early symptom of lung cancer

Early Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Common signs and symptoms of lung cancer include:

A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time

Constant chest pain

Coughing up blood

Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness

Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis

Swelling of the neck and face Loss of appetite or weight loss

Fatigue

These symptoms may be caused by lung cancer or by other conditions. It is important to check with a doctor.

The symptoms of lung cancer frequently go unrecognised in the early stages of the disease, experts say.

Lung cancer typically makes itself known through coughing, breathlessness and weight loss, said Professor Dieter Koehler, president of the German Society for Pneumology and Respiratory Medicine in Werne, North Rhine Westphalia.

Further symptoms are pains in the chest and swollen fingertips, the so-called clubbed finger.

An X-ray, an endoscopic examination of the lungs or an analysis of the mucus the patient coughs up are ways of determining whether the patient has lung cancer, said Michael Barczok of the German Federal Association of Pneumologists in Heideheim.

People at greatest risk of lung cancer are current and former smokers, as well as people whose relatives have already developed lung cancer or chronic obstructive lung diseases, experts say. The risk of getting a bronchial cancer is two to three times greater among people who have a biological relative who had lung cancer, Koehler said.

The disease usually begins at a younger age among people with a genetic disposition, according to Koehler.

"They become ill at age 50 as opposed to age 70," he said.

The earlier the disease is detected, the better the survival rate. Only 15 percent of the people age 70 or older who are diagnosed with the disease are still alive five years later. Lung cancer is the cause of death for more than 40,000 people annually in Germany, making it one of the most common malignancies.

small cell lung cancer

Alternative names

Cancer - lung - small cell; Small cell lung cancer; SCLC

Definition

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast-growing type of lung cancer. It tends to spread much more quickly than non-small cell lung cancer.

There are three different types of small cell lung cancer:

Small cell carcinoma (oat cell cancer)

Mixed small cell/large cell carcinoma

Combined small cell carcinoma

Most small cell lung cancers are the oat cell type.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

About 15% of all lung cancer cases are small cell lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Small cell lung cancer is a bit more common in men than women.

Smoking almost always causes small cell lung cancer. This type of lung cancer is rare in those who have never smoked.

Small cell lung cancer usually starts in the air tubes (bronchi) in the center of the chest. Although the cancer cells are small, they grow quickly and create large masses (tumors) that can rapidly spread to other parts of the body, including the brain, liver, and bone.

Symptoms

Cough

Bloody sputum

Shortness of breath

Wheezing

Chest pain

Loss of appetite

Weight loss

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Weakness

Swallowing difficulty

Nail abnormalities

Hoarseness or changing voice

Fever

Facial swelling

Signs and tests

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. You will be asked if you smoke, and if so, how long you have smoked.

When listening to the chest with a stethoscope, the health care provider can sometimes hear fluid around the lungs, which could (but doesn't always) suggest cancer.

Small cell lung cancer has usually spread by the time it is diagnosed.

Tests that may be performed include:

Chest x-ray

CBC

Sputum test

Bone scan

CT scan

MRI

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

Thoracentesis <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003420.htm>

In some cases, the health care provider may need to remove a piece of tissue from your lungs for examination under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. There are several ways to do this:

Bronchoscopy combined with biopsy

Pleural biopsy

CT scan directed needle biopsy

Mediastinoscopy with biopsy

Open lung biopsy

Endoscopic esophageal ultrasound (EUS) with biopsy

Usually, if a biopsy reveals cancer, more imaging tests are done to find out the stage of the cancer. (Stage means how big the tumor is and how far it's spread.) However, the traditional staging system, which uses numbers to tell how bad the cancer is, is usually not used for patients with SCLC. Instead, SCLC is grouped as either:

Limited (cancer is only in the chest)

Extensive (cancer has spread outside the chest)

Most cases are extensive.

lung cancer treatment

As is true of many cancers, the treatment of lung cancer depends upon a variety of factors. The most important factors are the histopathologic (diseased tissue) type of tumor that is present and its stage. Once a lung cancer has been staged, the physician and patient can discuss treatment options. An individual then has a better idea of the value of different forms of therapy. Other factors that are taken into account include the person's general health, medical problems that may affect treatment (such as chemotherapy), and tumor characteristics.

