Post by Deanne Jenkyns on Jun 24, 2007 22:05:51 GMT 1
What is Lung Cancer?
There are a number of different types of lung cancer. The two most common are:
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), comprising large cell cancer, squamous cancer and adenocarcinoma; which accounts for 75% of all diagnosed lung cancers.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Symptoms:
While there is no mass screening procedure yet for lung cancer, there are often ‘tell-tale’ signs and symptoms which can include:
Repeated chest infections that do not respond to antibiotics within three weeks.
An increase in the amount you cough.
An increase in the amount of phlegm/sputum you produce or cough up.
Sputum (spit) that is bloody in colour.
Losing your voice but your throat feels fine.
Breathlessness.
Chest pains
Facial and/or neck swelling.
Unexplained weight loss/tiredness.
What are the causes of Lung Cancer?
80% of lung cancer occurs in active or ex-smokers and an additional 5% of cases are estimated to occur because of passive exposure to tobacco smoke. Other risk factors include exposure to asbestos or radon.
How serious is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women and the incidence continues to grow worldwide. It is responsible for more deaths than breast and prostate cancer combined.
How is Lung Cancer treated?
Treatment depends on the size, type and stage of the tumour and on your own personal health. In general, there are three types of treatment used in the management of lung cancer:
Surgery: If the cancer has not spread, removing the tumour by surgery is the most common form of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. If the cancer has spread and surgery is not possible (this is more common in small cell lung cancer) then radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used (alone or in combination) to control symptoms by reducing the size of the tumour.
Radiotherapy: is a general term for the treatment of cancer using x-rays. It is done by directing painless high-energy beams at the areas of the lung that need treatment. Radiotherapy works by killing cancerous cells and can be used either on its own or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy: is the general term for the treatment of cancer using drugs. The drugs that are used are designed to kill off cancer cells while causing less damage to normal cells. There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs which can be used on their own or, more commonly, in combinations. Patients with different types of lung cancer are likely to receive different combinations of chemotherapy drugs.
There have been encouraging advances made in recent years in the fight against lung cancer. In addition to new surgical and radiation techniques, there are new approaches in development including:
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) inhibitors which are designed to stop the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells in certain types of tumour.
Anti-angiogenic compounds which are designed to inhibit the formation of tumour blood vessels – without a blood supply the tumour cells will eventually die.
Monoclonal Antibodies which are designed to attach to certain tumour cells and destroy only them.
There are a number of different types of lung cancer. The two most common are:
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), comprising large cell cancer, squamous cancer and adenocarcinoma; which accounts for 75% of all diagnosed lung cancers.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Symptoms:
While there is no mass screening procedure yet for lung cancer, there are often ‘tell-tale’ signs and symptoms which can include:
Repeated chest infections that do not respond to antibiotics within three weeks.
An increase in the amount you cough.
An increase in the amount of phlegm/sputum you produce or cough up.
Sputum (spit) that is bloody in colour.
Losing your voice but your throat feels fine.
Breathlessness.
Chest pains
Facial and/or neck swelling.
Unexplained weight loss/tiredness.
What are the causes of Lung Cancer?
80% of lung cancer occurs in active or ex-smokers and an additional 5% of cases are estimated to occur because of passive exposure to tobacco smoke. Other risk factors include exposure to asbestos or radon.
How serious is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women and the incidence continues to grow worldwide. It is responsible for more deaths than breast and prostate cancer combined.
How is Lung Cancer treated?
Treatment depends on the size, type and stage of the tumour and on your own personal health. In general, there are three types of treatment used in the management of lung cancer:
Surgery: If the cancer has not spread, removing the tumour by surgery is the most common form of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. If the cancer has spread and surgery is not possible (this is more common in small cell lung cancer) then radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used (alone or in combination) to control symptoms by reducing the size of the tumour.
Radiotherapy: is a general term for the treatment of cancer using x-rays. It is done by directing painless high-energy beams at the areas of the lung that need treatment. Radiotherapy works by killing cancerous cells and can be used either on its own or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy: is the general term for the treatment of cancer using drugs. The drugs that are used are designed to kill off cancer cells while causing less damage to normal cells. There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs which can be used on their own or, more commonly, in combinations. Patients with different types of lung cancer are likely to receive different combinations of chemotherapy drugs.
There have been encouraging advances made in recent years in the fight against lung cancer. In addition to new surgical and radiation techniques, there are new approaches in development including:
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) inhibitors which are designed to stop the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells in certain types of tumour.
Anti-angiogenic compounds which are designed to inhibit the formation of tumour blood vessels – without a blood supply the tumour cells will eventually die.
Monoclonal Antibodies which are designed to attach to certain tumour cells and destroy only them.