Lung cancer: treatment, symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis
According to the data of medical statistics, lung cancer is one of the most common pathologies in the structure of cancer diseases. The basis of its pathogenetic mechanism is the malignant degeneration of epithelial cells of the lung tissue (the appearance of poorly differentiated elements), which is accompanied by air exchange disorders. Signs of lung cancer in the early stages are non-specific. This is fatigue, frequent cough, not associated with colds, and a noticeable decrease in body weight.
Most often, the disease is diagnosed in men aged 50-80 with nicotine addiction. Smokers with long experience account for up to 80% of detected cases. The pathology is characterized by a high mortality rate (70-90%), as the respiratory function is particularly important for the body's vital activity. The survival prognosis of patients with lung cancer largely depends on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed. Malignant lung tissue damage is much easier to prevent than to cure. None of the modern methods provides a complete guarantee of treatment (especially in the later stages).
On our website Dobrobut.com you will find out what the first signs of lung cancer are.
Causes of lung cancer
Human lungs are the only organ that is constantly and directly connected to the external environment, i.e. atmospheric air. This causes a specific feature - quite high rates of renewal (apoptosis) of the cells of the epithelial layer.
The most important causes of lung cancer:
- smoking;
- hereditary (genetically determined) factors;
- presence of chronic diseases of the bronchopulmonary system;
- natural processes of body aging;
- harmful workflow;
- influence of ionizing radiation;
- increased rate of renewal of the epithelium (the probability of natural mutations increases).
Harmful work process in this case is work with carcinogenic substances that enter the respiratory tract - asbestos, chromium, cadmium, arsenic and synthetic nitro-based dyes. Employees of gas stations and garages are at risk because they are forced to constantly inhale gasoline vapors and exhaust gases.
Oncology is caused not only by active, but also by passive smoking, therefore, for the prevention of lung cancer, it is important to visit places where there is tobacco smoke as rarely as possible.
NPP workers and radiologists are not the only ones exposed to radiation. The weak alpha radiation of radon (a gas that often accumulates in the basements of houses) is quite capable of provoking the mutation of cells with their malignant transformation.
Stages, first signs of lung cancer and symptoms of late stages
Malignant tumor grows for a long time.
It is customary to distinguish several periods of the development of the disease:
- biological (from the start of the pathological process to the appearance of radiological signs);
- asymptomatic (there are no clinical signs, the tumor is detected during roentgenography);
- clinical (symptoms appear and increase).
The first symptoms of this oncological disease do not differ in specificity and most often do not cause special concern in patients. As a result, doctors in most cases have to deal with neglected forms.
The first signs include:
- constant general fatigue;
- quick fatigue when performing ordinary tasks;
- depressed state;
- decrease or complete loss of appetite;
- pronounced decrease in body weight or sudden weight loss (cachexia);
- unsystematic cough.
Fluid in the lungs with oncology accumulates gradually and in a significant amount. It prevents the movement of the organ and becomes one of the causes of respiratory failure (it is manifested by shortness of breath against the background of minor loads).
More late stages (3-4) are characterized by the appearance of blood streaks in sputum when coughing (caused by damage to blood vessels during tumor growth), as well as shortness of breath and arrhythmias caused by the "shutdown" of significant areas of the organ from the respiratory process.
Symptoms of stage 4 lung cancer are associated with the formation of secondary tumor foci. Metastasis to nearby and distant organs and tissues is accompanied by the development of a pain syndrome (usually of high intensity). Other clinical manifestations are determined by the localization of metastases. Patients may experience jaundice, difficulty speaking, swallowing problems, frequent fractures, etc.
No specialist will give an exact answer to the question "how many people live with lung cancer with metastases". The age of the patient and the rate of metastasis are of great importance. The fourth stage is considered inoperable, with its development, only palliative treatment is possible, aimed at alleviating the patient's condition (relieving pain) and improving the quality of his life.
Diagnostics
A distinction is made between central and peripheral cancer. The so-called apical is considered a type of peripheral. Oncologists also have to deal with atypical localization of the focus.
During the general examination, the patient is examined, anamnesis is taken, percussion and auscultation are performed.
Diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer includes hardware research methods - fluorography, radiography, CT and MRI with intravenous contrast and bronchoscopy. The apical variety is characterized by the presence of distracting symptoms (neurological manifestations) and the absence of a characteristic picture on an X-ray.
General clinical analyzes and specific laboratory tests (in particular, for the presence/absence of tumor markers) are of great importance for the diagnosis of oncology.
Treatment
Lung cancer can be cured if it is detected at an early stage. Unfortunately, it is relatively rare to feel the disease in the first stages of development. As a rule, patients consult a doctor already in the clinical period, more often - at the 2-3 stage.
Main methods of treatment:
- surgical intervention to remove the tumor within healthy tissues;
- chemotherapy;
- radiotherapy (impact on the focus with high doses of ionizing radiation).
Please note: Chemotherapy for lung cancer involves the introduction of drugs into the body that slow down cell growth - i.e. call cytostatics.
In some cases, the use of only one of the methods is practiced, but most often the treatment is complex. Relatively recently, cytokinetic (immunological) and hormonal methods of combating this deadly disease were introduced into oncological practice.
Treatment of small cell lung cancer (one of the most aggressive forms) presents the greatest difficulties. Combined methods (combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy) are practiced, and in some cases, removal of the affected lobe or complete lung resection with removal of part of the upper respiratory tract is performed. Complete remission can be achieved extremely rarely.
Important: The decision on surgical intervention is guided by the principle of expediency. In particular, contraindications to operative (radical) treatment of squamous cell lung cancer are the presence of distant metastases and concomitant pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
The peripheral type of the disease leaves the patient with the highest chances of recovery or long-term remission, and with central lung cancer, survival from the moment of diagnosis rarely exceeds 3 years.
With lung cancer, chemotherapy is almost always continued after surgery or radiation sessions are carried out.
Related services:
Chemotherapy course
Oncologist consultation
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