Lung Cancer

Nov 1, 2020 | 0 comments

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the lungs. It is one of the most common forms of cancer in the world. More people in the United States die from lung cancer than any other cancer. Most cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking.

There are 2 types of lung cancer:

Non-small cell – This is the most common form of lung cancer. More than 85% of people with lung cancer have non-small cell.
Small cell – The cells of this form of cancer are small. The cells grow and spread faster than in non-small cell lung cancer. It is treated differently.

Symptoms of lung cancer

Symptoms of lung cancer can differ from person to person. Common symptoms include:

A cough that gets worse or will not go away.
Chest pain.
Shortness of breath or wheezing.
Ongoing problems with pneumonia or bronchitis.
Coughing up blood.
Feeling tired all the time.
Unexplained weight loss.

Some people report just not feeling well. If cancer has spread, you might feel pain or have problems with the part of the body it has spread to. Many people with lung cancer do not experience symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage. That is one of the reasons more people die from it.

What causes lung cancer?

There are several known causes of lung cancer.

Smoking

In most cases (80% to 90%), smoking causes lung cancer. Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals. Many of these are known to cause cancer. Smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers. People who use other tobacco products are also at increased risk of getting lung cancer. These products include cigars, pipes, and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vape).

Your risk of getting lung cancer is higher the earlier you started smoking, and the more cigarettes you smoked per day. If you used to smoke but do not anymore, your risk of lung cancer decreases. But it is still higher than if you never smoked at all.

Secondhand smoke

Secondhand smoke is the smoke that other people make when they are smoking tobacco products. When you breathe it in, you are still getting the harmful effects from the smoke. Thousands of people who never smoked die every year from lung cancer because they have been around secondhand smoke.

Radon

Radon is a gas that occurs naturally in the earth. It gets trapped in houses and buildings. There, it can reach high levels that can cause cancer. Exposure to radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.

Other substances

A variety of other substances have been linked to lung cancer. These include asbestos, arsenic, diesel exhaust, and certain forms of silica and chromium.

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

Lung cancer is often found on an X-ray or CT scan being done for another reason. If you have symptoms of lung cancer, we will:

do a physical exam.
listen to your chest. If we hear fluid around your lungs, we may suspect lung cancer.
ask you about your medical history, and if you smoke.
ask if you have been exposed to other things that can cause cancer, such as asbestos.

We will also order tests that can look for lung cancer. Some of these tests may include:

chest X-ray.
CT scan.
PET (positron emission tomography) scan.
sputum test.
thoracentesis (samples fluid that has built up around the lungs).

If any of these tests indicate cancer may be present, we will probably order a biopsy. This will involve removing a piece of tissue from your lung. The tissue will be examined under a microscope to look for cancer cells.

If cancer cells are found in a biopsy, we may do more testing. This will help us find out how quickly the cancer may grow, how likely it will or has spread, and how certain treatments might work.

Can lung cancer be prevented or avoided?

In most cases, lung cancer can be prevented.

Do not smoke. If you do not smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, try to quit. If you vape, quit. If you need help quitting, let us know. There are many methods available to help you. These include the nicotine patch, gum, and medicine.
Avoid secondhand smoke. If you spend time with people who smoke, ask them to not smoke around you. Avoid places where there will be secondhand smoke.
Have your home tested for radon. This is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Avoid carcinogens. Carcinogens are things that cause cancer. Other common carcinogens (in addition to smoke, radon, and asbestos) that can cause lung cancer include diesel exhaust, coal dust, and other soots.

If you smoke and are between 55 and 80 years old, you can get a screening for lung cancer. This is done through a low-dose CT scan. Screening helps find cancer earlier or before it spreads. This improves your chances of successful treatment.

Lung cancer treatment

There are several treatment options for lung cancer. We may recommend more than one type of treatment. What is best for one person may not be the best treatment for you. We will make the decision based on several things, including:

Your general health.
The type of lung cancer.
Where the cancer has spread.

Commonly available treatments include:

Surgery – A surgeon cuts out the tumor or any cancerous tissue.
Radiation therapy – High-energy rays are used to kill cancer cells. It may be used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that are still there.
Chemotherapy – Powerful medicines are used to kill cancer cells. They are given through an IV (directly into the vein) or in pill form. Chemotherapy can cause unpleasant side effects. These include weakness, tiredness, and hair loss.
Targeted therapy – Special medicines block the growth and spread of specific cancer cells. They can be given in an IV or as a pill.

People with non-small cell lung cancer can be treated with any of these therapies, or a combination. People with small cell lung cancer are usually treated with radiation and chemotherapy. Other therapies are also available. We want the right treatment for you.

Living with lung cancer

With treatment, your lung cancer can go into remission. How well you do after treatment depends on many things. This includes how early the cancer was diagnosed. Left untreated or undetected, lung cancer can spread to other parts of the body. This includes lymph nodes and other organs. For many people, their cancer is not diagnosed until it has already spread. This could cause serious health problems or be fatal. It is very important to get treatment as soon as possible.

Living with cancer during treatment can be stressful. Treatments can have different side effects on your body. Take good care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep, and try to keep your energy up by staying mildly active. Living with lung cancer also can affect your emotions. Get support where you need it. Family, friends, counselors, or support groups can all help you emotionally.

Even after your cancer is gone, you are at a higher risk of cancer returning to your body. You will need to get regular follow-up care and check-ups for years after your treatment.