Lung Cancer

Symptoms

There are generally no conspicuous symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer. Still, as the condition progresses, a range of symptoms may develop. The most common symptoms of lung cancer include a patient cough that lasts for more than three weeks, a long-standing cough that worsens over time, casket infections that constantly return, coughing up blood, and pain when breathing or coughing. Other common symptoms of lung cancer include patient breathlessness, chronic fatigue or lack of energy, and unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite.

Also, there are some lower common symptoms of lung cancer that individualities should be apprehensive of. These include changes in the appearance of fritters, similar as getting more twisted or the ends getting larger( known as cutlet clubbing), difficulty swallowing( dysphagia) or pain when swallowing, gasping, a coarse voice, swelling of the face or neck, and patient casket or shoulder pain.

Still, it's recommended that they seek medical advice from their General Practitioner, especially if they're passing any of the main symptoms of lung cancer or any of the less common symptoms If an individual gets any of these symptoms.

Causes

• Most lung cancer cases are due to smoking, but non-smokers can still develop the disease.

• Smoking is the primary risk factor for lung cancer and is responsible for over 70% of cases.

• Tobacco smoke has over 60 toxic substances that can cause cancer.

• Smoking 25 or more cigarettes per day increases the risk of lung cancer by 25 times compared to non-smokers.

• Passive smoking also increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer.

• Using other tobacco products, such as cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, and chewing tobacco, can also increase the risk of lung cancer and other cancers.

• Smoking cannabis may raise the risk of lung cancer because users tend to inhale more deeply and hold the smoke in their lungs for longer.

• Radon, a natural gas found in rocks and soils, can damage the lungs, especially when combined with smoking.

• Exposure to certain chemicals and substances used in some industries can increase the risk of lung cancer, including arsenic, asbestos, beryllium, cadmium, coal and coke fumes, silica, and nickel.

Diagnosis

Visiting a primary care physician is advisable if you experience signs of lung cancer, such as an ongoing cough or difficulty breathing. During the visit, the doctor will inquire about your overall health and the specific symptoms you are experiencing. They might conduct a physical examination and administer a spirometry test to determine how much air you inhale and exhale. They may also recommend a blood test to exclude a chest infection or other potential reasons for your symptoms.

Chest X-ray

Lung cancer diagnosis typically begins with a chest X-ray, which detects most tumors as a white-grey mass. Nevertheless, chest X-rays are inconclusive because they may not differentiate between cancer and other illnesses like a lung abscess, a collection of pus in the lungs.

If the chest X-ray indicates potential lung cancer, it's recommended to see a chest specialist for further investigation. They can arrange additional tests to determine if you have lung cancer and identify the type and extent of its spread.

CT scan

A CT scan is typically the subsequent diagnostic test performed following a chest X-ray. A CT scan employs X-rays and computer technology to produce in-depth images of the body's interior.

Before a CT scan, a contrast medium, a specialized dye, is injected to enhance the image's clarity.

The CT scan procedure is typically painless and lasts 10 to 30 minutes.

PET-CT scan

If the CT scan indicates cancer, a PET-CT scan may be conducted to identify the location of active cancer cells. This diagnostic procedure, which stands for positron emission tomography-computerized tomography, can aid in determining the optimal treatment plan and diagnosis.

Before undergoing a PET-CT scan, you'll receive an injection of a mildly radioactive substance. You'll lie on a table, which will move into the PET scanner.

The PET-CT scan is non-invasive and lasts for around 30 to 60 minutes.

Bronchoscopy and biopsy

If a CT scan suggests the possibility of cancer in the central area of the chest, the doctor may propose a bronchoscopy. This procedure allows the physician to observe the inside of the airways and extract a small tissue sample (biopsy). A thin tube with a camera at the end is introduced through the mouth or nose and into the airways to perform a bronchoscopy. The procedure can be uncomfortable, and to help the patient relax, they will receive a sedative before it commences, as well as a local anesthetic to numb the throat. Typically, the procedure lasts for about 30 to 40 minutes.

An alternative to bronchoscopy is the endobronchial ultrasound scan (EBUS), which combines an ultrasound scan with a bronchoscopy. The EBUS procedure enables the doctor to view the airways and, with the help of an ultrasound probe attached to the camera, identify the lymph nodes in the center of the chest for biopsy. The procedure typically takes around 90 minutes.

Lymph nodes, part of a network of glands and vessels that spread throughout the body and function as part of the immune system, can be biopsied to identify the presence of cancerous cells and their type.

Other types of biopsy

You could be given another option for taking a biopsy, which might involve a surgical procedure like a thoracoscopy or mediastinoscopy or a percutaneous biopsy that uses a needle inserted through the skin.

Thoracoscopy

A thoracoscopy is a medical procedure enabling a doctor to inspect a specific region of your chest and obtain tissue and fluid samples. Before the process, you will probably require a general anesthetic. Two or three small incisions will be made on your chest to introduce a tube, similar to a bronchoscope, into the area. The doctor uses the tube to visualize the inside of your chest and obtain tissue samples, which are then sent to a laboratory for analysis. Following a thoracoscopy, you may need to spend the night in the hospital while fluids in your lungs are drained.

Mediastinoscopy

A mediastinoscopy is a medical procedure that allows a doctor to examine the mediastinum, which is the area between the lungs at the center of the chest. During this procedure, the patient is put under general anesthesia and may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. The doctor will make a small incision at the bottom of the patient's neck, through which a thin tube with a camera on the end will be inserted into the chest. This camera enables the doctor to see inside the chest and take samples of cells from the lymph nodes. These lymph nodes are critical to test because they are often the first place that lung cancer spreads to.

Percutaneous needle biopsy

A percutaneous needle biopsy numbs the skin with a local anesthetic. A doctor uses a CT or ultrasound scanner to guide a needle through the skin and into the lung, targeting a suspected tumor site. The needle takes a small tissue sample from the tumor, which is then sent to a laboratory for testing.