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A Brief Overview Of Lung Cancer- The Disease You Should Know
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A Brief Overview Of Lung Cancer- The Disease You Should Know Lung Cancer


Our lungs are the spongy type of organ in the chest. They inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. But, pollutant substances intoxication leads to altering the body cells. One of the commonest types of disease is lung cancer in today's world. This disease happens when human lung cells change or mutate.

Initially, lung cancer or carcinoma begins in the lungs. This disorder is characterized by the abnormal growth of cells in lung tissues. Cancer is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. Smoker has the h

highest risk of the disease. Apart from this, there are various reasons. In today's post, we will dig in-depth about lung cancer. Let us start!


What Is Lung Cancer?

At first, lung cancer initiates when abnormal cell growth happens. Besides, the uncontrolled cells multiply excessively. Primary cancer starts in the lungs. However, cancer can begin from another body portion, while lung involvement can occur. It is known as metastatic or secondary lung cancer. This disease is the fifth commonest cancer in Australia.

There is an estimation of 14,000 cases of newly diagnosed cancer in 2021. The surviving rate is at least 19%. Furthermore, Asian countries have a high incidence of the disease. There are many symptoms of lung cancer that you should be aware of. We will talk about this along with the main causes of lung cancer.


What Are the Types of Lung Cancer?

Doctors divide into two main types of lung cancer based on the microscopic cell appearance. Your doctor makes treatment decisions based on the alteration of lung cells. The two main types are small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Carcinoid is a less common third type of lung cancer.


Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)

There are two distinctive types of small cell lung cancer found. They are small cell carcinoma, mixed cell, or large cell cancer. Additionally, a combined type of small cell lung cancer occurs invariably. These patterns are named according to the cancer cells found. Plus, how they look under the microscope is another fact. Cigarette smoking is the main cause.


Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

This is more commonly found in the l

lungs. Almost 80 percent of cases are Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Usually, it grows quite slowly. The spread is not rapid like small cell lung cancer does. An example is an adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma. The occurrence rate is high in large cell carcinoma. They tend to grow faster than other carcinomas.


Survival Rate

Doctors use survival statistics or rates to tell the percentage of patients. They survive a specific type and certain cancer stage for a specific period. The fundamental basis is on mass population averages. The rate of lung cancer's 5-year survival (18.6 percent) is lesser than other leading cancer sites.


However, 16 percent of occurrences are diagnosed at the beginning stage. Lung cancer signs and symptoms are very cardinal signs for detecting the disease. Half or more patients with lung carcinoma die within 1 year of the diagnosis. Therefore, lung cancer causes and risk factors should be known. We are going to analyze them.


Common Symptoms 

Both small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer show almost basic symptoms. Early clinical manifestation may include:

  • Worsening or lingering cough.
  • Coughing up blood or phlegm.
  • Chest pain will worsen.
  • The pain is triggered by deep breathing, coughing, or laughing.
  • Hoarseness of voice or sound. 
  • Shortness of breath and wheezing.
  • Lethargy, fatigue, and weakness.
  • Gradual weight loss within rapid time.
  • Loss of appetite and eating disorders.
  • Recurrent infections in the respiratory tract.
  • The patient might have pneumonia.
  • Bronchitis, laryngitis, and pharyngitis commonly occur.


Additional Symptoms

As lung cancer spreads, other symptoms strain the patient's body. This depends on where the new tumor cell forms. For example,


Lymph Nodes: If cancer spreads in the lymph nodes, neck lumps will be found. 


Bones: If it extends further, bone pain happens. The back, hips, or ribs are the main sites.


Spine or brain: Dizziness, headache, balance issues, and numbness in legs or arms.


Liver: This organ involvement will be expressed through the yellowing of eyes and skin.


Causes & Risk Factors 


Smoking: Majorly, smoking is responsible for causing lung cancers. It damages the lung cells. Also, people exposed to indirect smoke have a great chance of being affected by cancer. But lung carcinoma might occur in non-smoker people. In many cases, no clear etiology is seen. Many predisposing factors may be beneath the dangerous disease. 


Other: Exposure to radiation therapy is a cause of lung carcinoma. Hazardous exposure of radon gas can be responsible too. Positive family history increases the risk of developing cancer. Workplace exposure to arsenic, nickel, and chromium can increase the chances of developing cancer. Physicians never decide lung cancer treatment in terms of aetiological factors. The stages evaluate it. 


Complications


Shortness Of Breath: Lung cancer patients experience shortness of breath. As it blocks the major airways.


Coughing Up Blood: It causes bleeding in the respiratory airway. This leads to coughing up blood, known as hemoptysis.


Pain: Cancer's advanced stage spreads from the lung lining to another body area. Ribs bone pain is commonly seen.


Pleural effusion: Fluid in the chest is termed pleural effusion. Drainage of the fluid may be required.


Diagnosing Lung Cancer


To diagnose lung cancer, there are some particular tests performed.


Imaging tests: After going through some imaging tests like MRI, CT, X-ray, or PET scans, there might be an abnormal mass.


Sputum cytology: When a patient has phlegm in cough, then Sputum cytology examination can diagnose if there's cancer.


Again, doing a biopsy can indicate whether the tumor cells have cancer or not. Plus, pathologists analyze the tissue sample by bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy, or needle. After that, you may have to go for more tests like a bone scan where cancer can be found.


Stages Of Lung Cancer


Stages of lung cancer denote the condition of cancer. If lung cancer is diagnosed at early stages, the chances of success are more.


Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

There are 4 major stages of Non-small cell lung cancer:


Stage 1: Cancer has been only in the lung; still, it has not spread outside of it.


Stage 2: Diagnosis shows that the cancer is in the lung and closer lymph nodes.


Stage 3: In stage 3, diagnosis identifies that cancer has spread on the lung and lymph nodes of the chest.


Stage 3A: The lymph nodes which are on the side of the chest of the affected lung are now containing cancer.


Stage 3B: Cancer is now spreading to the other side of the chest on lymph nodes or to other organs.


Stage 4: Stage 4 means the cancer is found in both lungs or other organs of the body.


Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC):


This type of lung cancer comes with two major stages. Initially, it's called limited stage cancer. In this case, cancer is on one lung and nearby lymph nodes, which are on the side of the chest of the affected lung.


Then, the extensive stage of SCLC denotes that cancer can be throughout one lung or to the other lung. Besides, in an extensive stage, the opposite side lymph nodes, lung fluids, bone marrow, or other organs might be affected with cancer.  


Treatment Of Lung Cancer 


Doctors suggest lung cancer treatment, considering the type and the stage of cancer. If a patient has non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), they will have to go through:


Surgery: By a clinical operation, cancer tissue is cut out.

Chemotherapy: Particular medicines kill the cancer cell.

Radiation therapy: High-energy rays are used to kill cancer cells.


Targeted therapy: Special drugs are used to block the growth of cancer cells. Or a combined treatment of different procedures.


Small cell lung cancer is generally treated with chemo and radiation therapy. Overall, these are the treatment of lung cancer in a nutshell.


Wrapping Up

Finding out about lung cancer is very difficult for both the patient's family and doctors. After the proper diagnosis, daily activities should be managed to continue. Like other human cancers, it develops when abnormal cell division starts. The physiological growth is altered, giving way to uncontrollable cell conditions. The cells turn into a tumor. Any abnormal body growth might invade surrounding organs and tissues. Lung cancer treatment by stage is a vital attempt to follow. Have a healthy lifestyle!