Lung cancer is malignant tumors formed by groups of altered cells that proliferate uncontrollably and abnormally in the lung tissue.
It is among the most common cancers all over the world and ranks first in deaths from cancer in both men and women.
What Are the Types of Lung Cancer?
It is divided into 2 main groups as Small Cell and Non-Small Cell. The treatment approaches of these two groups are completely different from each other.
Small Cell Lung Cancer is a type of lung cancer that is much more aggressive and spreads rapidly. Basically, chemotherapy takes the primary place in its treatment.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, on the other hand, is a type of lung cancer whose treatment options are determined according to the stage in which it is detected, together with its different subtypes.
In the early stages, surgical treatment can provide high rates of disease-free survival, and as the stage progresses, it is tried to increase the effectiveness by adding chemotherapy, radiotherapy and, if necessary, immunotherapies to the treatment.
What are the Causes of Lung Cancer?
Passive smoking, as well as being an active smoker, are the most important causes of lung cancer. In addition to smoking, environmental and occupational factors are among the important risk factors today.
To smoke
Passive Smoking Exposure
Genetic Factors
Age
Family Story
Metals “Arsenic(As) – Chromium(Sn) – Nickel(Ni)”
Exhaust gas,
Asbestos “Silicate minerals in fiber structure”
Silica “Silicon dioxide dusts exposed in mines, clay, cement and coal mines”
Smoking-related and non-smoking-related lung cancer differ from each other. Environmental effects such as air pollution, coal fire, radon gas, asbestos can also cause lung cancer. Therefore, it is necessary not to ignore possible symptoms by acting on a clear opinion that only smokers get lung cancer.
What are the Symptoms of Lung Cancer?
The most common symptom of lung cancer is a persistent and persistent cough, and it should not be taken lightly because it is due to reasons such as smoking.
If the cough lasts more than 3 weeks,
If there has been a change in the form of your cough,
If coughing comes with bloody sputum
It should be predicted that there may be a sign of lung cancer and a specialist should be consulted immediately.
Moreover,
Shortness of breath,
wheezing,
Loss of appetite,
weight loss,
Fire,
hoarseness,
chest pain,
swelling of the face and neck,
Shoulder and arm pain
Back pain,
difficulty swallowing,
Head and bone pain
Fatigue and weakness
It is also among the symptoms of lung cancer. Since these symptoms can be seen in many diseases, they can be neglected.
Early diagnosis is very important because lung cancer can spread rapidly in the bones, liver, brain and adrenal glands.
Where Lung Cancer Metastasizes
Bone
Liver
Adrenal gland
Brain
opposite lung
The symptoms of lung cancer can be quite insidious. Cancer can occur without any symptoms in an average of a quarter of patients, most people can learn that they have cancer when they have a lung x-ray for other reasons, so routine controls are very important.
Can Cancer Be Prevented by Early Diagnosis in Lung Cancer?
The formation of symptoms in lung cancer can take several years and sometimes progress insidiously without any symptoms, so it is a type of cancer that cannot be evaluated in screening programs.
How often should a check-up be made for the Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer?
Check Frequency for Non-Smokers
It is very important for early diagnosis that everyone over the age of 40 who does not smoke and does not have a family history of cancer, has a routine check-up once a year.
The chest X-ray taken during the controls will give information about whether there is a suspicious lesion in the lungs.
Appointments can be made from Chest Diseases or Thoracic Surgery physicians for controls. Click to make an appointment.
Check Frequency for Smokers
It is very important for early diagnosis that everyone over the age of 40 who smokes and does not have any complaints should undergo a routine check-up once a year.
Low-dose lung tomography (thorax CT = Chest CT CT) taken during the controls is very important in detecting early-stage lesions in individuals in the high-risk group.
Appointments can be made from Chest Diseases or Thoracic Surgery physicians for controls.
Diagnosis and Treatment Methods in Lung Cancer
What are Lung Cancer Diagnostic Methods?
Radiological Examinations
X ray
Tomography
MRI
Nuclear Medicine Tests
PET-CT
Bone Scintigraphy
Interventional Methods
bronchoscopy
mediastinoscopy
Videothoracoscopy
thoracotomy
Lung Cancer Diagnostic Methods
Lung cancer is divided into two main groups as small cell and non-small cell, and these cancers have different genetic characteristics.
Lung cancer suspected
First of all, the patient’s complaints are listened in detail; The health history of himself and his family is learned.
Then, the patient is evaluated with X-ray, tomography, MR, PET Tomography imaging methods.
If cancer is suspected, tissue biopsy is performed for the lung and/or lymph node. If lung cancer is suspected, sputum examination (sputum cytology; examination of the material coming out of the mucous membrane of the lungs with a deep cough under a microscope) may also be requested by the doctor. This test is a simple and useful test for detecting lung cancer.
Lung Cancer Stages
Lung cancer is defined as 4 stages.
Stage 1 Lung Cancer: If the cancer is in the lung and smaller than 5 cm, it is defined as Stage 1.
Stage 2 Lung Cancer: It is defined as Stage 2 if the cancer has spread to the nearest lymph nodes (N1) or if it is only in the vicinity of the diaphragm or pleura (lung membrane).
- Stage Lung Cancer: Cancer,
If it is close to the point where the trachea leaves for both lungs (carina), or
If there is large vessel invasion (involvement), or
If there is spread in the lung, it is defined as Stage 3.
Stage 4 Lung Cancer: If the cancer has metastasized (spread) to non-adjacent organs (liver, adrenal glands, bones, etc.), it is called Stage 4.
Treatment protocols for lung cancer differ for each stage.
What are Lung Cancer Treatment Methods?
Surgical
Curative (Anatomical resection
palliative
Medical Oncology
KT
immunotherapy
Targeted Therapies
Radiation oncology
Treatment Methods in Lung Cancer
Lung cancer treatment, as with other types of cancer
General health status of the patient,
The stage of the disease and
It varies depending on many factors such as cancer type, different treatment combinations and personalized treatment are applied.
The type of surgical intervention depends on the location of the cancer in the lung.
The group called stage 1 lung cancer is early diagnosed lung cancer and the cure rate is high. Surgery is the most appropriate treatment option, as it does not spread to the lymph and does not metastasize. At the end of all examinations, it was observed that the disease-free survival was higher in the patient group that could be treated with surgery compared to other treatment methods.
However;
location of the tumor,
the size of the tumor,
Spread of the tumor or
Patient-related factors
Methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also applied in the patient group who cannot undergo surgery due to
These treatment methods can be applied alone or in combination with other treatment options.
According to the cellular structure and some microscopic features of the tumor, smart drugs and targeted drug applications have also taken their place among the current treatment methods.
Vaccination in lung cancer, on the other hand, has started to be applied especially in advanced lung cancer patients who benefit from medical treatment.
Which branch physician should be consulted for the diagnosis, examination and treatment of lung cancer?
Branches that can be applied for Lung Cancer
Thoracic Surgery
Chest Diseases
Medical Oncology
Radiation oncology
It is recommended to apply to the branches of Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery for the diagnosis and examination of Lung Cancer.
In lung cancer, the treatment that provides the most effective and disease-free survival in suitable patients is “surgery”. For this reason, it is recommended that patients diagnosed with Lung Cancer apply to a Thoracic Surgery physician in the first place.
Depending on the stage of the disease, the size and location of the tumor, a multidisciplinary treatment approach may come to the fore with Medical Oncology and/or Radiation Oncology departments when necessary.