Lung Cancer
What is the lung cancer?
Lungs are a pair of cone-shaped breathing organs in the chest that bring oxygen into the body as you breathe. They release carbon dioxide, a waste product of the body’s cells as you breathe out. Each lung has sections called lobes. Left lung has 2 lobes while the right lung has 3. Two tubes called bronchi connect from the trachea (windpipe) to the right and left lungs.
Lung Cancer - cancer that forms in tissues of the lung. Majority of the cancer forms in the cells lining air passages. The two main types are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, and they are diagnosed based the cells’ look under the microscope. Each type of non-small cell lung cancer has different kinds of cancer cells. They all grow and spread in different ways. They are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how they look under the microscope. The more common non-small cell lung cancers are:
Squamous cell carcinoma - cancer that begins in the squamous cells. They are thing, flat cells that look like fish scales.
Large cell carcinoma - cancer that may begin in several types of large cells.
Adenocarcinoma - cancer that begins in the cells that line the alveoli and make substances such as mucus.
Pleomorphic - cancer that begins in the various distinct forms because the cells vary in size and shape. Their nuclei can have these variations too.
Carcinoid tumor - cancerous tumor usually found in the gastrointestinal system (usually in the appendix) and sometimes in the lungs or other organs. A slow-growing type of tumor usually found in the gastrointestinal system (most often in the appendix), and sometimes in the lungs or other sites. These tumors may spread to the liver or other parts of the body, and may secrete substances as serotonin or prostaglandins.
What increases the risk to develop lung cancer?
Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. It includes smoking of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, etc. the earlier a person starts smoking, the longer (years) he/she smokes, and the more often he/she smokes, the greater the chances of developing lung cancer. When someone quits smoking, the risks of developing cancer reduce with time. Factors that may contribute to the development of lung cancer are:
· Smoking cigarettes, pipes, and cigars
· Exposure to second-hand smoke
· Living high air pollution areas
· Exposure to radon, asbestos, chromium, nickel, arsenic, soot, or tar
· Being treated with radiation therapy to the breast or chest
How to detect and diagnose leukemia?
Signs of possible non-small cell lung cancer include:
· A cough that doesn’t go away
· Shortness of breath
· Chest discomfort
· Hoarseness
· Wheezing
· Streaks of blood coughed up from the lungs
· Weight loss for unknown reason
· Feeling very tired
· Loss of appetite
Tests to detect, diagnose, and stage non-small lung cancer are:
Physical exam - exam of the body to check for signs of lumps or other things that may seem unusual.
Chest x-ray - picture of organs and bones inside the chest through an energy beam equipment.
CT/CAT Scan - a procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. Often, a dye is injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues to show up more clearly. To learn more about different types of scans, please click here.
Lab test - procedures that test tissue, blood, urine, and other substance samples. These tests help in treatment and monitoring of the disease over time.
PET scan (positive emission tomography scan) - a procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body. A small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is given into the veins and the scanner makes pictures of the areas of the body where the glucose if being used. These malignant tumor cells appear brighter in the pictures because they are more active by using more glucose than normal cells.
Sputum cytology - a procedure where a pathologist view a sample of sputum (mucus) under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the lung - a procedure where a small sample of tissue or fluid is removed from the lung using a thin needle. A CT scan, ultrasound, or other imaging procedure is used to locate the abnormal tissues/fluids.
Bronchoscopy - a procedure to look inside the trachea and large airways in the lung for abnormal areas by inserting a bronchoscope into the trachea and lungs (through mouth or nose). Bronchoscope is a thing, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also remove tissue samples that can be checked under a microscope for cancer cells.
Thoracoscopy - a surgical procedure that looks at organs inside the chest for abnormal areas. An incision (cut) is made between two ribs, and a thoracoscope is inserted. A thoracoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also remove tissue samples that can be checked under a microscope for cancer cells.
Thoracentesis - a procedure where fluid is removed from the space between the lining of the chest and the lung, using a needle. The fluid is examined by a pathologist under a microscope for cancer cells.
Light and electron microscopy - a laboratory test in which samples of tissue are viewed under regular and high powered microscopes for changes in the cells.
Immunohistochemistry study - a laboratory test where antibody, dye, or radioisotope are added to a sample of cancer tissue. This tests for certain antigens and is used to see the difference between different types of cancer.
Treatment for lung cancer
Lung cancer’s treatment options depend on the size, type, and stage of the cancer. Signs of coughing or trouble breathing may also change treatment. Patient’s general health and age also play vital roles in the treatment options.
At this point, there are no treatments that cure non-small cell lung cancer. If lung cancer is found, it might be useful to consider participation in one of the many clinical trials being done at various hospitals and research centers.
What is the lung cancer?
Lungs are a pair of cone-shaped breathing organs in the chest that bring oxygen into the body as you breathe. They release carbon dioxide, a waste product of the body’s cells as you breathe out. Each lung has sections called lobes. Left lung has 2 lobes while the right lung has 3. Two tubes called bronchi connect from the trachea (windpipe) to the right and left lungs.
