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Lung cancer is a cancer that starts in the lungs. Your lungs are two spongy organs in your chest that take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide as you breathe.
Lung cancer is the biggest cause of mortality from cancer worldwide.
Persons who smoke are at the highest risk of developing lung cancer, but it can also occur in people who have never smoked. The risk of lung cancer increases with the amount of time and cigarettes smoked. You can dramatically reduce your risks of developing lung cancer if you quit smoking, even if you’ve been smoking for a long time.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF LUNG CANCER?
Doctors classify lung cancer into two basic categories depending on how the cells look under a microscope. Your doctor will offer treatment recommendations based on the type of lung cancer you have.
Lung cancer is classified into two types:
- Small cell lung cancer: Small cell lung cancer is almost exclusively found in heavy smokers and is less prevalent than non-small cell lung cancer.
- Non-small cell lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer refers to a group of different kinds of lung cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma are examples of non-small cell lung malignancies.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF LUNG CANCER?
The symptoms of non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer are very similar.
Early signs and symptoms may include:
- cough that persists or worsens
- coughing up blood or phlegm
- Pain in the chest that intensifies when you breathe deeply, laugh, or cough
- hoarseness
- Breathing difficulty
- wheezing
- fatigue and weakness
- Appetite loss and weight loss
Recurrent respiratory infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, are also possible.
Additional symptoms arise as cancer spreads, depending on where new tumors grow. For example, if in the:
- Lymph nodes: lumps, especially around the neck or collarbone
- Bones: Back, rib, or hip discomfort is a common symptom of bone pain.
- Brain or spine: headache, dizziness, difficulty balancing, or numbness in the arms or legs
- Liver: skin and eye yellowing (jaundice)
Tumors on the top of the lungs might impact facial nerves, causing one eyelid to droop, a small pupil, or a lack of perspiration on one side of the face. Horner syndrome refers to the combination of several symptoms. It can also result in shoulder ache.
Tumors can put pressure on the large vein that delivers blood from the head to the arms and heart. Swelling of the face, neck, upper chest, and arms is possible as a result of this.
Lung cancer can produce a chemical comparable to hormones, resulting in a wide range of symptoms known as paraneoplastic syndrome, which includes:
- weakness of the muscles
- nausea
- vomiting
- Retention of fluid
- hypertension
- elevated blood sugar levels
- confusion
- seizures
- coma
BACK PAIN AND LUNG CANCER
Back discomfort affects a large percentage of the population. Lung cancer and unrelated back discomfort are also possibilities. The majority of persons who suffer from back discomfort do not have lung cancer.
Back discomfort is not experienced by everyone who has lung cancer, but it is common. Back pain is one of the early indications of lung cancer in some people.
The pressure of big tumors growing in the lungs might cause back pain. It could also indicate that your cancer has progressed to your spine or ribs. A malignant tumor can compress the spinal cord as it grows.
This can result in neurologic degeneration, resulting in:
- Arm and leg fatigue
- Leg and foot numbness or loss of sensation
- Incontinence of the urinary and bowel systems
- interfering with the blood circulation to the spinal cord
Back discomfort caused by cancer will worsen if it is not treated. Back discomfort may be relieved if a tumor is effectively removed or shrunk with treatment such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
Furthermore, your doctor may give corticosteroids or pain medications such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs). Opioids such as morphine or oxycodone may be required for more severe pain.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF LUNG CANCER?
Anyone can develop lung cancer, although smoking is responsible for 90% of instances.
When you breath smoke into your lungs, it begins to damage your lung tissue. The lungs can repair the damage, but repeated exposure to smoke makes it increasingly difficult for the lungs to do so.
When cells are injured, they start to behave abnormally, increasing the chances of getting lung cancer. Heavy smoking is almost always linked to small-cell lung cancer. Smoking cessation reduces your risk of lung cancer over time.
According to the American Lung Association, the second leading cause is exposure to radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas.
Radon enters structures through minor foundation fissures. Smokers who are also radon-exposed are at an extremely high risk of developing lung cancer.
