Lung Cancer: Types, Progression, Symptoms And Treatment Options
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by abnormal growths, or cancers, in the lungs. Most of the lung tumours are malignant, i.e. they spread throughout the body by destroying the healthy tissues around them. This process by which tumours spread to other parts of the body is called Metastasis. When this happens, the original tumour in the lung is called the Primary Tumour, and the tumour in other parts of the body is called Secondary or Metastatic tumour. The areas of tumour growth at these distant sites are called Metastases. The lungs contain a rich network of blood vessels and lymphatic channels through which cancer cells spread; particularly susceptible are the adrenal glands, liver, brain etc. Because of this, lung cancer is a very lifethreatening type of cancer and one of the most difficult cancers to treat. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LUNG CANCER People with lung cancer do not exhibit any symptoms when the cancer is diagnosed and until it has spread. If diagnosed in the earlier stages when the symptoms first start to
appear, the patient has a greater chance of recovery. Some of the most common symptoms of lung cancer are:
Persistent cough which worsens over time
Haemoptysis, i.e., coughing up blood or sputum
Wheezing or hoarseness
Persistent chest pain which get worse with deep breathing or coughing or laughing
Respiratory infections like bronchitis or pneumonia which doesn’t go away
New cough or onset of wheezing
Shortness of breath
Feeling tired or weak frequently
Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it may cause the following symptoms and syndromes 1. Jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin) if it spreads to liver 2. Bone pain, usually in the backbone, thigh bones (femur), pelvic region and ribs 3. If it spreads to the brain or spinal cord, it can cause headache, weakness, numbness of limbs, problems with vision etc. 4. Cancers of the top part of the lungs can cause Horner Syndrome characterized by drooping of one eyelid, reduced sweating on one side of the face etc.
5. Paraneoplastic syndromes, which are the indirect effects of cancer. These include 6. New bone formation or thickening of certain bones 7. High calcium levels, causing frequent urination, thirst, constipation, nausea, vomiting etc. 8. Increased risk of blood clots in the arms, legs or lungs 9. Clubbing of fingers due to deposition of excess tissue under the fingernails
Lung cancer is of two types, depending on the type of cells that constitute the cancer: Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).
SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER (SCLC)
SCLC occurs in about 20 percent of the cases of lung cancer and is the most aggressive and fastest growing of all the lung cancers. Often, by the time it is discovered, it would have already spread to other parts of the body. It is also known as Oat Cell Carcinomas. It is more likely to respond to chemotherapy, but less likely to be cured with treatment. If a person has Small Cell Lung Cancer, it is often staged using a simpler, two-part system because the treatment options don’t vary much between the more detailed stages used to describe Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. In Limited-stage SCLC, cancer cells are found in one lung and may be found in the tissues between the lungs and in nearby lymph nodes. If cancer is found in the other lung, in the lymph nodes of the other lung, or other parts of the body, it is called Extensive-stage.
Risk Factors and Causes: The risk factors for SCLC are as follows:
Tobacco Smoke: About 80% of the deaths caused due to lung cancer are the result of smoking, and this percentage is even higher for SCLC. Smokers are at a greater risk of developing SCLC than non-smokers. Tobacco smoke inhaled in any form, be it through cigars, pipes, low-tar or ‘light’ cigarettes, menthol cigarettes etc. is harmful for the body. Even second-hand smoke can increase the risk of developing lung cancer.
Air Pollution: Continuous, long-term exposure to polluted air emitted from automobiles, factories etc. increases the risk of lung cancer slightly.
Exposure to asbestos: People who are regularly exposed to asbestos, for example those working in mines, mills, textile plants, shipyards etc. are at a greater risk of developing this disease. Exposure to asbestos is linked to a type of cancer known as
Mesothelioma, which starts in the inner lining of the chest cavity and the outer lining called the pleura.
Exposure to Radon: Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium in the soil and rocks break down. This invisible, tasteless and odourless gas exposes the lungs to small amounts of radiation and increases the risk of lung cancer.
Exposure to arsenic and other carcinogens: People who are exposed to substances like arsenic, chromium, nickel, other aromatic hydrocarbons, diesel exhaust etc. are more susceptible to lung cancer.
Personal or family history: A person who has already had lung cancer is at a very high risk of developing another lung cancer. Genetics also plays an important role in the possibility of getting this condition.
NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER (NSCLC):
NSCLC are the most common lung cancers, which can be divided into several main types based on the type of cells found in the tumour. There are different subtypes of NSCLC. They are:
Adenocarcinoma: These cancers usually originate in the cells that secrete substances like mucus. It mostly occurs in current or former smokers, and also in non-smokers. It is more common in women than men.
Squamous cell (epidermoid) carcinoma: These start in the squamous cells, which are the flat cells lining the insides of the airways in the lungs.
Large cell (undifferentiated) carcinoma: They can appear in any part of the lung and tend to grow and spread quickly, which makes it harder to treat.
