Signs And Symptoms Of Lung Cancer
Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Introduction:
Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth, and lung cancer occurs when this uncontrolled cell growth begins in one or both lungs. Rather than developing into healthy, normal lung tissue, these abnormal cells continue dividing and form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors. Tumors interfere with the main function of the lung, which is to provide the bloodstream with oxygen to be carried to the entire body. If a tumor stays in one spot and demonstrates limited growth, it is generally considered to be benign.
Lung cancer is called "primary" if the cancer originates in the lungs and "secondary" if it originates elsewhere in the body but has metastasized to the lungs. These two types are considered different cancers from diagnostic and treatment perspectives.
Main Body:
How is lung cancer classified?
Lung cancer can be broadly classified into two main types based on the cancer's appearance under a microscope: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of lung cancers, while small cell lung cancer accounts for the remaining 20%.
NSCLC can be further divided into four different types, each with different treatment options:
Squamous cell carcinoma or epidermoid carcinoma. As the most common type of NSCLC and the most common type of lung cancer in men, squamous cell carcinoma forms in the lining of the bronchial tubes.
Adenocarcinoma. As the most common type of lung cancer in women and in nonsmokers, adenocarcinoma forms in the mucus-producing glands of the lungs.
Bronchioalveolar carcinoma. This type of lung cancer is a rare type of adenocarcinoma that forms near the lungs' air sacs.
Large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma. A rapidly growing cancer, large-cell undifferentiated carcinomas form near the outer edges or surface of the lungs.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by small cells that multiply quickly and form large tumors that travel throughout the body. Almost all cases of SCLC are due to smoking. SCLC accounts for about 20% of all lung cancers. Although the cells are small, they multiply quickly and form large tumors that can spread throughout the body. Smoking is almost always the cause of SCLC.
Symptoms and Warning Signs
Unfortunately, the symptoms of lung cancer can take many years to develop which often leads to diagnosis at an advanced stage of this disease. Some of the symptoms that may occur include:
Smoker's cough that persists or becomes intense.
Persistent chest, shoulder, or back pain unrelated to pain from coughing.
Increase in volume of sputum.
Wheezing.
Nonsmoker's cough that persists for more than 2 weeks.
Change in color of sputum.
Blood in sputum.
Repeated episodes of pneumonia or bronchitis.
Other symptoms that can be related to late-stage lung cancer can include:
Loss of appetite.
Headache, bone pain, aching joints.
Bone fractures not related to accidental injury.
Neurologic symptoms, such as unsteady gait and/or episodic memory loss.
Neck and facial swelling.
Unexplained weight loss.
Other signs and symptoms may be caused by the spread of lung cancer to other parts of the body, including headaches, weakness, pain, bone fractures, bleeding, or blood clots.
Carcinogen
A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes. Several radioactive substances are considered carcinogens, but their carcinogenic activity is attributed to the radiation, for example gamma rays and alpha particles, which they emit. Lifestyle factors (nutrition, tobacco use, physical activity, etc.)
Naturally occurring exposures (ultraviolet light, radon gas, infectious agents, etc.)
Medical treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, immune system-suppressing drugs, etc.)
Workplace exposures
Household exposures
Pollution
Lung Cancer Causes
Smoking
Radon Gas
Asbestos
Viruses
Conclusion:
The three options for treating lung cancersurgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination. The choice of treatment depends on a number of factors, including the size and location of the tumor, whether the cancer is small cell or non-small cell, the physical condition of the person who is being treated, and whether the cancer has spread to or beyond the lymph nodes.
by: venkat
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