Lung Cancer – Classification,Stages, Causes, Symptoms, Effects, Prevention, Detection and Treatment

Lung cancer is caused by uncontrolled rapid growth of cells in tissues. This type of cancer is most common and results in more than a million deaths every year. This form of cancer is indicated by weight loss or coughing up blood or regularly going out of breath . Lung cancer can be noticed on chest radio graph also called CT Scan. The treatment that one gets depends on the stage that one is in .Treatment of cancer include surgery ,chemotherapy and radiotherapy .

CLASSIFICATION

Lung cancers are classified after studying under them microscope .Classification is necessary as different type of cancer is treated differently. Large portion of lung cancer are carcinomas – malignancies that grow from epithelial cells.Lung-carcinomas are categorized into two types : non -small and small-cell lung carcinoma. Non-small cell lung carcinoma and small cell lung carcinoma account for 80.4% and 16.8% frequency of lung cancer, respectively .

1.NON -SMALL CELL LUNG CARCINOMA

The non -small cell lung carcinomas are grouped together as their prognosis and management are same up to some extent .They are further classified into three types : squamous cell lung carcinoma ,adenocarcinoma and large cell lung carcinoma . Squamous cell lung cancer originates near a central bronchus .They account for 25% of lung cancers . Adenocarcinoma starts in peripheral lung tissue . The cases of adenocarcinoma are a result of smoking .They accounts to 40% of non -small cell lung cancers.

2.SMALL CELL LUNG CARCINOMA

This type of lung cancer is rare . It is sometimes referred to as “oat cell” carcinoma. Most of the times they originate from larger airways (primary and secondary bronchi ) and from there they grow at a rapid pace . This type of lung cancer if mostly associated with smoking.

SECONDARY CANCERS

These cancers are classified on the basis of site of origin like breast cancer but has spread to the lung . Majority of the lung cancers in children are secondary .

STAGING OF LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer staging is used to asses the degree of spread of the cancer from its place of origin . It is an important factor that determines the potential treatment of lung cancer. The degree starts from 1A to 4 ,1A being best prognosis and 4 being worst .

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Following are the symptoms of lung cancer : 1. Voice becoming hoarse . 2. Sudden loss of weight . 3. Feeling pain in chest region or abdomen . 4. Difficulty in swallowing . 5. Loss of appetite . 6. Running out of breath . Many of the symptoms of lung cancer mentioned above are non -specific .By the time they notice symptoms or signs , cancer has already spread from place of origin . Very few people with lung cancer have signs at time of diagnosis ,these cancers are noticed on routine chest radio graph .

CAUSES

The three main causes of cancer are : carcinogens (which is found in tobacco ) ,viral infection and ionizing radiation .If exposed , it causes changes to DNA in tissue lining the bronchi of the lungs . With more and more tissues getting damaged , cancer develops .

1.SMOKING

Smoking is the main cause of cancer . In one cigarette , there are 60 different known types of carcinogens like radioisotopes and nitrosamine . Smoking is believed to cause 80% of lung cancer cases . The risk is generally less in non -smokers. The time that a person smokes proportionately increases the chances of lung cancer . There has been cases that if a person stops smoking , the damaged cells gradually gets repaired . In non-smokers , passive smoking is the main causes of lung-cancer. Passive smoking is one inhaled from another person smoking . fenben for humans