Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in the lung tissues. This growth can lead to metastasis, invasion of neighboring tissues and infection outside the lungs. The majority of primary lung cancers are lung carcinomas, which arise in the epithelial cells of the lung. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in men and the second leading cause of death in women. Lung cancer kills 1.3 million people worldwide every year. Common symptoms of lung cancer are difficulty breathing, coughing up blood and weight loss.

Long-term tobacco use is responsible for 85% of lung cancers. The remaining 10-15% who have never smoked are affected. Genetic factors, air pollution etc. are one of the influencers of lung cancer. Lung cancer can be diagnosed through chest X-ray examination and computed tomography. This can be confirmed later with a biopsy. It can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Patient survival after 5 years of treatment is 14%.

Lung cancer symptoms

Cough: Cough is an early symptom of lung cancer in two-thirds of patients. In this case, there may be dry cough or frequent cough, excessive expectoration with cough, or cough may worsen at night.

Coughing up blood: This is also one of the symptoms of lung cancer and the symptom is more common in male patients who smoke. In this case, there is blood with phlegm or with spit or saliva and it is seen that there is repeated infection in some place of the lungs.

Chest pain: This symptom occurs in about 30% of lung cancer patients. If the tumor is around the lung membrane, there is occasional mild chest pain, but if the tumor penetrates the lung membrane or pleura, there is constant chest pain.

Fever: Cancer inflammation causes fever and body temperature below 38 degrees. In this case, no antibiotics work and the fever keeps coming again and again.

Chest pain and shortness of breath: Lung breathing is obstructed due to cancer.

Swelling of the finger: In this case, the finger becomes swollen and painful, especially at the base of the finger and around the nail.

Arthritis: Joints or joints of the body such as knees, elbows, wrists etc. may have pain. The pain can even cause great difficulty in moving the arms or walking.

Many of the symptoms of lung cancer (loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue) are not specific. Many patients' cancer metastasizes or spreads before the disease is detected. Common places where cancer spreads are - brain, bone, liver, pericardium, kidney. About 10% of people do not have any symptoms when cancer is detected. These cancers are detected during routine examination of the patient, such as chest x-ray.

lung cancer stages

For many reasons, including comparison of treatment outcomes, the existence of a uniform TNM system for staging cancer according to its physical extension is very useful.

Primary Tumor (T):

T0 - No primary tumor.

TX - latent cancer.

TIS - Carcinoma in situ.

T1 - Tumor measures 2 cm or less in greatest diameter.

T2 -The length of the greatest diameter of the tumor is greater than 2 cm.

T3 - Tumor of any length, which extends to the diaphragm, pleura or pericardium. They do not affect the heart, trachea, esophagus. Even if fluid accumulates in the pleura, it is not malignant.

T4 - Tumor of any length, affecting the heart, trachea, esophagus. Pleural fluid accumulation is malignant.

Local lymph nodes or nodes (N):

N0 - No metastasis to local lymph nodes.

N1 - Local lymph node metastasis but small in extent.

N2 - Metastasis, in between the spread of N1 and N2.

N3 - Metastasis present in distant lymph nodes.

Metastasis (M):

M0 -metastases present.

M1 -metastasis absent.

Lung cancer treatment

Lung cancer treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Sometimes a combination of three methods is given.

Targeted therapy is currently used. If caught in the early stages, the disease is easy to cure.

lung cancer survival rate

16.8% of all people with lung cancer in the United States survive at least five years after diagnosis. Between 2010 and 2011 in England and Wales, the estimated five-year survival rate for lung cancer was 9.5%. Survival rates in the developing world are generally poor. When lung cancer is diagnosed, the chances of survival decrease when the disease has spread far. English data suggest that about 70% of patients survive at least one year when the disease is diagnosed at an early stage.

Pathology of lungs cancer

Lung cancer accounts for the highest incidence and mortality among men worldwide, and is the third-highest incidence (after breast and colorectal cancer) and second-highest mortality (after breast cancer) among women. In 2020, 2.2 million new cases were diagnosed worldwide, and 1.8 million deaths were due to lung cancer, accounting for 18.0% of all cancer deaths. The highest rates are in Micronesia, Polynesia, Europe, Asia, North America and Europe. This rate is much lower in Africa and Central America

Lung cancer causes

The main cause of lung cancer is tobacco use. Among those who smoke two to three packs of cigarettes per day and continue smoking for 20 to 30 years, 90 percent have a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

Besides occupational factors – miners, air pollution, genetics and radiation are some of the causes.

Occupational factors such as coal miners, building construction workers, petroleum, chemical or rubber factory workers and ship workers are more common.

People who work in X-ray departments, who are given radiation therapy, are more likely to develop lung cancer.

Lung cancer types

Adenocarcinomas

Adenocarcinomas account for up to 40 percent of lung cancers. Although adenocarcinomas, like other lung cancers, are associated with smoking, this type of cancer often occurs in nonsmokers—especially women. Most adenocarcinomas occur in the outer or secondary lung regions. They, too, tend to spread to the lymph nodes and beyond. Adenocarcinoma in situ is a subtype of adenocarcinoma that often occurs at different sites in the lung and spreads along pre-existing alveolar walls. Symptoms of adenocarcinomas

stomach ache

Nausea and vomiting

lose weight

Weakness

Continuous bleeding

Low blood cell count

Yellowing of the skin and eyes

Squamous cell carcinoma

Previously, squamous cell carcinomas were more common than adenocarcinomas; Currently, they account for about 25 to 30 percent of all lung cancer cases. Squamous cell cancers also known as epidermoid carcinomas are usually found in the central thoracic region of the bronchi. In most cases, this type of lung cancer stays within the lung, spreads to the lymph nodes and becomes very large, creating a cavity. Symptoms of squamous

Flat sores with a scaly crust

A new sore or raised area over an old wound or ulcer

Red or rough patches on the inside of your mouth

Red, raised patches or wart-like sores in your anus or genitals

Small cell carcinomas

Large cell carcinoma, also called unresectable carcinoma, comprises 10%-15% of all lung cancers. This type of cancer has a strong tendency to spread to distant sites and lymph nodes. Symptoms of small cell carcinomas

Chronic cough and coughing up blood

Back, shoulder or chest pain

Weakness, moderate shortness of breath or pain

Airway

Bronchial carcinoids account for up to 5 percent of lung cancers. This type of tumor is usually small when diagnosed and often occurs in people under 30-40 years of age. Carcinoid tumors can metastasize because of cigarette smoking, and a small proportion of these lung cancer tumors secrete hormone-like substances. In general, carcinoids develop and spread more slowly than bronchogenic cancers, and many are detected early enough to be surgically removed. Bronchial symptoms

cough

Mucus production, which can be yellow-gray or green in color - it can also sometimes be tinged with blood

depression

shortness of breath

Chest discomfort