Lung cancer

Lung cancer: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men and women over 40 years of age. Smoking is considered the leading cause of lung cancer, and the risk of developing this disease is significantly higher in smokers. When smoking two or more packs of cigarettes per day, the incidence of lung cancer increases by 15-25 times. In addition, other risk factors include working in asbestos production and exposure to radiation.

Symptoms of lung cancer may include cough, bloody sputum, chest pain, and repeated episodes of pneumonia and bronchitis. Respiratory disturbances can be significant with the development of hypoventilation and atelectasis of a lobe or the entire lung. Early forms of lung cancer are asymptomatic, and the symptoms listed later are nonspecific for lung cancer. However, a clinical analysis of the dynamics of such symptoms is important, since it aims at timely additional examination and establishment of the correct diagnosis.

To diagnose lung cancer, it is important to carry out repeated cytological examination of sputum, chest radiography, bronchoscopy with tumor biopsy, and transthoracic tumor biopsy. Morphological and radiographic studies provide a differential diagnosis with tuberculosis, chronic pneumonia, adenoma, carcinoid, various benign formations, as well as metastases to the lung of tumors of other locations.

Lung cancer can have various forms, including central lung cancer, growing predominantly endo- or peribronchially (80% of cases), peripheral cancer, mediastinal form, miliary carcinomatosis and others. According to the morphological structure, squamous cell (epidermoid) cancer, adenocarcinoma, small and large cell cancer are distinguished.

Lung cancer metastasizes to the lymph nodes of the lung root, paratracheal, para-aortic and bifurcation lymph nodes. In later stages of the disease, metastases develop to distant tissues and organs, such as supraclavicular lymph nodes, bones, liver, brain, lungs, etc.

Treatment for non-small cell lung cancer may include surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these. The decision to choose a treatment method depends on the stage of the cancer, the nature of the tumor and the general condition of the patient. In some cases, palliative treatment may be required to reduce symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life.

It is important to note that the most effective way to prevent lung cancer is to stop smoking and avoid exposure to asbestos and radiation. Regular screening can help detect lung cancer in its early stages, when the chances of successful treatment are higher. If you are at risk for lung cancer, talk with your doctor about possible prevention and early detection measures.