What is lung cancer?
Cancer that begins from the lung is called lung cancer. Cells present in the body stats to grow rapidly and gets out of control. This abnormal division of cells present on the lungs initiates lung cancer. Death from lung cancer is the number one cause of death worldwide in both women and men. Factors that mostly contribute in the development of lung cancer are cigarettes smoking. Exposure to the smoke of tobacco can also cause lung cancer in people who don’t smoke. Cancer has different stages and stage of cancer determine the extent to which cancer has spread in the body. Targeted therapy, chemotherapy or surgery is included in the treatment of lung cancer. Newer experimental methods like radiation therapy and immunotherapy has also introduced to treat lung cancer.
- Poor prognosis of lung cancer is because it is mostly diagnosed at the late stages of cancer. 61% is the survival rate for 5 years if cancer is diagnosed at early stage. 6% patients with lung cancer are inoperable with advanced stage of lung cancer.
- If the person quit smoking that is the most important step which can help reducing the risk of developing lung cancer.
Sign and symptoms of lung cancer(1):
In early-stage, there are no clear signs and symptoms of lung cancer. As the disease progresses, symptoms of lung cancer appear, that are:
- Cough that last for about 2 or 3 weeks.
- Cough that get worse with the passage of time.
- Chest infection that may come and go
- Cough with the blood
- Pain in the chest on coughing and breathing
- Shortness of breathe
- Persistent breathlessness
- Persistent Tiredness
- Lack of energy
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Headache
- Bone pain also happen in some patients of lung cancer
If one is having such sign and symptoms should immediately visit general practitioner.
Some of the less common symptoms of cancer in lung are:
- Finger clubbing in which appearance of finger changes like it turns curved or the ends becomes larger.
- Dysphagia is difficulty in swallowing
- Pain when swallowing
- Hoarseness in voice
- Wheezing in patient is noticed
- Swelling of face
- Swelling of neck
- Persistent chest pain
- Pain in shoulder.
Types of lung cancer
Types of lung cancer are divided inti two categories on the basis if the appearance of cancer cells present on lung when observed under microscope. Treatment decisions by doctors are made depending upon the type of cancer cells. Two types of lung cancer are:
Small cell lung cancer:
Small cell lung cancer mostly occurs in the patient who are smokers and this type is les common in non smokers.
- Non-small cell lung cancer:
This type is very vast for many types of lung cancers. Carcinoma, squamous and adenocarcinoma as well as large carcinoma is included in type of non-small cell lung cancer.
Risk factors of Lung Cancer:
There are number of risk factors that are involved in lung cancer. Some of them can be controlled like quit smoking while some are uncontrollable like family history. Some risk factors are:
- Smoking
- Exposure to secondhand smoke
- Previous radiation therapy
- Exposure to radon gas
- Exposure to asbestos
- Exposure to carcinogens
- Having family history of lung cancer.
Complication of Lung cancer:
Complications that lung cancer can cause are as follows
- Shortness of breathe
- Coughing with blood
- Pleural effusion that is fluid in the chest
- Pain
- Metastasis that is cancer can spread to other parts of body
Prevention for lung cancer:
Though there is no sure way to prevent lung cancer but risk can be reduced by following these:
- Don’t smoke
- Stop smoking
- Avoid secondhand smoke
- Test your home for radon
- Avoid carcinogenic substances at work place
- Eat a healthy diet that is full of fruits and vegetables.
- Exercise some days in a week.
Diagnosis of Lung Cancer:
If your doctor thinks that you are having lung cancer following of the test he may recommend:
Imaging test: abnormal mass or nodule present in lungs can be seen in the image of X-ray. Small lesion in lung can be identified in CT-scan that cannot be detected in X-ray imaging.
Sputum Cytology: if anyone is having cough that produces sputum, then the sample of sputum is taken and test under microscope to identify if cancer cells are present.
Tissue Sample (biopsy): Abnormal cells can be removed from tissue where they are present and this procedure is called biopsy.
Biopsy can be performed in number of method, one is bronchoscopy in which the doctor will examine the areas that have abnormal cells in lungs with the help of lighted tube that will passes from your throat down into your lungs.
Mediastinoscopy in this method an incision is made at the neck base and then some surgical tools are injected behind the breast bone so sample of tissue can be picked from lymph nodes to examine and identify.
Sample of biopsy can also be taken from areas to which cancer has spread such as from the lymph nodes of liver.
When the analysis is done carefully, it will help identify that which type of lung cancer you have. Sophisticated testing results will give clear information about the characteristics of abnormal cells and help doctor to determine about the prognosis and guidance about the treatment of lung cancer.
Treatment of Lung Cancer(2):
Following of the treatment can be given to the patient of lung cancer.
Surgery:
In surgery the abnormal mass is removed and some margin of healthy tissue. Procedure Includes:
- Wedge resection
- Segmental resection
- Lobectomy
- Pneumonectomy
Radiation Therapy:
High-powered beam of energy is used to kill cancer cells. It is often given with the combination of chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy:
Drugs are uses in chemotherapy to kill cancer cells that are given intravenously or orally. It can be given alone or in combination of radiation therapy. Sometimes it is given before surgery for the purpose to shrink the cancer cells and removal of cancer is easy.
Stereotactic body radiotherapy:
It is also known as radiosurgery and it is an intense treatment of radiation and its aims is to radiate from angles at the cancer.
Immunotherapy:
Immune system is used to fight with cancer cells. It works by interfering in the process of cancer cells.
Palliative care:
It is supportive care that works with the help of doctor to minimize sign and symptoms.
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