Protect Yourself from Lung Cancer Before It’s Too Late

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. The buildup of harmful cells in your lungs is responsible for it. While you have treatment options handy, early detection of your cancer is a critical point to consider. Some treatment options include surgery, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. To combat the condition, you need to understand its causes and symptoms. This blog helps you learn about lung cancer and get treatment as soon as possible for higher chances of recovery and management.

Overview of Lung Cancer

Usually, lung cancer starts either in your airways or tiny air sacs. It is caused when your lungs show uncontrolled cell division and growth. Upon division, your cells replicate and form clones of themselves. After some time, they undergo mutation, causing them to keep replicating themselves beyond their control. Damaged cells divide and redivide uncontrollably to form a mass called a tumour. This tumour restricts your target organ from its routine functionality.

Types of Lung Cancer

There are several types of cancer your lungs can suffer from. However, the term ‘lung cancer’ covers mainly two broad aspects – small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Small Cell Lung Cancer

This type proliferates more than the other one and is more challenging to treat. It is often diagnosed as a small tumour developing in your lungs. Specific examples of this type include small cell carcinoma and combined small cell carcinoma.

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

This is the most common type, accounting for nearly 80% of the cases diagnosed so far. Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common of these types.

Suggested Read: Lung Cancer Prevention: 10 Essential Tips for Preventing Lung Cancer

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Below are a few common lung cancer symptoms you should watch out for:

• Persistent coughing
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Hoarseness
• Unexplained fatigue and weight loss
• Shoulder ache
• Face, arms, upper chest or neck swelling
• Wheezing
• Troubled breathing or shortness of breath

The early signs of your lung cancer are a persistent cough or pneumonia that keeps coming back. Depending on the site of initiation of your lung cancer, some of these symptoms may be triggered early.

Causes of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is caused by cells that repeatedly divide even when they shouldn’t. While it is a normal process, all cells carry an inbuilt switch to prevent further division.

Cancer cells are those cells of your body that have created multiple clones of themselves by switching off the trigger switch held within. They keep multiplying unchecked, thereby interfering with your normal cell-building process. These cancerous cells can even enter your bloodstream to be transported to other body parts.

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Are There Any Associated Risk Factors

While the risk factors are many, addiction to tobacco products is one of the biggest ones. Other risk factors are:

• Exposure to second hand smoke
• Exposure to harmful substances such as radon, air pollution, and uranium.
• Previous exposure to radiation treatments
• Family history

How to Diagnose Lung Cancer

Diagnosing and treating your lung cancer can be a multi-stage process. Your doctor might ask you to go for a physical examination followed by blood tests and X-rays. The next stage of diagnosis includes CT scans, biopsies, and PET/CT scans.

Treatment of Lung Cancer

You have several lung cancer treatment options. The following are the primary treatments available to treat the condition.

Surgery

If your lung cancer is limited to a single one, you are eligible to go for lung cancer surgery. Your surgeon might remove the entire tumour along with a small portion of the healthy tissue surrounding it.

Radiofrequency Ablation

The tumours developed around the outer edge of your lungs can be treated with radiofrequency ablation. These are high-energy radio waves that heat kill the cancerous cells.

Radiation Therapy

This therapy uses a high-energy beam to kill your cancerous cells. This radiation therapy can also be used as palliative care for shrinking your tumours and relieving your pain.

Chemotherapy

This therapy involves a combination of multiple medicines designed to stop your cancer from advancing further. You can either receive it before your surgery or after it. Your doctor can even club it with immunotherapy for better results.

Immunotherapy

Your body can identify harmful or damaged cells and destroy them. Cancerous cells can hide themselves from your immune system so that your immune system cannot kill them.

Takeaway

Sustaining your life with lung cancer can be traumatic and drive a lot of challenges. In addition to your cancerous condition, you may suffer from physical inactivity, side effects of the treatment you are undergoing, and physical and emotional stress. However, there are things you can do to relax yourself from the overall burden of the disease. Consult your doctor and identify your emotional support while dealing with your health issue.