DIAGNOSIS OF LUNG CANCER:
The diagnosis usually starts with the doctor asking a list of questions about the symptoms, medical and personal history, lifestyle etc. of the individual. Doctors use a wide range of diagnostic procedures and tests to diagnose lung cancer. Some of them are:
Chest X-ray procedure is carried out to detect the causes of respiratory symptoms, but it may or may not show an abnormality. Also, not all the abnormalities which are detected are cancers.
In case of severe symptoms, CT scan (Computerized Tomography) or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) may be performed to help determine the stage of cancer and also its spread to other organs and lymph nodes.
PET (Proton Emission Tomography) can be used to find out if a tumour tissue is actively growing and determining the type of cells within the tumour.
Sputum Testing is a simple test where the cells in the sputum are examined to check if they are cancerous. This is not a completely reliable method though.
Bronchoscopy: In this method, the airways are examined through a thin, fiber-optic cable inserted through the nose or mouth to reveal the areas of tumour and the extent of tumour.
Needle Biopsy: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA), usually performed with radiological imaging for guidance can be useful in retrieving cells for diagnosis. The needle is inserted through the chest wall and into the tumour.
Thoracentesis: In this procedure, a sample of the fluid is removed from the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs, which is important for the staging and diagnosis of this disease.
Surgical procedures: There are two surgical procedures which are performed. In a Thoracotomy, the chest is opened and the tumour is removed and examined. It may not be possible to remove the entire tumour if it has spread outside the lungs. Mediastinoscopy is another endoscopic procedure which involves examining the chest cavity between the lungs through a surgically inserted probe to collect the sample of lymph nodes so they can be evaluated for cancer cells. This procedure is useful in determining if the tumour can be surgically removed or not.
LUNG CANCER PROGRESSION AND STAGING: The staging of lung cancer refers to the extent of the disease. In case of the NSCLC, it is staged according to the size of the tumour and whether it has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs of the body. In the Occult or Hidden Stage, cancer cells are found in the coughed up mucus or in other lung fluids, but no tumour can be seen in the lungs. Stage 0 is not considered invasive because the cancer cells are found in the innermost lining of the air passages, but have not grown through it. Stag 1A is considered invasive cancer because the tumour has grown through the inner lining of the airways into the deep lung tissue. The size of the tumour doesn’t exceed 3cm, and has not spread to the bronchi, lymph nodes or distant sites. In Stage 1B, the diameter of the tumour exceeds 3 cm, or has spread to the main bronchus, or has grown through the lung into the inner layer of the pleura. In Stage 2A, the tumour is no more than 3 across, but it has spread to the nearby lymph nodes on the same side of the chest as the tumour. In Stage 2B, there are two scenarios that can occur. One, where the cancer cells have not spread to nearby lymph nodes, but have spread to other parts of the body like the chest wall, diaphragm etc. In the second scenario, the cancer has spread to the nearby lymph nodes on the same side of the chest as the tumour. Also the size of the tumour exceeds 3cm. In Stage 3A, the tumour may be of any size and the cancer has spread to more lymph nodes on the same side of the chest and to other nearby structures, but not the trachea. In Stage 3B, the tumour may be of any size, and has spread to the lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or above the collar bone, and may have spread to nearby structures like the heart, major heart vessels, diaphragm, chest wall, trachea, oesophagus, breastbone, or to more than one place in the same lung.
In Stage 4, cancer has spread to other lobes of the same lung and to other parts of the body such as the brain, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands or bones. PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR LUNG CANCER: Lung cancer prevention includes actions you can take to lower your chance of developing cancer. The foremost thing to do is to not start smoking, or to quit smoking if the patient is already doing it. You should also avoid breathing in other people’s smoke. People should get their homes tested for radon, which is a known carcinogen. Avoid exposure to cancer-causing chemicals at work. Maintain a healthy weight because being overweight can cause the body to circulate higher levels of certain hormones that can stimulate cancer growth. Eat a healthy diet comprising of fruits and vegetables, which are packed with substances that reduce your risk of getting cancer. Regular physical activity can help maintain the weight, and also has a positive impact on the hormone levels and immune system. TREATMENTS FOR LUNG CANCER: Treatment options include local therapies such as
Surgery
Radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy
Targeted Therapy The patient may receive one or a combination of the treatments. There are several surgical options depending on the type and stage of cancer. During a Wedge Resection, the tumour and a small margin of healthy tissue is removed. In a Lobectomy, one lobe of the lung is removed. During a Pneumonectomy, the surgeon removes the entire lung. In
a Sleeve Resection, the diseased section of a large airway is removed, and the healthy ends are reattached. During any of these procedures, the surgeon may remove the lymph to check them for signs of cancer. Radiation therapy is a local treatment that uses high energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells to relieve symptoms. External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) is directed at the cancer’s location from a machine outside your body. Brachytherapy is used to help remove blockages of the large airways by cancer. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells by either killing them or inhibiting their cell division. Targeted therapies are newer cancer treatments that work by focusing on specific genetic abnormalities of cancer cells.