Breathing in other dangerous compounds, especially for an extended period of time, can also lead to lung cancer. Mesothelioma, a kind of lung cancer, is most usually caused by asbestos exposure.
Other compounds that can lead to lung cancer include:
- arsenic
- cadmium
- chromium
- nickel
- some petroleum-based products
- uranium
Inherited genetic abnormalities may increase your risk of lung cancer, particularly if you smoke or are exposed to other toxins.
There are situations when there is no evident cause of lung cancer.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS OF LUNG CANCER?
A variety of variables may raise your risk of developing lung cancer. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be reduced or eliminated. Other elements, such as your family history, are uncontrollable.
Lung cancer risk factors include:
- Smoking: The quantity of cigarettes you smoke each day and the number of years you have smoked raise your risk of lung cancer. Quitting smoking at any age can reduce your risk of developing lung cancer greatly.
- Secondhand smoke exposure: Even if you don’t smoke, being exposed to secondhand smoke raises your risk of developing lung cancer.
- Previous radiation therapy: If you’ve had chest radiation therapy for another type of cancer, you may be at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.
- Radon gas exposure: Radon is formed naturally by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water, and it eventually becomes part of the air you breathe. Radon levels that are unsafe can build up in any structure, including residences.
- Asbestos and other toxins exposure: Workplace exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens, such as arsenic, chromium, and nickel, can raise your risk of developing lung cancer, especially if you smoke.
- Lung cancer in the family: People who have a parent, sibling, or child who has lung cancer are at a higher risk of developing the disease.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF LUNG CANCER?
Complications from lung cancer can include:
- Breathing difficulty: Shortness of breath can occur in people with lung cancer if the malignancy spreads to the main airways. Lung cancer can also cause fluid to build up around the lungs, making it difficult for the affected lung to fully expand when you inhale.
- Coughing up blood: Lung cancer can induce airway bleeding, which can lead you to cough up blood (hemoptysis). Bleeding might become severe at times. There are treatments available to control bleeding.
- Pain: Pain can be caused by advanced lung cancer that has spread to the lining of the lung or to another part of the body, such as the bone. Inform your doctor if you are experiencing discomfort, since there are numerous pain-controlling medications available.
- Fluid in the chest (pleural effusion): Lung cancer can cause fluid to build up in the area in the chest cavity that surrounds the damaged lung (pleural space).
Shortness of breath can be caused by fluid accumulating in the chest. There are treatments available to remove the fluid from your chest and lessen the likelihood of recurrent pleural effusion.
- Cancer that spreads to other parts of the body (metastasis): Lung cancer frequently spreads to other regions of the body, including the brain and bones.
Cancer that spreads can cause discomfort, nausea, headaches, and other symptoms, depending on which organ is afflicted. Lung cancer is often incurable once it has gone beyond the lungs. Treatments are available to assist you live a longer life by reducing indications and symptoms.
SMOKING AND LUNG CANCER
Not everyone who smokes develops lung cancer, and not everyone who has lung cancer is a smoker. However, there is no doubt that smoking is the most significant risk factor, accounting for 9 out of 10 cases of lung cancer.
Cigar and pipe smoking, in addition to cigarettes, have been associated to lung cancer. The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more likely you are to acquire lung cancer.
It is not necessary to be a smoker to be affected.
Breathing in other people’s smoke raises the risk of developing lung cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), secondhand smoke causes around 7,300 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year.
Tobacco products include over 7,000 compounds, at least 70 of which are recognized carcinogens.
When you inhale cigarette smoke, this chemical mixture is sent directly to your lungs, where it instantly begins to cause harm.
The lungs can normally repair damage initially, but the ongoing effect on lung tissue becomes more difficult to treat. Damaged cells can mutate and expand out of control at this point.
Chemicals that you inhale enter your bloodstream and are transferred throughout your body, raising your chance of developing different types of cancer.
Former smokers are still at risk of developing lung cancer, but quitting can significantly reduce that risk. The chance of dying from lung cancer is cut in half within ten years of stopping.
HOW IS LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSED?
