthi uphendula kangcono kanjani ekwelapheni.
Uma usengozini noma uhlushwa yizimpawu, ungalihli ukukhuluma nodokotela wakho. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kuyiqiniso ngokuvikela, ukuhlola, noma izinketho zokwelapha, ukuba nezingxoxo ezivulekile neqembu lakho lezokwelapha kusiza ukuqinisekisa ukuthi uthola ukunakekelwa okungcono kakhulu.
Khumbula ukuthi awuwedwa kule ndlela. Ukusekelwa kuyatholakala eqenjini lakho lokunakekelwa kwezempilo, emndenini, ebangqabeni, nasezinhlanganweni zokusekela umdlavuza ezingakunikeza izinsiza futhi zikuxhumanise nabanye abaqonda lokho okukudabukisayo.
Yebo, cishe amaphesenti angu-10-15 abantu abaxilongwe ngomdlavuza wephunga abakaze bakhube. Abantu abangakhubeki bangathola umdlavuza wephunga ngenxa yotuthu lokukhuba, ukukhishwa kwe-radon, ukungcoliswa komoya, izici ze-genetic, noma ngezinye izikhathi izimbangela ezingaziwa. Nakuba ukukhuba kukhuphula kakhulu ingozi, umdlavuza wephunga ungathinta noma ubani.
Isilinganiso sokuba umdlavuza wephunga usakazeka sihluka kakhulu kuye ngohlobo. Umdlavuza wephunga we-small cell uthanda ukukhula nokukhahlela ngokushesha, ngezinye izikhathi phakathi kwamasonto kuya ezinyangeni. Umdlavuza wephunga we-non-small cell ukhula kancane, ngokuvamile ngezinyanga kuya eminyakeni. Ukutholwa kwangaphambi kwesikhathi nokuphathwa kungasiza ukulawula ukusakazeka kungakhathaliseki uhlobo.
I-COPD (isifo esiphazamisayo sokuphefumula esiqhubekayo) yisimo sephunga esenza ukuphefumula kube nzima ngenxa yemizila yomoya eyonakele, kuyilapho umdlavuza wephunga uhilela ukukhula kwamaseli angavamile okwakha iziphumu. Kodwa-ke, zombili izimo zinezimpawu ezifanayo njengokukhokha okuqhubekayo nokubunzima ekuphefumuleni. Ukuba ne-COPD kungakhuphula ingozi yakho yokuthola umdlavuza wephunga, futhi abanye abantu banezimo zombili.
Cha, umdlavuza wephunga awuhlali ubulala. Amanani okusinda asele athuthukile kakhulu ngenxa yentuthuko ekwelapheni. Uma utholwe ngaphambi kwesikhathi, abantu abaningi abane-lung cancer bangaphiliswa noma baphile iminyaka eminingi. Ngisho nokutholakala komdlavuza wephunga ophambili, ukwelashwa kuvame ukulawula isifo futhi kusize abantu bagcine ikhwalithi yokuphila enhle isikhathi eside.
Ukuhlolwa kungase kunconywe uma uneminyaka engama-50-80, unembali enkulu yokukhuba (ngokuvamile i-“pack-years” ezingama-20 noma ngaphezulu), futhi okwamanje ukhutha noma uyeka phakathi kweminyaka eyi-15 edlule. I-“pack-years” isho inani lephakethi ngosuku liphindwe ngeminyaka ekhube. Khuluma nodokotela wakho ukuthi ukuhlolwa kunengqondo yini esimweni sakho esithile.
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