Lung Cancer
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is lung cancer?
- Lung cancer is a tumor (lump) that is found in one or both lungs. The lungs are 2 hollow organs in your chest that stretch like a balloon when you breathe in, filling up with air. As you breathe out air, the lungs collapse. Your lungs are made of sections (lobes), blood and lymph vessels, nerves, and air ducts (alveoli). The lungs connect to the bronchial tubes or airways which bring air into the lungs.
- Normally, cells divide (split) only when needed. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow and divide without control or order, often making too much tissue (tumor). Cancer cells may grow into nearby healthy tissue. They may also break away from the tumor and spread through the blood stream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastasis. Once cancer cells spread, the cancer is harder to control.
What causes lung cancer? Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. The longer and more cigarettes you smoke, the more likely you are to get this disease. Smoking cigars or pipes or breathing someone else's cigarette smoke (second-hand smoke) also increases your risk. Other factors that may put you at higher risk for getting lung cancer are the following:
- Air pollution, such as diesel exhaust fumes.
- Exposure to radon gas.
- Having a close family member who had lung cancer.
- Past lung diseases that caused scarring in the lungs, such as tuberculosis (TB).
- Working with chemicals, such as asbestos, uranium, arsenic, chromium, nickel, iron, or radioactive material.
What are the signs and symptoms of lung cancer? Lung cancer does not usually cause symptoms in its early stages. The tumor may have grown and spread outside the lungs by the time you have symptoms. If symptoms do occur early, they are often mistaken for less serious health problems. You may have one or more of the following:
- Chest signs and symptoms:
- Chest pain that is not just in one area of your chest.
- Cough that will not go away, and gets worse over time. You may cough up lots of sputum (coughed up phlegm) which may be bloody.
- Frequent colds or other respiratory infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.
- Troubled breathing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Wheezing (high-pitch noise heard when breathing out).
- Stridor (a harsh sound with each breath).
- Shortness of breath.
- Chest pain that is not just in one area of your chest.
- Other signs and symptoms:
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Feeling more tired and weak than usual.
- Hoarseness (change in voice).
- Losing weight without trying.
- Loss of appetite or poor appetite for food.
- Face or neck swelling
- Difficulty swallowing.
How is lung cancer diagnosed? You may first need to have part or all of the tumor removed. This is called a biopsy. The tissue is sent to the lab for tests to check for cancer cells. The test will also check for what kind of cancer you have. A test called sputum cytology (cell study) may also be used to diagnose lung cancer. You may have one or more of the following:
- Blood tests: These tests may be used to check for infection or liver function.
- Bone scan: This test can show if cancer has spread to the bones.
- Bronchoscopy: This test may be done to look inside your airways and lungs. At the same time small tissue samples can be taken and examined in the laboratory (biopsy).
- Chest x-ray: This is a picture of your lungs and heart. Caregivers may use the x-ray to look for signs of infection, like pneumonia, or to look for collapsed lungs. Chest x-rays may show tumors, broken ribs, or fluid around the heart and lungs.
- Computerized axial tomography scan: This is also called a "CT" or "CAT" scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of a specific part of your body. It may be used to look at your brain, bones, muscles, and blood vessels. You may be given dye through an IV before the pictures are taken so the body part clearly shows up. People who are allergic to iodine or shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) may be allergic to some dyes. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to shellfish, or have other allergies or health problems.
- Magnetic resonance imaging: This test is also called an "MRI" and may be done to look at the brain, muscles, joints, bones, or blood vessels. Entering the MRI room with an oxygen tank, watch, or any other metal objects can cause serious injury. Tell your caregiver if you have any metal implants in your body.
- Positron emission tomography scan: This is also called a "PET" scan. The test can find tumors by tracing the way your body cells act upon sugar.
How is lung cancer staged? Lung cancers are staged according to how far your cancer has spread.
- Non-small cell lung cancer: This cancer type has 4 stages. Stage 1 (I) is the earliest stage when the tumor is found only in the lung. If the tumor has spread to nearby lymph nodes, it is in stage 2 (II). Stage 3 (III) is when cancer has spread to the chest wall, diaphragm, or lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or neck. Tumor that has spread outside to other pars of the body is classified as Stage 4 (IV).
- Small cell lung cancer: This cancer has 2 stages, limited and extensive. Limited disease is when the tumor is found in one lung and in nearby lymph nodes only. When the tumor has spread beyond one lung or to other organs, it is said to be an extensive disease.
How is lung cancer treated? Lung cancer is treated depending on the type, size, and location of the tumor. You may have one or more of the following treatments:
- Surgery: Surgery to remove the tumor is the main treatment of lung cancer. This is done on tumors that are small and have not spread to other parts of the body. If the tumor cannot be completely removed, surgery may be used to treat complications or to ease your symptoms.
- Chemotherapy: This is often called chemo and works by killing cancer cells. It may also be used to shrink lymph nodes that have cancer in them. Once the tumor is smaller, you may have surgery to remove the rest of the cancer. Chemotherapy can cure some cancers or it may help you feel better or live longer.
- Radiation therapy: Radiation kills cancer cells. It also keeps cancer from spreading or dividing into new cells. This may be done after surgery or with chemotherapy. It may help decrease pain, control bleeding, and shrink the tumor.
How can lung cancer be prevented?
- Do not smoke: The best way to prevent lung cancer is not to smoke. If you already smoke, you should try to quit. Your chances of having lung cancer decrease once you quit and continue to avoid smoking for the rest of your life.
- Avoid second-hand smoke: Keep away from breathing in other people's smoke. Never expose children to second-hand smoke. Prolonged exposure can cause problems with normal lung development. This can also increase a child's risk of developing respiratory problems, such as asthma.
- Make your home safer: Have your home tested for radon. You can buy radon detectors or have qualified testers come into your home.
- Make your workplace safer: Follow work and safety guidelines to decrease your exposure to dangerous chemicals.
Where can I find support and more information? Lung cancer is a life-changing disease for you and your family. Accepting that you have lung cancer is hard. You and those close to you may feel angry, sad, or frightened. These feelings are normal. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings. You may also want to join a cancer support group. This is a group of people who also have lung cancer. Contact the following for more information:
- American Cancer Society
Phone: 1-800-227-2345
Web Address: http://www.cancer.org
- Cancer Information Service
Cancer Information Service
Phone: 1-800-422-6237
Web Address: http://www.nci.nih.gov
- National Cancer Institute
Phone: 1-800-422-6237
Web Address: http://www.cancer.gov
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
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