Following a physical exam, your doctor will advise you on how to prepare for specific tests, such as:
- Imaging tests: X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and PET scans can all reveal an abnormal mass. These scans provide more information and detect tiny lesions.
- Sputum cytology: If you cough up phlegm, a microscopic examination can reveal whether cancer cells are present.
A biopsy can detect whether or not tumor cells are malignant. To get a tissue sample, follow these steps:
- Bronchoscopy: A lighted tube is put down your throat and into your lungs while you are sedated, allowing for a closer examination.
- Mediastinoscopy: The doctor creates an incision at the base of the neck to perform a mediastinoscopy. A lighted instrument is introduced, and surgical tools are utilized to collect lymph node samples. It is often done in a hospital under general anesthesia.
- Needle: A needle is introduced through the chest wall and into the suspected lung tissue using imaging tests as a guide. Lymph nodes can also be tested with a needle biopsy.
Tissue samples are analyzed by a pathologist. If the test results are positive for cancer, additional testing, such as a bone scan, can assist identify if the disease has spread and aid in staging.
You will be injected with a radioactive chemical for this test. The pictures will then indicate any abnormal bone regions. Staging may also involve the use of an MRI, CT scan, or a PET scan.
WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF LUNG CANCER?
Cancer stages indicate how far the cancer has spread and aid in treatment planning.
When lung cancer is discovered and treated early, before it spreads, the chances of successful or curative therapy are substantially better. Because lung cancer does not generate visible symptoms in the early stages, it is frequently diagnosed after it has progressed.
Non-small cell lung cancer is classified into four stages:
- Stage 1: Cancer has been discovered in the lung but has not spread outside of the lung.
- Stage 2: Cancer has been discovered in the lung and adjacent lymph nodes.
- Stage 3: Cancer has spread to the lungs and lymph nodes in the center of the chest.
- Stage 3A: Cancer is discovered in lymph nodes, but exclusively on the same side of the chest where the cancer first appeared.
- Stage 3B: The cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or above the collarbone.
- Stage 4: Cancer has spread to both lungs, the area around the lungs, or distant organs.
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is classified into two phases. Cancer is diagnosed in only one lung or surrounding lymph nodes on the same side of the chest in the restricted stage.
The advanced stage indicates that the cancer has spread:
- all over one lungs
- to the opposite lung
- to the opposite side’s lymph nodes
- to the fluid surrounding the lung
- to the bone marrow
- to remote organs
Two out of every three persons with SCLC are already in the advanced stage when they are diagnosed.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR LUNG CANCER?
Before beginning treatment, it’s usually a good idea to get a second opinion. Your doctor may be able to assist you in making that happen. If you are diagnosed with lung cancer, your care will most likely be overseen by a group of experts that may include:
- a surgeon who specializes in the lungs and chest
- a lung specialist (pulmonologist)
- a cancer specialist
- a radiologist
Before making a decision, consider all of your therapy alternatives. Your doctors will work together to coordinate care and keep each other informed.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment differs from person to person. Much is dependent on the specifics of your health.
Stage 1 NSCLC: You may only require surgery to remove a piece of your lung. Chemotherapy may also be advised, particularly if you are at high risk of recurrence.
Stage 2 NSCLC: Surgery to remove a portion or all of your lung may be required. Chemotherapy is frequently advised.
Stage 3 NSCLC: You might need a mix of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
Stage 4 NSCLC is notoriously difficult to treat. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are all options.
Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are also options for small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In most situations, the cancer will be too advanced to be treated surgically.
Clinical trials allow patients to gain access to potential new medicines. Consult your doctor to see if you are a candidate for a clinical trial.
Some persons with advanced lung cancer refuse to get therapy. Palliative care treatments, which focus on treating the symptoms of cancer rather than the illness itself, are still available.
WHAT ARE SOME HOME REMEDIES FOR LUNG CANCER SYMPTOMS?
Cancer cannot be cured with home medicines or homeopathic medications. However, certain home remedies may help alleviate some of the symptoms of lung cancer as well as the negative effects of treatment.
