Any cancer is scary. Many of its varieties are difficult to recognize on time. Of course, this makes treatment difficult.
Lung cancer is a malignant neoplasm that develops from the epithelial tissue of the lungs. This disease has two forms:
- peripheral cancer;
- central cancer.
In the first case, it develops from the tissues of the lungs, in the second - it comes from the bronchi.
Signs of lung cancer are not easy to recognize. Very often they learn about him quite by accident. The disease is by no means rare. By right, it can be called the most common of all oncological. A lot of effort has always been made to prevent it, but the number of patients has still increased every year. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the disease level increased tenfold.
Signs of lung cancer are more common in men than in women. The first symptoms are not noticeable, which means that the disease can grow quite well by the time it can be diagnosed. Diagnosis of lung cancer does not always help determine the disease in the first stages.
What is the reason
The cause of it, as well as the cause of any other cancer, is most often DNA damage to cells. This damage occurs under the influence of the external environment. To lung cancer leads to smoking, inhalation of any harmful substances. At risk are those who work in workshops where production conditions leave much to be desired. Often they suffer from miners, phosphate workers and so on.
Statistics show that smokers show signs of lung cancer more often than non-smokers. This is quite logical, because cigarette smoke contains a huge number of various harmful substances. Often lung cancer is preceded by chronic inflammatory processes. This is chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis and so on.
Symptoms and signs of lung cancer
These include a strong cough, constant chest pain, weight loss, hemoptysis, shortness of breath. The first signs of lung cancer are nonspecific. In principle, this can be said of all subsequent ones. The signs of lung cancer that are listed above need to be known. Finding them at home is a cause for concern and going to the doctor.
A few words about the diagnosis
Diagnosis of lung cancer is performed using a fluorograph, as well as an x-ray. The examination is best done once a year. If lung cancer is suspected, additional tests are done. This is a transthoracic puncture, determination of the level of tumor markers in the blood, bronchoscopy, computed tomography, biopsy (puncture) of the lymph nodes.
What to do if you have this type of cancer
Treatment should be started immediately. All actions must be performed only on the recommendation of a doctor. Do not self-medicate, and even more so resort to various means of alternative medicine.
An oncologist will prescribe a special treatment program. It will directly depend on what stage of the disease the patient has. For treatment using radiation therapy, a surgical method, as well as chemotherapy. In almost all cases, they are appointed in pairs or all together.
The result of treatment depends on when measures were taken. The histological picture of the tumor is also of importance. Lung cancer can produce metastases that affect individual organs. The mortality rate is high.
Preventive measures
These include timely treatment of inflammatory diseases of the lungs and bronchi. Anyone seriously concerned about lung cancer should stop smoking altogether. It is also recommended to change jobs if, on duty, you have to be in a room with a large amount of harmful substances.