Lung Cancer is malignant tumour that starts in the cells of the lung and can spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. In India, lung cancer constitutes 6.9 per cent of all new cancer cases and 9.3 per cent of all cancer related deaths in both sexes; it is the commonest cancer and cause of cancer related to mortality in men. Adenocarcinoma of the lung is a common histological image seen under microscope.
Symptoms
of Lung Cancer:
Earlier
signs and symptoms:
·
Cough
with blood or rusty-coloured phlegm
·
fatigue
·
unexplained
weight loss,
·
recurrent
respiratory infections,
·
hoarseness,
·
Wheezing
and shortness of breath.
·
Pain
in the chest area is a symptom in about one fourth of people with lung cancer.
The pain is dull, aching, and persistent.
·
Shortness
of breath.
·
Repeated
respiratory infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, can be a sign of lung
cancer.
·
Later:
build-up of fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion),bone pain, jaundice,
neurological changes ,numbness in a limb ,dizziness, seizure and enlarged lymph
nodes in the neck or above the collarbone.
Causes
of Lung Cancer:
·
Smoking
causes lung cancer by damaging the cells that line the lungs.
·
Exposure
to second-hand smoke
·
Exposure
to radon gas
·
Exposure
to asbestos and other carcinogens
·
Family
history of lung cancer
·
Types
of lung cancer
Some
Diagnostic tests for diagnosing Lung Cancer include:
·
X-ray
·
Computed
tomography (CT) scan
·
Positron
emission tomography (PET) scan
·
Sputum
tests
·
Endoscopic
procedures
·
Ultrasound
·
Lung
Biopsy
There
are two general types of Lung Cancer include:
Small cell lung cancer: Small
cell lung cancer occurs almost exclusively in heavy smokers.
Staging
of lung cancer:
Stage I – Tumours are 3 cm or
less in diameter and are completely within the lung (no evidence of spread to
the pleura, other lung, lymph nodes or organs outside the chest).
Stage II – Tumours have spread to
the bronchial or hilar lymph nodes.
Stage III – Tumours have spread
to mediastinal lymph nodes.
Stage IV – Tumours have spread to
the pleura, other lung or organs outside of the chest.
Life
expectancy and prognosis of lung cancer:
Lung Cancer can spread to other
parts such as the brain, bones and other organs.
The overall 5-year survival rate
for both stages of small cell lung cancer is only about 6 percent. Without treatment,
the average life expectancy for extensive disease is 2 to 4 months, and with
treatment is 6 to 12 months.
The five-year survival rate for
people diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer that has spread to other areas of
the body is 4 percent.
Treatment
of Lung Cancer:
Surgery:
1) Wedge resection to remove a
small section of lung that contains the tumour along with a margin of healthy
tissue
2) Segmental resection to remove
a larger portion of lung, but not an entire lobe
3) Lobectomy to remove the entire
lobe of one lung
4) Pneumonectomy to remove an
entire lung
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill
cancer cells. One or more chemotherapy drugs may be given through a vein in
your arm (intravenously) or taken orally. Chemotherapy is often used after
surgery to kill any cancer cells that may remain. It may also be used before
surgery to shrink cancers and make them easier to remove.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses
high-powered energy beams from sources such as X-rays and protons to kill
cancer cells. We can use beam radiation or brachytherapy. Radiation therapy can
be used after
Targeted drug therapy:
Targeted therapies are newer
cancer treatments that work by targeting specific abnormalities in cancer
cells. Targeted therapy drugs are often used in combination with chemotherapy
drugs.
For more
information on lung cancer you can contact Wockhardt Hospital.
Wockhardt Hospitals, a chain of
tertiary care super-specialty hospitals has more than 25 years of experience in
the creation and management of Super Specialty Hospitals in India.
At Wockhardt Hospital we believe
that diagnosis and management of a cancer patient does not end with the
treatment of cancer, and hence it follows a well-designed patient counselling
services and support system and forms part of goals in our oncology department.
Our oncology team at Wockhardt Hospital uses cutting edge technology &
latest pharmaceuticals to provide complete treatment of cancer.
At Wockhardt Hospitals our
esteemed and dedicated team of oncologist team, provides both inpatient and
outpatient services for patients diagnosed with cancer. This care is delivered
by a multidisciplinary team of oncologists working together. Our oncologists at
Wockhardt hospital along with expertise in this vast field and supported with
advanced technology, assist in providing the best quality patient care to our
cancer patients in administration of chemotherapy and radiation oncology.
The Department of Surgical
Oncology is the only surgical oncology department for cancer treatment in aims
to provide holistic, all round surgical care for solid tumours comprising of
Head & Neck Cancers, Breast Cancer and Cancers of the female reproductive
organs. Our qualified surgeons all have specialized fellowship training and
work in a multidisciplinary setting with other specialists to provide the
latest treatments and innovations in surgical cancer care.
Our centres at Wockhardt Hospital
also provide the nutrition support and other therapies to manage the side
effects of cancer treatment.
Latest surgical techniques through
minimal invasive surgery, stem cell transplantation and latest chemotherapy
adjuvants form part of the care in the oncology speciality at our units in
Wockhardt Hospital. Wockhardt Hospital specializes in treatments for all
haematological disorders such as different types of anaemia, haematological
malignancies, bleeding and thrombotic disorders and Bone marrow and stem cell
transplantation.
Wockhardt Hospitals have been
regarded as centers of excellence in medical science with facilities in North
Mumbai (Mira road), South Mumbai (Mumbai Central), Navi Mumbai (Vashi), Nagpur,
Nasik, Rajkot and Surat. Wockhardt Hospitals is having state-of-the-art
infrastructure whose prime objective is patient safety first and quality of
care at the core of its strategy. The guiding philosophy is to serve and enrich
the Quality of Life of patients and to make life win.
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