Lung cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide. It happens because lung cells divide abnormally. Normally, cells divide and make copies of themselves as part of their job, but sometimes mutations make them keep making copies uncontrollably.
When this happens in the lung, damaged cells divide uncontrollably. This leads to lumps or tumors that stop the lung from working right. The cancer may also spread to other body parts.
This article covers lung cancer symptoms, types, stages, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Lung cancer symptoms
Cancer can grow for years before someone knows they have it. Usually, lung cancer has no symptoms early on. Symptoms start in the later stages, and many lung cancer symptoms look like less serious diseases.
A cough or pneumonia that keeps coming back after treatment might be an early sign of lung cancer, but it can also mean less serious problems.
Lung cancer symptoms can include:-
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A cough that doesn't go away or gets worse over time.
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Trouble breathing or shortness of breath.
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Chest pain or discomfort.
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Wheezing.
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Hoarseness.
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Loss of appetite.
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Unexplained weight loss.
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Constant fatigue.
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Shoulder pain.
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Swelling in the face, neck, arms, or upper chest.
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Small pupil and droopy eyelid in one eye, with little or no sweating on that side of the face, known as Horner's syndrome.
Types of lung cancer
There are many types of cancer that can affect the lungs, but usually lung cancer means two main types: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC is the most common type. It makes up over 80% of lung cancer cases, andCommon types include:-
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Adenocarcinoma.
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Squamous cell carcinoma.
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Sarcoma.
- Small cell lung cancer
Small cell lung cancer, or SCLC, grows faster and is harder to treat compared to non-small cell lung cancer. It's often found as a relatively small tumor in the lung but has already spread to other parts of the body, andIts specific types include:-
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Oat cell carcinoma.
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Combined small cell carcinoma.
- Other types of lung cancer
Other types can start in or around the lungs, Including the following:-
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Lymphoma.
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Bone or soft tissue cancer.
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Cancer in the lung lining
These cases are treated differently and may not usually be called lung cancer.
Stages of lung cancer
Cancer stage is usually determined based on the size of the original tumor, how deep it is, or how deep it goes into surrounding tissues, and whether it spreads to lymph nodes or other organs.
Lung cancer stages include:-
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Stage zero:- This stage means the cancer is in place where it is in the upper lining of the lung or windpipe, and the tumor hasn’t spread to other parts of the lung or outside the lung.
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Stage one:- This stage means the cancer has spread to other parts of the lung, but hasn’t spread outside the lung.
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Stage two:- This stage means the cancer is bigger than stage one, or the tumor started to spread to lymph nodes inside the lung, or there is more than one tumor in the same lung lobe.
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Stage ThreeThis stage means the cancer is bigger than in stage two. It may have spread to nearby lymph nodes or structures, or there are multiple tumors in different parts of the same lung.
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Stage FourThis stage means the cancer has spread to the other lung, the fluid around the lung, the fluid around the heart, or distant organs in the body.
Causes of Lung Cancer
There is no clear cause for getting lung cancer or for the mutations in cells that make them grow abnormally. But some risk factors might increase the chance for some people more than others.
Even though many factors can increase lung cancer risk, smoking any tobacco product like cigarettes, pipes, or vapes is the biggest risk. Experts say 80% of lung cancer deaths are linked to smoking.
Other risk factors for lung cancer can include the following:-
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Being exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke.
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Exposure to harmful air pollutants like radon, asbestos, uranium, diesel exhaust, silica, coal products, and others.
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Having had previous radiation treatments to the chest, like for breast cancer or lymph node radiation.
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Having a family history of lung cancer.
Even though smoking is the main risk for lung cancer, up to 20% of diagnosed people never smoked. So it's important to talk to your healthcare provider if you notice worrying symptoms.
How lung cancer is diagnosed
Diagnosing lung cancer can be a multi-step process. Usually, the healthcare provider will listen to symptoms, ask about medical and family history, and do physical exams.
Next steps in diagnosis can include the following:-
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CT scan.
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PET scan.
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Blood tests.
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Biopsy.
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Molecular tests.
Lung cancer treatment options
Lung cancer treatments aim to get rid of cancer or slow its growth. They can remove cancer cells, help destroy them, stop them from growing, or help the immune system fight cancer. Some treatments also help reduce symptoms and ease pain.
Lung cancer treatment options may include:-
1. Surgery
Non-small cell lung cancer that hasn't spread and small cell lung cancer limited to one tumor can often be treated with surgery. The tumor and a small amount of healthy tissue around it are removed to make sure no cancer cells are left behind.
Sometimes the healthcare provider may need to remove part or all of the lung to give the best chance that the cancer won't come back.
2. Radiofrequency Ablation
Sometimes small cell lung cancer on the edges of the lung is treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This method uses high-energy radio waves to heat and kill cancer cells.
3. Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill cancer cells. It can be used alone, to help make surgery more effective, or as palliative care to shrink tumors and ease pain.
4. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy usually combines several drugs designed to stop cancer cells from growing. It can be given before or after surgery or along with other drugs. For lung cancer, chemo is usually given through a vein.
5. Immunotherapy
Normally, the immune system spots and fights damaged or harmful cells, including cancer. But cancer can hide from it. Immunotherapy reveals the cancer cells so the immune system can attack them.
6. Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy goes after the mutations that help cancer grow to slow down or kill those cells. Other drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors stop the tumor from making new blood vessels, which cancer cells need to grow.
How to prevent lung cancer
Since the exact causes of lung cancer aren't fully known, prevention focuses on lowering the risk of getting it.
Some ways that might help prevent lung cancer include:-
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Quit smoking.
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Avoid secondhand smoke.
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Eat a healthy diet.
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Maintain a healthy weight.
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Get a lung cancer screening as soon as any symptoms appear or if you have risk factors.