The characteristics of the lung tumor help to separate individuals into two groups: (1) those who are at low risk of cancer recurrence and (2) those who are at high risk of cancer recurrence. Specific prognostic - disease-forecasting - factors place patients in either of these groups. In particular, the histopathologic groupings of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) versus non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) may be used to better predict a patient's prognosis and response to therapy.

Surgical resection, or cutting away, of the tumor generally is indicated for disease that has not spread beyond the lung. Such resection may be conducted using a variety of techniques. Thoracotomy - the opening of the chest wall for surgical procedures - and median sternotomy - surgery performed by cutting through the breastbone - are standard methods used for lung cancer surgery. Alternative approaches include anterior limited thoractomy (ALT), thoractomy performed on the frontal chest using a small incision; anterioraxillary thoracotomy (AAT), thoracotomy performed on the frontal chest near the underarm), and posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) thoracotomy performed on the back/side region of the trunk. ALT, in particular, is less invasive than standard thoractomy - that is, it involves less disturbance of the body by incisions or other intrusive measures. ALT may result in less surgical blood loss, less postoperative drainage, and less postoperative pain than standard thoracotomy.

Recently, surgeons have developed other less invasive procedures for the removal of tumorous tissue. For example, video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT), otherwise known as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), uses a video camera to help visualize and operate upon the lung within the chest cavity. The surgical incisions made during VAT are much smaller than those needed for thoracotomy or sternotomy. However, some physicians caution that VAT does not allow complete lung examination to identify and remove metastases that are not detected by preoperative chest X-ray. VAT is perhaps most appropriate for Stage 1 and Stage 2 cancers that require lobectomy (surgical removal of a lung lobule) with lymphadenectomy (removal of one or more lymph nodes) and for peripheral (outer edge) lung tumors that can be removed by wedge resection. In such cases, follow-up is required to establish a long-term prognosis.

Computed tomography (CT) scans also have been added to VAT technology to improve lung cancer surgery. Experts have found that percutaneous (through the skin) CT-guided localization wires help to identify tumorous lung nodules. In this way, wires can be used to assist VAT in cases that need sublobectomy resection (partial removal of a lung lobe).

Unfortunately, surgical procedures may cause lymphocytopenia - low number of lymphocytes (white blood cells) in the blood - which is linked with shorter survival times among patients with advanced lung cancer. Lymphocytopenia may be related to a deficiency in interleukin-2 (IL-2), a hormone that controls the activity of T lymphocytes (thymus-dependent lymphocytes). Preoperative treatment with recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) may help to prevent the lymphocyte decrease that occurs after surgery for operable lung cancer.

If the tumor is more aggressive and/or widespread, chemotherapy and radiotherapy (radiation therapy) also may be necessary. In addition to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, other treatments are now available for the management of lung cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) may be especially useful for the care of persons with inoperable lung cancer. Photodynamic therapy begins with the injection of a light-activated drug (e.g., photofrin/polyhaematoporphyrin, lumin). Then, during bronchoscopy (examination of the airways using a flexible scope), the lung tumor is illuminated by a laser fiber that transmits light of a specific wavelength. At that time, the laser light is used to destroy the sensitized tumor tissue. Skin photosensitivity (light sensitivity) is a side effect of PDT. The curative potential of PDT is the most exciting aspect of this therapy in lung cancer patients whose tumors are occult (hidden, unseen) on chest X-ray. The tissue-sparing effects of PDT may be particularly important for individuals with limited lung function.

Electrosurgery

· A lump is detected, which is usually single, firm, and most often painless.

· A portion of the skin on the breast or underarm swells and has an unusual appearance.

· Veins on the skin surface become more prominent on one breast.

· The breast nipple becomes inverted, develops a rash, changes in skin texture, or has a discharge other than breast milk.

· A depression is found in an area of the breast surface.

Women's breasts can develop some degree of lumpiness, but only a small percentage of lumps are malignant.

While a history of breast cancer in the family may lead to increased risk, most breast cancers are diagnosed in women with no family history. If you have a family history of breast cancer, this should be discussed with your doctor.

lung cancer picture

Lung Cancer Pictures and Photos

One of the dangers of lung cancer is that it may metastasize and spread to other parts of the body. Below is graphical lung cancer picture of the spreading of lung cancer to the brain.

Lung Cancer and Metastasis

Below is a healthy lung photo and

a diseased lung cancer picture.