Consult your doctor to determine whether you should take dietary supplements and, if so, which ones. Some herbs, plant extracts, and other home remedies can obstruct treatment and jeopardize your health. Discuss all complementary therapies with your doctor to ensure that they are safe for you.
Among the options are:
- Massage: Massage, when performed by a trained therapist, can help ease pain and anxiety. Some massage therapists are specially educated to work with cancer patients.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture, when performed by a competent practitioner, may assist relieve pain, nausea, and vomiting. However, it is not safe if you have low blood counts or are on blood thinners.
- Meditation: Relaxation and reflection can help cancer patients reduce stress and enhance their overall quality of life.
- Hypnosis: Aids in relaxation and may alleviate nausea, pain, and anxiety.
- Yoga: Yoga, which combines breathing methods, meditation, and stretching, can help you feel better overall and sleep better.
Some cancer patients use cannabis oil. It can be mixed with food or incorporated into cooking oil to squirt in your mouth. Alternatively, the vapors can be breathed. This may alleviate nausea and vomiting while also increasing appetite. Human research are sparse, and cannabis oil legislation differ from state to state.
DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR PEOPLE WITH LUNG CANCER
There is no such thing as a lung cancer diet. It is critical to ensure that your body receives all of the nutrients it requires.
If you are deficient in particular vitamins or minerals, your doctor can tell you which foods can help you get them. Otherwise, a food supplement will be required. Take supplements only after consulting with your doctor, as some can interfere with medication.
Here are some nutritional suggestions:
- Eat whenever you feel hungry.
- Try eating smaller meals throughout the day if you don’t have a big appetite.
- If you need to gain weight, supplement with high-calorie, low-sugar foods and drinks.
- To ease your digestive system, drink mint or ginger tea.
- If you have a sensitive stomach or mouth sores, avoid spices and eat bland foods.
- If constipation is a problem, increase your intake of high-fiber foods.
Your tolerance to specific meals may change as you move through treatment. So, too, can your negative effects and nutritional requirements. It’s important to talk about nutrition with your doctor on a regular basis. You can also request a recommendation to a nutritionist or dietitian.
There is no proven diet that cures cancer, but a well-balanced diet can help you deal with side effects and feel better.
WHAT ARE THE PREVENTIONS OF LUNG CANCER?
There is no sure way to avoid lung cancer, however you can lower your risk by doing the following:
Don’t smoke: Don’t start smoking if you’ve never done so. Discuss the importance of not smoking with your children so that they understand how to prevent this important risk factor for lung cancer. Begin discussions on the dangers of smoking with your children as early as possible so that they will know how to respond to peer pressure.
Quit smoking: Stop smoking right now. Even if you’ve been smoking for years, quitting lowers your chance of lung cancer. Consult your doctor about quitting smoking tactics and stop-smoking assistance. Nicotine replacement products, medicines, and support groups are all options.
Avoid secondhand smoke: If you live or work with someone who smokes, encourage him or her to quit. At the very least, request that he or she smoke outside. Avoid smoking venues, such as pubs and restaurants, and look for smoke-free options.
Test your home for radon: Have the radon levels in your home checked, especially if you reside in a radon-prone area. Radon levels above a certain threshold can be reduced to make your house safer. Contact your local department of public health or a local branch of the American Lung Association for further information about radon testing.
Consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables: Choose a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables. The best sources of vitamins and minerals are foods. Large amounts of vitamins in pill form should be avoided since they may be dangerous. For example, in order to minimize the risk of lung cancer among heavy smokers, researchers gave them beta carotene pills. The supplements actually raised the risk of cancer in smokers, according to the findings.
Avoid carcinogens at work: Take care to protect yourself from harmful chemicals at work. Take your employer’s safety procedures. For example, if you’re provided a face mask for safety, make sure you constantly use it. Inquire with your doctor about what else you may do to safeguard yourself at work. If you smoke, your chance of lung damage from occupational toxins increases.
Exercise most days of the week: If you don’t already exercise on a regular basis, begin carefully. Make an effort to exercise on most days of the week.