Lung Cancer - cancer that forms in tissues of the lung. Majority of the cancer forms in the cells lining air passages. The two main types are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, and they are diagnosed based the cells’ look under the microscope. Each type of non-small cell lung cancer has different kinds of cancer cells. They all grow and spread in different ways. They are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how they look under the microscope. The more common non-small cell lung cancers are:
Squamous cell carcinoma - cancer that begins in the squamous cells. They are thing, flat cells that look like fish scales.
Large cell carcinoma - cancer that may begin in several types of large cells.
Adenocarcinoma - cancer that begins in the cells that line the alveoli and make substances such as mucus.
Pleomorphic - cancer that begins in the various distinct forms because the cells vary in size and shape. Their nuclei can have these variations too.
Carcinoid tumor - cancerous tumor usually found in the gastrointestinal system (usually in the appendix) and sometimes in the lungs or other organs. A slow-growing type of tumor usually found in the gastrointestinal system (most often in the appendix), and sometimes in the lungs or other sites. These tumors may spread to the liver or other parts of the body, and may secrete substances as serotonin or prostaglandins.
What increases the risk to develop lung cancer?
Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. It includes smoking of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, etc. the earlier a person starts smoking, the longer (years) he/she smokes, and the more often he/she smokes, the greater the chances of developing lung cancer. When someone quits smoking, the risks of developing cancer reduce with time. Factors that may contribute to the development of lung cancer are:
· Smoking cigarettes, pipes, and cigars
· Exposure to second-hand smoke
· Living high air pollution areas
· Exposure to radon, asbestos, chromium, nickel, arsenic, soot, or tar
· Being treated with radiation therapy to the breast or chest
How to detect and diagnose leukemia?
Signs of possible non-small cell lung cancer include:
· A cough that doesn’t go away
· Shortness of breath
· Chest discomfort
· Hoarseness
· Wheezing
· Streaks of blood coughed up from the lungs
· Weight loss for unknown reason
· Feeling very tired
· Loss of appetite
Tests to detect, diagnose, and stage non-small lung cancer are:
Physical exam - exam of the body to check for signs of lumps or other things that may seem unusual.
Chest x-ray - picture of organs and bones inside the chest through an energy beam equipment.
CT/CAT Scan - a procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. Often, a dye is injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues to show up more clearly. To learn more about different types of scans, please click here.
Lab test - procedures that test tissue, blood, urine, and other substance samples. These tests help in treatment and monitoring of the disease over time.
PET scan (positive emission tomography scan) - a procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body. A small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is given into the veins and the scanner makes pictures of the areas of the body where the glucose if being used. These malignant tumor cells appear brighter in the pictures because they are more active by using more glucose than normal cells.
Sputum cytology - a procedure where a pathologist view a sample of sputum (mucus) under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the lung - a procedure where a small sample of tissue or fluid is removed from the lung using a thin needle. A CT scan, ultrasound, or other imaging procedure is used to locate the abnormal tissues/fluids.
Bronchoscopy - a procedure to look inside the trachea and large airways in the lung for abnormal areas by inserting a bronchoscope into the trachea and lungs (through mouth or nose). Bronchoscope is a thing, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also remove tissue samples that can be checked under a microscope for cancer cells.
Thoracoscopy - a surgical procedure that looks at organs inside the chest for abnormal areas. An incision (cut) is made between two ribs, and a thoracoscope is inserted. A thoracoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also remove tissue samples that can be checked under a microscope for cancer cells.
Thoracentesis - a procedure where fluid is removed from the space between the lining of the chest and the lung, using a needle. The fluid is examined by a pathologist under a microscope for cancer cells.
Light and electron microscopy - a laboratory test in which samples of tissue are viewed under regular and high powered microscopes for changes in the cells.
Immunohistochemistry study - a laboratory test where antibody, dye, or radioisotope are added to a sample of cancer tissue. This tests for certain antigens and is used to see the difference between different types of cancer.
Treatment for lung cancer
Lung cancer’s treatment options depend on the size, type, and stage of the cancer. Signs of coughing or trouble breathing may also change treatment. Patient’s general health and age also play vital roles in the treatment options.
At this point, there are no treatments that cure non-small cell lung cancer. If lung cancer is found, it might be useful to consider participation in one of the many clinical trials being done at various hospitals and research centers.
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What is Cancer Glossary of Cancer/Treatment Terms Types of scans to detect cancer
Common Types of Cancer*
Bladder Cancer Breast Cancer Colon Cancer Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer Leukemia (adult) Leukemia (child)
Lung Cancer Melanoma Pancreatic Cancer Prostate Cancer Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma) Thyroid Cancer
* Common Types of Cancer - cancers diagnosed with greatest frequency in the United States
What is Cancer Glossary of Cancer/Treatment Terms Types of scans to detect cancer
Common Types of Cancer*
Bladder Cancer Breast Cancer Colon Cancer Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer Leukemia (adult) Leukemia (child)
Lung Cancer Melanoma Pancreatic Cancer Prostate Cancer Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma) Thyroid Cancer
* Common Types of Cancer - cancers diagnosed with greatest frequency in the United States
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© Copyright 2015. Cancer Crisis Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
home | about us |get involved | donate | resources | contact us
© Copyright 2015. Cancer Crisis Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.