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Lung cancer
In the United States, lung cancer is the leading cause of
cancer deaths. More than 82,000 men and 65,000 women lose
their lives every year to the disease, according to the American
Cancer Society.
Lung cancer, which usually takes many years to develop, occurs
when tumors or abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way
in the lungs. The disease can start in the lungs or spread
to the lungs from cancer in a different part of the body.
There are two types of the disease. Small cell lung cancer,
sometimes called oat cell cancer, accounts for about 20% of
all cases. This more aggressive type is usually not discovered
until the disease has spread beyond the lungs.
Non-small cell lung cancer may take several different forms,
including adenocarcinoma (which often appears near the outside
of the lung), squamous cell carcinoma (which grows in linings
in airway cells) and large cell carcinoma (which begins on
the periphery of the lung and can spread to nearby lymph nodes
and other organs).
Cause: Smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes account
for the vast majority of lung cancer cases. Other causes include
workplace carcinogens (asbestos, certain gases, uranium, radiation),
radon gas (sometimes found in homes, having seeped in from
the ground through the foundation) and secondhand smoke.
Symptoms: Usually, there are no signs in early stages
of the disease. When symptoms finally do appear, the cancer
is already advanced. Symptoms to watch for include:
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Persistent cough for several weeks, or a bloody cough |
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Wheezing, from a blocked bronchus |
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Hoarseness, from a damaged voicebox |
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Shortness of breath |
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Difficulty swallowing, if the esophagus is involved |
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Weight loss and poor appetite |
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Facial changes |
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Constant chest pain |
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Bone pain |
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Repeated bouts of pneumonia or bronchitis |
Diagnosis: After conducting a thorough medical history
and physical exam, a chest X-ray or CT scan may be done to
“see” tumors. Sputum may be examined for cancer
cells. A small piece of lung tissue may be taken (biopsy)
for examination under a microscope. Extracting the tissue
sample can be done through a bronchoscopy (thin tube moved
through the throat and into the lungs), needle aspiration
(using a computer for guidance) or thoracotomy (surgery).
Treatment: Depending on the type, size, location and
stage of the disease, treatment options include one or a combination
of:
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Surgery to remove operable tumors, especially in non-small
cell cancer and for cancer that has not spread beyond the
lungs |
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Radiation, to shrink or slow the growth of cancer
cells |
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Chemotherapy, the treatment used most often in cases
of small cell lung cancer |
Depending on the vascular disease, treatment options range
from cholesterol-lowering drugs, anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory
medications to angioplasty, stents and surgery. |
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