Healthy Lung Photo

Lung Cancer Photo

ung Cancer X Ray

Lung Cancer X Ray Lung Cancer shows itself as a shadow caused by the tumor as marked by a "Ca". However, the development of shadowing on the lung cancer on the X ray lags behind formation of the cancer and a lesion has to be over a centimetre in diameter before it can be recognised. Thus a negative chest X-ray does not exclude cancer. Often an MRI will have to be done to obtain a definitive diagnosis.

General Symptoms Of Lung Cancer

General symptoms of lung cancer

The symptoms of lung cancer can be

Having a cough most of the time

A change in a cough you have had for a long time

Being short of breath

Coughing up phlegm (sputum) with signs of blood in it

An ache or pain when breathing or coughing

Loss of appetite

Fatigue

Losing weight

Less common symptoms of lung cancer

There are other symptoms of lung cancer that are less common. They are usually associated with more advanced lung cancer. You may have

A hoarse voice

Difficulty swallowing

Swelling of the face caused by a blockage of a main blood vessel from the head (SVCO)

Swelling in the neck caused by enlarged lymph nodes

Pain or discomfort under your ribs on your right side (from the liver)

Shortness of breath caused by fluid around the lungs (called pleural effusion)

SVCO

SVCO stands for superior vena cava obstruction. The vena cava is a large vein that carries blood from the brain and head back to the heart. If it is blocked, there is a build up behind the blockage causing fluid to seep out from the bloodstream and collect in the tissues of the face, causing swelling.

All of these symptoms can be caused by other diseases apart from lung cancer. So, you should always see your doctor if you are worried about any symptoms. You may have a chest infection, or other illness that is easily treatable. If you do have lung cancer, the earlier it is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat it.

Pancoast tumours

Doctors sometimes call lung cancer that is growing right at the top of the lung a 'pancoast tumour'. These tumours can cause very specific symptoms. The most common is severe shoulder pain. They can also cause a collection of symptoms called 'Horner's syndrome'. These are

Drooping or weakness of one eyelid

Small pupil in that eye

Loss of sweating on that same side of the face

These symptoms of Horner's syndrome are caused by the tumour pressing on or damaging a nerve that runs up from the neck to that side of the face.

Odd symptoms of lung cancer

Sometimes lung cancer cells produce hormones that get into the bloodstream. These hormones can produce strange symptoms that you may not realise are anything to do with lung cancer. You may hear your doctor call these 'paraneoplastic symptoms' or say you have 'paraneoplastic syndrome'. These hormone related symptoms include

Pins and needles or numbness in fingers or toes

Muscle weakness

Drowsiness, weakness, dizziness or confusion

Breast swelling in men

Tendency to have blood clots (thrombosis)

These symptoms are rarely caused by lung cancer. But they can be. So it is important you tell your doctor about any new symptoms you have noticed. They may be nothing to do with your cancer and so your mind can be put at rest. If they are, then they can treat them and help you to feel better.

Lung Cancer

Definition of lung cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. The two main types are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. These types are diagnosed based on how the cells look under a microscope.



Women more likely to survive lung cancer

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - When women and men have lung cancer of the same stage and are given the same treatment, the women are more likely to survive, according to the findings published in the journal of Chest.

Lung cancer "is the number one cause of cancer deaths in both men and women worldwide," Dr. Robert James Cerfolio and colleagues from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, write.

Several studies using data from national cancer registries have shown that men and women differ in lung cancer survival. The present study was different in that it determined survival in men and women who were diagnosed with lung cancer, treated based on the same algorithm, and then followed for up to 7 years.

The study focused on patients with non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type. Unlike the small cell variant, non-small cell lung cancer is often amenable to surgical removal and more responsive to chemotherapy.

The study included 1,085 patients -- 671 men and 414 women. There were no significant differences between the sexes in terms of race, other diseases, smoking history, lung function and the treatment received.

At 5 years, 60 percent of women were still alive compared with 50 percent of men. Moreover, women had consistently higher survival rates for all stages of disease.

As to why survival was better for women, it may relate to them being more responsive to chemotherapy, Cerforlio and colleagues report.

The researchers conclude that the findings might help improve the "dismal" overall 5-year survival rate for patients with non-small lung cancer "by helping to target new therapeutic options."