Lung Cancer

30 de noviembre de 2021

3 min de lectura

With lung cancer being the second most common cancer in the U.S. for both men and women, it is more important than ever to understand what it is, what symptoms to be alert to, and how to properly treat this disease.

What is lung cancer?

Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control within an area of the body. When these abnormal cancer cells originate within the lungs, this is known as lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death caused by cancer in both men and women. There are two main types of lung cancer, including small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 80% to 85% of all lung cancer diagnoses. There are three common types of non-small cell lung cancer including:

Adenocarcinoma: lung cancer that originates in the cells that secrete a substance (mucus-secreting cells)
Squamous cell carcinoma: cancer originating in the cells that line the inner airway of the lungs
Large cell carcinoma: affects any part of the lung and grows and spreads rapidly, making it more difficult to treat

Small cell lung cancer grows much quicker than non-small cell lung cancer and accounts for 10% to 15% of cancer diagnoses. Approximately 70% of patients that have received a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer reported that it has already spread at the time of their diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

Lung cancer can produce a variety of symptoms including but not limited to:

Chest pain
Chest discomfort
A persistent cough that worsens over time
Difficulty breathing
Wheezing
Bloodstained sputum
Unexplained weight loss
Dysphagia or trouble swallowing
Swelling in the face and/or neck veins
Fatigue

Risk factors for lung cancer

There are several risk factors for lung cancer including a family history of lung cancer, long-term smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, exposure to asbestos, arsenic, soot, chromium, tar, or radiation, air pollution, and HIV infection.

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

A lung cancer diagnosis is provided by a licensed physician. When you are consulting with your physician, he/she will examine your personal medical history and family history for any associated risk factors. He/she will also conduct a physical exam to feel for any abnormalities.

In addition to the above-mentioned, imaging and lab work will be performed, such as a chest x-ray, chest CT scan, blood test, and lab testing of the sputum. If an abnormal area of tissue is detected through imaging, your physician will recommend a biopsy of the affected area be performed to determine if the area is cancerous or not.

If a lung cancer diagnosis has been established, the next step is to stage cancer. This step is to determine if cancer has spread to other areas including lymph nodes or other organs, as well as determine how badly cancer has affected the body from stages 1, 2, 3, or 4. The type and stage of cancer will help your physician construct the appropriate treatment plan.

Lung cancer treatment

Treatment is dependent on the stage and type of cancer as well as your personal medical history and medication allergies.

For small cell lung cancer, treatment options include:

Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Immunotherapy
Laser therapy
Placement of an endoscopic stent to open an airway blocked by abnormal tissue

Non-small cell lung cancer treatment includes:

Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Targeted therapy to attack abnormal cells without damaging the normal cells in the area
Immunotherapy
Laser therapy
Cryosurgery to freeze and destroy the abnormal tissue

Lung cancer is a scary diagnosis to receive, but early intervention may help. To reduce your risk of lung cancer, stop smoking immediately and remove yourself from the area of others smoking around you. It is important to take care of yourself at all costs. Attendance of routine check-up appointments with your primary care physician, yearly lab work, and seeking immediate medical care for any unexplained symptoms is essential in helping with early detection.

Resources for Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer Research Foundation

Lungevity

GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer

International Lung Cancer Foundation

American Lung Association

In addition to the above resources, Healthread offers you the ability to connect with others with similar health concerns. If you or someone you know is affected by lung cancer, you can reach out to others on the platform to talk about managing the condition and more.

Sources

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer less

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En esta página

What is lung cancer?

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

Lung cancer treatment

Resources for Lung Cancer

Sources

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