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LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer.  It is a type of cancer that starts in the lungs. This cancer mainly affects older people as it is rare in people younger than 40. Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

Types of Lung cancer

There are two main types of primary lung cancer. Cancer that has spread from somewhere else in the body to the lungs is called secondary lung cancer. The two main types of primary lung cancer include:

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

They are also known as neuroendocrine tumours. It gets its name, small cell,  from how the cancer looks under the microscope. This cancer typically starts in the neuroendocrine cells of the lung.

Non-small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

This is the most common type of cancer and there are three types:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma:  This develops in the flat cells that cover the airways.
  • Large cell carcinoma: They appear large under a microscope.
  • Adenocarcinoma: They start from the mucus-producing cells that line the airways.

 

 

Symptoms of Lung cancer:

  • a  new cough or hoarse voice for 3 weeks or more
  • a change in a cough you have had for a long time
  • a chest infection that does not get better, or repeated chest infections
  • feeling breathless for no reason
  • Bone pain
  • coughing up blood
  • chest or shoulder pain that does not get better.

Causes/risk factors of Lung cancer:

Smoking is the leading cause of most lung cancers – both in people who smoke and people exposed to second hand smoke. However, some people who have never smoked have gotten lung cancer. Other risk factors include:

  • Previous radiation:

If you have been exposed to radiation, especially to the chest area, there is an increased risk of developing lung cancer.

  • Exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens:

Significant exposure to asbestos used in building industries would increase the risk of lung cancer. Exposure to asbestos also increases the risk of mesothelioma.

  • Age:

Lung cancer is more common in older people aged 70 or over. It can affect younger people though it is rare under the age of 40.

  • Inherited risk:

Having a family member (parent, brother, aunty) would increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

  • Exposure to radon gas:

It is produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, water and rock and becomes part of the air we breathe. Unsafe levels can cause lung cancer

Diagnosis

There are several ways to diagnose lung cancer:

  • Chest X-ray
  • CT scan, MRI scan
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Biopsy: which can be done through the skin or a surgical biopsy.
  • Thoracoscopy: is when the doctor inserts a thin tube through cuts in your chest under general anaesthetic.
  • Mediastinoscopy: is when the doctor inserts a thin tube through cuts in your neck under general anaesthetic.

Staging

  • Stage 1:

The cancer is still localised and no bigger than 4cm. It hasn’t spread to lymph nodes or outside the lung.

  • Stage 2:

This means the tumour is either between 4cm and 5cm (Stage 2A) with no lymph node involvement or up to 5cm and has spread to lymph nodes near the lungs.

  • Stage 3:

It is usually called locally advanced kung cancer and means the cancer has spread into surrounding areas outside the lung, the airway or other parts of the affected lung.

  • Stage 4:

This means the cancer has spread to the other lung, and other parts of the body such as the liver, brain or bones. This is usually called metastatic lung cancer.

Treatment of Lung Cancer

  • Surgery:

This may be possible for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) if the tumour hasn’t spread  but is rarely used for SCLC unless the cancer is very small.

  • Chemotherapy:

This is the use of cytotoxic drugs to kill cancer cells. It can be used for both types of cancer. It can also be used with radiation to treat cancer

  • Radiotherapy:

This can be used to treat both types of  cancer by using high-energy x-rays. It can be used on its own or with chemotherapy (chemoradiation).

  • Immunotherapy:

They are drugs that help trigger your immune system to find and kill the cancer cells.

  • Tumour ablation :

Very early-stage cancers can be used to destroy cancer cells using laser or heat

  • Targeted therapy:

They target and interfere with  the protein in the cancer cells and stops them from growing and dividing. Your doctor will test the cancer cells to find out if these drugs will work for you.

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