What is palliative care?

Palliative care involves supportive care in which you can work with your doctor to help you in reducing the signs and symptoms of cancer. There are several side effects of cancer and the treatment of cancer that can be managed through palliative care. This kind of supportive care can help you be comfortable throughout your treatment and after your treatment.

What are the treatment options for non-small lung cancer?

The treatment options for non-small lung cancer include laser therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, photodynamic therapy, and cryosurgery which uses an instrument to freeze and destroy abnormal cells.

What are the other types of lung cancers?

Other types of lung cancers are lung carcinoid tumors that account for less than 5% of lung tumors and tend to grow slowly. Lymphomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas, and sarcomas are other rare forms of lung cancer.

What are the stages of small cell lung cancer?

The stages of SCLC include limited and extensive depending on whether cancer has spread within or outside the lungs. The limited stage indicates that cancer has affected only one side of the chest and may be present in the surrounding lymph nodes, whereas the extensive stage indicates that cancer has spread to parts beyond one side of the chest.

What are the survival rates of lung cancer?

The survival rates of patients with localised NSCLC are 64%, whereas cases with distant cancer have an 8% survival rate.

Does having a family history of lung cancer increase the chances of getting it?

Having a family history of lung cancer or an undescended testicle can increase the chances of developing lung cancer. If your family has lung cancer, it increases the risk of developing it by four times.

Should a person get screened for lung cancer?

Patients should get screened for lung cancer if they have a high risk of developing the disease. People who are frequent smokers or have a family history of lung cancer should get screened for the disease.

Lung cancer

Written By Dr. Syeda AafiaMBA, BDS

Reviewed By Dr. Nitika Makhija

MDS, BDS

Last updated on: 23 Oct 2024 | 10:59 AM (IST)

Also known as Lung carcinoma, Lung tumor, and Cancer of the lungs

Overview

Cancer is a medical condition in which the body starts to uncontrollably grow some cells that can also end up spreading to other parts of the body. Lung cancer is a type of cancer that occurs and affects the infected person's lungs. It causes uncontrolled growth of lung tissues and can spread rapidly to other regions such as lymph nodes, brain, adrenal glands, liver, and bones.

The exact cause of lung cancer is still unknown. However, the leading cause of this disease is smoking, and the risk of incurring lung cancer has been associated with prolonged smoking. Quitting smoking has been shown to significantly decrease a person's chance of developing the disease.

In the initial stages, lung cancer does not show any symptoms. Symptoms that appear at an advanced stage usually include a persistent cough that doesn't go away, spotting blood while coughing, shortness of breath, hoarseness, losing weight, chest pain, and headaches.

There are different types of lung cancers, and the treatment for the same depends on the type and stage of the lung cancer. Treatment modalities can include a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.

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Overview

Key Facts

Symptoms

Types

Causes

Risk factors

Diagnosis

Prevention

Specialist to visit

Treatment

Home-care

Complications

Alternatives therapies

Living with

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