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CONGRATULATIONS to all the four teams that took part on the final day of the MoMo Cup. It was indeed good football. Today we are looking at lung cancer. Lung cancer happens when normal cells in the lungs change into abnormal cells and grow out of control. Is generally divided into two main categories: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC accounts for approximately 85 per cent of all lung cancers. NSCLC is divided further into adenocarcinoma, SCC, and large cell carcinoma.
KNOWN RISK FACTORS FOR LUNG CANCER
Tobacco smoke
Second-hand smoke
Radiation
Radon
Occupational and environmental factors Family and genetic risk
LUNG CANCER SYMPTOMS
Cough – Lung cancer can cause a new cough or a change in a chronic cough.
Blood in sputum
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Chest pain that may be dull, sharp, or stabbing
Voice hoarseness
Headache and swelling of the face, arms, or neck.
Arm, shoulder, and neck pain – This can be caused by a tumour in the top of the lungs
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
In approximately two thirds to three fourths of patients, the cancer is not diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage; patients may have lost weight and may have obvious respiratory distress. Subtle findings on physical examination may provide clues for early detection.
Head and neck - when the cancer has spread to the supraclavicular lymph nodes, careful examination may reveal enlargement of involved nodes, which helps in the clinical staging process.
Respiratory system - Respiratory insufficiency is signaled by dyspnea and increased work of breathing, retractions, orthopnea, and cyanosis. Upper airway obstruction is manifested by stridor and wheezing. Lower airway obstruction is manifested by asymmetric breath sounds, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, infiltrate, and post obstructive processes.
Cardiovascular system - Tumour can cause a pericardial effusion.
Gastrointestinal tract - Nausea
Vomiting
Early satiety
Abdominal discomfort
Weight loss
Change in bowel habits
IS THERE A TEST FOR LUNG CANCER?
Yes. If your doctor suspects that you have lung cancer, they will do an exam and a chest X-ray. If the chest X-ray shows a spot that looks like it could be cancer, they will probably follow up with other tests. These can include:
Blood tests
CT or PET scan – These imaging tests create pictures of the inside of your body. They can show abnormal growths. Biopsy – A doctor will remove a small sample of tissue from the lung. They will look at the sample under a microscope to see if it has cancer.
HOW IS LUNG CANCER TREATED?
Most people with lung cancer have one or more of the following treatments:
Surgery – Lung cancer can sometimes be treated with surgery to remove the cancer.
Radiation therapy – Radiation kills cancer cells. Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is the medical term for medicines that kills cancer cells or stop them from growing. Targeted therapy – Some medicines work only for cancers that have certain characteristics. Your doctor might test your tumour to see if you have a kind of lung cancer that would respond to these medicines.
Immunotherapy – This is the term doctors use for medicines that work with the body’s infection-fighting system (the immune system) to stop cancer growth.
Can lung cancer be prevented? The best way to avoid getting lung cancer is to not smoke. People who smoke have a much higher chance than those who don’t smoke of getting lung cancer. If you smoke, you can reduce your chance of getting lung cancer by quitting smoking. Until next week. God bless you. Please be safe.