Lung cancer is the prominent cause of Cancer deaths in the United States. The cancer known as lung cancer begins in the lungs and has the potential to spread to other parts of the body. Lung cancer is primarily treated with Chemotherapy, Surgery and Radiation. Newer treatments include targeted therapy and Immunotherapy. Screening is recommended if you’re at high risk. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S. It is brought on by the lungs’ harmful cells growing out of control. Lung cancer deaths have significantly decreased recently as a result of therapy advancements.
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What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled cell division in your lungs. Your cells grow and make more copies of themselves spontaneously. They do, however, occasionally undergo alterations (mutations) that cause them to produce more of themselves when they shouldn’t. Damaged cells dividing uncontrollably create tumors or masses of tissue that eventually keep your organs from working properly.
Cancers that start in the lungs, generally in the alveoli or tiny air sacs (bronchi or bronchioles), are referred to as lung cancer. It is among the most prevalent cancers in the world and is mostly brought on by prolonged exposure to hazardous substances like cigarette smoke, secondhand smoke, asbestos, and environmental toxins. Two major forms of lung cancer can be distinguished: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The risk of lung cancer can be decreased by quitting smoking and taking preventive measures.
What are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer?
The majority of the symptoms of lung cancer resemble those of other, less dangerous conditions. Some people exhibit symptoms in the early stages of the disease, whereas the majority wait until the condition is advanced. Those who experience symptoms may just have one or a few of these:
Early symptoms of lung cancer
Lung cancer symptoms are not usually present in the earliest stages. When early symptoms do occur, they can include signs such as shortness of breath, along with unpleasant symptoms like back pain. Back discomfort might develop when tumors press on your lungs, spread to your spinal cord, or affect your ribs. Additional early indications of lung cancer include:
- A persistent or getting worse cough.
- Coughing up phlegm or blood .
- Chest pain that worsens when you breathe laugh, deeply or cough.
- Wheezing.
- Hoarseness.
- Loss of weight loss and appetite.
- Fatigue and weakness.
- Recurrent respiratory infections such as Bronchitis or Pneumonia.
Last symptoms of lung cancer
Indicators of further lung cancer symptoms include the location of new tumors. Not every patient with advanced lung cancer will exhibit every symptom. Late-stage symptoms might include:
- Lumps in the collarbone or neck
- Bone pain especially in the ribs, back or hips
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Numbness in legs or arms
- Balance issues
- Yellowing of eyes and skin
- Shoulder pain
- There is no sweating, on one side of the face
- Swelling of the upper body and face
- shrinking pupils and one eyelid drooping
In addition, lung cancer tumors occasionally release a chemical compound resembling hormones, causing a wide range of symptoms collectively called Paraneoplastic syndrome. Symptoms include:
- Vomiting and nausea
- Muscle weakness
- Confusion
- High blood sugar
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
What Causes Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer can strike anyone, but 90 percent of lung cancer cases are the result of smoking. Smoke causes damage to your lung tissue as soon as you breathe it in. Your lung cells begin to behave abnormally, once they are damaged. This increases your risk for lung cancer. Small-cell lung cancer usually comes along with heavy smoking. You may be able to heal your lungs after you stop smoking, which will lower your risk of developing lung cancer. You can also increase your risk of lung cancer by breathing in hazardous compounds like:
- Asbestos
- Radon
- Cadmium
- Arsenic
- Nickel
- Chromium
- Uranium
How is Lung Cancer Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of lung cancer can be a multi-step process. Dr. Sheetu Singh will usually involve them in listening to your symptoms, inquiring about your medical history and conducting a physical examination, which includes listening to your heart and lungs. Since lung cancer symptoms are similar to many other, more common illnesses, she may start by getting a chest X-ray and blood tests.
If Dr. Sheetu Singh suspects you could have lung cancer, your next steps in diagnosis would usually involve more imaging tests like a CT Scan and then a Biopsy. Other tests include using a PET/CT scan to check for cancer spread and testing malignant tissue from a biopsy to assist in choosing the right course of treatment. Additionally, tests are required to verify the diagnosis. These might include:
- Blood test: Blood tests can assist your provider in examining the health of your organs and other body parts but cannot identify cancer on their own.
- Imaging tests: An abnormal mass can be seen on MRI, X-ray, PET and CT scans. These scans reveal more information and detect tiny lesions.
- Sputum cytology: A microscopic study of your phlegm can detect the presence of cancer cells.
- Bronchoscopy: While under sedation, a lit tube is inserted into your lungs and down your neck to get a closer look at the tissue in your lungs.
How is Lung Cancer Treated?
Treatments for lung cancer aim to either eradicate the disease from your body or stop it from spreading. Treatments can get rid of cancerous cells, assist in destroying them, prevent them from growing or train your immune system to fight them. Some therapies are also used to relieve pain and reduce symptoms.
- Surgery: Surgery may be an option for NSCLC that hasn’t spread and SCLC that is contained to a single tumor. To ensure that no cancer cells are left behind, Dr. Sheetu Singh may remove the tumor and a tiny quantity of surrounding healthy tissue.
- Radiofrequency Ablation: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is occasionally used to treat NSCLC tumors that are close to the borders of your lungs. RFA uses high-energy radio waves to destroy and heat cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy: High-intensity beams are used in radiation to eliminate cancer cells. It can be utilized independently and to boost surgical effectiveness. Radiation can be applied as palliative therapy to reduce tumor size and lessen pain. It’s used in both SCLC and NSCLC.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is frequently a mix of many drugs intended to prevent the growth of cancer cells. It can be given both before and after surgery, as well as in conjunction with other types of medication, such as Immunotherapy. An IV is typically used to administer lung cancer chemotherapy.
- Targeted drug therapy: Some NSCLC patient’s lung cancer cells have particular alterations (mutations) that promote the growth of the disease. To try to stop or kill cancer cells, specific medications target these alterations. Other medications referred to as angiogenesis Inhibitors can prevent the tumor from forming new blood vessels, which the cancer cells require to grow.
- Immunotherapy: Normal cell destruction by our bodies involves identifying and eliminating damaged or dangerous cells. Cancer has ways to hide from the immune system to keep from being destroyed.