Lung cancer

Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, the tumor can spread outside of the lung by a process called metastasis to surrounding tissue and eventually to other parts of the body. The majority of tumors that begin in the lungs, known as primary lung tumors are cancers derived from epithelial cells. The main types of lung cancer are non-small lung carcinoma cells (CNPC) and small cell lung carcinoma (CPC), also called tumor "oat cell". The most common cause of lung cancer is long-term exposure to tobacco smoke. No smokers comprise about 15% of cases of lung cancer, and these cases are often attributed to genetic factors, radon gas, asbestos or air pollution, including secondhand smoke.
The most common symptoms are cough (also hemoptysis), weight loss and difficulty in breathing. [7] Lung cancer may be seen on chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT). The diagnosis is confirmed by a biopsy, which is generally accomplished through bronchoscopy or a CT guided biopsy. Treatment and prognosis depend on the histological type of tumor, the stage (degree of extent of disease) and the general welfare of the patient, measured by functional status. The most common treatments are surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The CNPC may be treated with surgery, while the CPC normally responds better to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This occurs partly because the CPC often spreads very early and these treatments are better in target cells which have moved to other parts of the body.
Survival depends on the stage, general health and other factors, but in general, 15% of people diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States survive for at least five years after diagnosis. Worldwide, lung cancer is the leading cause of death caused by some type of cancer most common in men and in women, and in 2008 was responsible for 1.37 million deaths.
Treatment
The treatment depends upon a number of factors, including the type of lung cancer: lung cancer, non-small cell or small cell size, location, extent of tumor and general health of the person. Different treatments can be used and associations of treatments to control lung cancer and / or for improving the quality of life of the individual, through the reduction of symptoms.
Surgery
The operation is an operation to remove the tumor. The type of surgery performed depends on the location of the tumor in the lung. An operation for removing only a small portion of lung, is called segmental resection or wedge. When the surgeon removes an entire lobe of the lung, the procedure is called a lobectomy. The pneumectomy corresponds to total removal of a lung. Some tumors are not operable, or can not be removed by surgery due to their size or location, on the other hand, some people can not undergo surgery for other medical reasons.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill tumor cells throughout the body. Even after removal of the lung, cancer cells can also be present in the surrounding tissues or elsewhere in the body. Chemotherapy may be used to control tumor growth, or to relieve symptoms. Much of anticancer drugs are administered by direct injection into a vein (IV), or via a catheter (thin tube placed into a large vein, and which is placed as needed). Some anticancer drugs are administered orally in the form of tablets.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is directed towards a limited area and affects the cancer cells only in the area covered. Radiation therapy may be used before surgery to shrink a tumor, or after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that remain in the treated area. Many times the doctor uses radiation, combined with chemotherapy as a primary treatment of the tumor, rather than surgery. Radiotherapy can also be used to alleviate symptoms such as breathlessness. The radiation treatment of lung cancer has usually a machine (external radiation). The radiation can also come from an implant (small container of radioactive material) placed directly in or near the tumor (or internal radiation brachytherapy).
Photodynamic therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a type of laser therapy, involves the use of a special chemical, which is injected into the bloodstream and absorbed by cells throughout the body. The chemical quickly leaves normal cells but remains in cancer cells for a longer time. A laser beam directed to the tumor, the active chemical that kills, then cells that have absorbed. Photodynamic therapy can be used to reduce symptoms of lung cancer, for example, to control blood loss or to relieve respiratory problems, due to obstructive airways when the tumor can not be removed by surgery. Photodynamic therapy can also be used to treat very small tumors, in people for whom standard therapy for lung cancer are not suitable.
For many people with lung cancer, participation in clinical trials (research studies) is an option. In some studies, all people receive the new treatment, in others the different therapies are compared: some people receive the new treatment and others receive the standard therapy (default). Through the investigation, are being explored novel methods, possibly more effective ways of treating lung cancer.
Treatment of lung cancer, non-small cell
The lung cancer, non-small cells can be treated in several ways. The choice of treatment depends mainly on the size, location and extent of the tumor. Surgery is the most common treatment for this type of lung cancer. Cryosurgery, a treatment that freezes and destroys the cancerous tissue, can be used to control symptoms in more advanced stages of lung cancer, non-small cells. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy may also be used to delay disease progression and to control the symptoms.
Treatment of lung cancer, small cell
The lung cancer small cell metastasizes quickly. In many cases when the disease is diagnosed, the cancer cells have already spread to other parts of the body. To reach cancer cells throughout the body, chemotherapy is often made. The treatment can also include radiation therapy directed to tumor or lung tumors elsewhere in the body such as the brain. Some patients do radiotherapy to the brain, although it has not been found any tumor. This treatment, called the skull Prophylactic radiotherapy is done to prevent from forming tumors in the brain. The surgery is part of the treatment plan of a small number of individuals with lung cancer and small cell.
Before starting treatment, you may want to put some questions to your doctor:
• What treatments are recommended for me?
• What clinical trials are suitable for my type of cancer?
• Do I have to be hospitalized for the treatment? For how long?
• How can my normal activities be changed during my treatment?
Prevention
The main measure to prevent lung cancer is to quit smoking. As secondary prevention, aimed at early diagnosis, it is recommended to do chest radiography annually for every smoker for over 10 years as well as for those who quit for less than five years.
Quitting smoking is worth
When a person stops smoking these are the benefits that have:
 TIME PARAMETER
 The air immediately around it will be more healthy
 20 minutes Blood pressure, heart rate and temperature return to normal
 8 hours Concentration of carbon monoxide and oxygen in the blood return to normal
 24 hours begins to decrease the chance of heart attack
 48 hours The smell and taste begin to improve
 2 to 12 weeks circulation improves, lung function improves 30%
 1 to 9 months Coughing, sinus and lung infections decrease, improves breathlessness
 1 year risk of death from heart attack decreases 50%
 2 to 3 years maximum recovery of pulmonary function
 6 to 8 years Risk of lung cancer approaches who never smoked
 10 to 15 years life expectancy comparable to that of those who never smoked