Lung cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. It is one among the most common cancers in the world and usually noticed more in smokers. Lungs are two spongy organs located in the chest and are a part of the respiratory system. The lungs act as a filter for gases within the body and help in breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide.
Lung cancers can be classified as:
Lung cancer may not be evident in the early stages. However, in advanced stages, some of the following signs and symptoms can be present:
Smoking is considered to be one of the major contributors to lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is higher in people who smoke (active smoker) or those who are exposed to smoke (passive smoker). However, sometimes it may be seen even in people who do not smoke. Some other factors that can increase the chances of developing lung cancer include:
Few commonly seen complications of lung cancer are:
Like other cancers, lung cancer progresses through 4 stages. Sooner the diagnosis, better is the treatment approach and faster is the recovery.
Based on the tumor location, involvement in the lymph nodes and spreading, TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) staging of the tumor is performed. By staging the lung cancer, the doctor gets a better idea as to –
Stages of non-small cell lung cancer:
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common types of lung cancer, accounting for 85% of total lung cancers.
Stage 0 – Cancer at this stage is still at the origin of DNA error. They are just an outgrowth that is not cancerous yet. Usually, found in the top layers of the cell lining of the airways. The tumor has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs.
Stage 1 – Here, cancer has invaded into the deeper layers. However, the cancer is still benign. The size of the tumors may vary from 1 cm to 4 cm that may clog airways partially, invade visceral pleura, or bronchus. Yet, they have not spread to lymph nodes or distant tissues. Doctors suggest removal of the tumor and nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 2 – Stage 2 cancer has grown tissues of visceral pleura, main bronchus and its branches, chest wall, parietal pleura, phrenic nerve and membranes surrounding the heart. The stage 2 tumors vary in size but do not exceed 7 cm across. However, cancer has not touched the lymph nodes yet. The treatment usually involves surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy (treatment after surgery aimed at trying to destroy any remaining cancer cells with or without radiation therapy).
Stage 3 – Stage 3A cancer marks the spread of cancer into the lymph nodes, the gateway to move into different parts of the body. Through stage 3B and 3C, cancer progressively spreads through more number of lymph nodes and invades the nearby organs but not far away organs. Treatment options are similar to that of stage 2.
Stage 4 – At this stage, cancerous tissues can be of any size, may or may not have spread to lymph nodes. Cancer may have spread to the other lung, and fluid around lungs, or heart, tumor outside the chest or distant part of the body – such as liver, lungs, bones, or brain. The last stage 4B marks the spread of cancer into more than one part of the body.
Staging of small cell lung cancer:
Limited stage: Small cell lung cancer is now limited to one of the lungs and nearby lymph nodes.
Extensive stage: Small cell lung cancer has spread to lymph nodes and distant organs.
The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 55% when cancer is localized within the lungs. However, early detection of localized lung cancer is only 16%. The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 17.7%. With timely care and treatment, almost half of the people diagnosed with lung cancer survivor. Patients with metastasized lung cancer have a negligible chance of survival with a poor 5-year survival rate of 4%.
Lung cancer is diagnosed on the basis of:
The patient may be referred to an Oncologist or Onco-surgeon for an opinion if required.
The treatment options for lung cancer are based on the type and stage of lung cancer and other factors like overall health, age, and sensitivity to certain medications. The treatments for lung cancer include a combination of:
The risk of having a lung cancer can be reduced by lifestyle modifications like:
To know more about lung cancer and its treatment, you may request a callback and our lung cancer specialist will call you and answer all your queries.
Disclaimer: The information provided herein is accurate, updated and complete as per the best practices of the Company. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy and the completeness of the information so provided. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company. We do not take any responsibility for the consequences arising out of the aforementioned information and strongly recommend you for a physical consultation in case of any queries or doubts.
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