Lung Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is lung cancer?
A: Lung cancer is an aggressive form of cancer that originates in a patient’s lungs. Among lung cancers, there are two varieties. Non-small cell lung cancers account for nearly 80% of lung cancers. These are typically the most treatable because of their ability to be detected earlier. Small cell lung cancers are more aggressive and tend to metastasize (spread to other parts of the body) before prognosis, complicating treatment options
Q: How do I prevent developing lung cancer?
A: -Quit smoking, or never begin smoking.
-Quitting smoking earlier rather than later will dramatically improve your odds of restoring your lungs to pre-smoking health.
-Avoid occupational exposure to cancer causing elements such as asbestos and radon.
FACT! Lung cancer represents the single most preventable form of death in the United States, with approximately 350,000 smoking related lung cancer deaths each year. Smoking does cause cancer!
Q: How do smoking and other risk factors cause lung cancer?
A: Cigarette smoking over time will inhibit your cell’s ability to control their own division and reproduction. A smoker is far more likely to develop lung cancer because eventually uncontrolled cell division can lead to cancerous growth. Radon exposure also affects a cell’s ability to control growth and may also lead to cancer for this reason. Asbestos causes harmful scar tissue as a bi product of inflammation to occur in the cell, which may eventually lead a lung cancer called mesothelioma in the pleural lining of the lung.
Q: How do I know if I have lung cancer?
A: Early detection of lung cancer is generally difficult because typically the cancer itself will not accompany any initial symptoms. Often the cancer is detected on routine chest scans or CT scans for other reasons. The only way to know for sure is to have a biopsy performed, in which tiny tissue from the area is removed and tested for cancer cells, while at the same time determining if the cancer is benign or malignant.
Q: What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
A: Signs and symptoms of lung cancer vary from patient to patient but may include:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Chest Pain
- Fatigue
- Coughing up Blood
- Hoarseness
As stated above, often these symptoms will not manifest themselves until after diagnosis. There are many treatments available for the effects of lung cancer on the body and lifestyle.
Q: How is lung cancer treated?
A: Lung cancer can be treated in one of three ways presently, including any number of combinations of the following
1.) Surgery is the preferred method for treatment of non-small cell lung carcinomas that are detected early. While it is theoretically possible for small cell lung carcinomas to be treated, it is likely that they have already spread at the time of diagnosis, rendering the patient ineligible for surgery. This method is the complete removal of the tumor through partial or complete removal of the lung.
2.) Chemotherapy is common in patients of small cell lung cancers and is often used in conjunction with surgery in non-small cell cases. Cancer-killing agents are introduced to the body in cycles to slow the division of cancer cells.
3.) Radiation therapy is also used in combination with other treatments in both varieties of the cancer. In this treatment, intense beams of radiation are applied locally to the cancerous regions. The radiation then breaks down the cancer cells and inhibits cell division for new cancer cells. This can be used as a curative and integrated treatment.