Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide in men and women alike. Survival rates vary depending on the cell type of cancer and the stage at which the disease was diagnosed.
Lung cancer can occur in any part of the lungs or airways, which is the part of the respiratory system.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
The most common symptoms and signs of lung cancer are:
If any of the above symptoms persist for a long time and do not subside we should immediately contact the doctor for further investigation.
Causes or risk factors
The causes of lung cancer are basically three: smoking, air pollution and various other genetic factors to a lesser extent.
Clearly smoking is the most important risk factor. Even smoking with a vaper can increase the risk, while passive smoking is just as harmful, especially if it happens for many years. Another aggravating factor in the development of lung cancer is exposure to ionizing radiation, asbestos, arsenic and other metals, the family history of development of the disease and the age of a person (over 65 years of age increases the risk).
Diagnosis and examinations for lung cancer
The diagnosis of lung cancer is made by imaging tests that initially include a chest X-ray for the first diagnosis. Then, and where appropriate, a CT and MRI scan is required, in which it is detected whether there are metastases and what extent it is. Bronchoscopy and biopsy are also required to determine the histological type.
To find out at what stage the cancer has progressed and if there are metastases in more distant organs, the PET screening test is applied.
The best method of preventing lung cancer is to stop smoking and avoid passive smoking. People with lung cancer are the vast majority smokers (about 90%). Smokers are recommended to do frequent and according to the instructions of the attending doctor preventive tests.
Types of Lung Cancer
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): corresponds to 85% to 90% of cases and is divided into 3 sub-types, which show differences in the appearance of their cells under the microscope, but belong to the same group because their treatment and prognosis are similar.
- Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC): corresponds to about 15% of cases and is so called because of the small size of its cells under the microscope. It is very rare to occur in non-smokers. Usually, it tends to develop quickly and early onset metastases. However, it usually responds rapidly to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Treatments
Treatment depends on the type of lung cancer, where it is located, the size, whether it has spread and the general state of health of the patient.
The most common treatments for lung cancer are:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Chemo-radiotherapy
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Surgery
The type of surgery depends on where the cancer is in the lung, how large it is and the general state of health of the patient.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. There are different types of chemotherapy and the doctor will choose the appropriate treatment, depending on the characteristics of the disease. Chemotherapy is given in cycles, between which there is a period of rest. Its duration is a few months and it is mainly administered in the outpatient clinics of the hospitals. The patient usually returns home the same day, although some treatments require a short stay in the hospital.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy uses high-intensity X-rays to destroy lung cancer cells.
Chemo-radiotherapy
Χημειο-ακτινοθεραπεία σημαίνει ο ασθενής να λαμβάνει ταυτόχρονα χημειοθεραπεία και ακτινοθεραπεία.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Photodynamic therapy kills cancer cells using a combination of a photosensitive drug and a very strong light.
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