Lung cancer is a condition that originates from the lungs, the two respiratory organs located in the chest cavity. This cancer arises when cells located in the lungs grow in an abnormal manner and form a tumor that may affect normal respiration. If not treated, it may metastasize into other body organs. Lung cancer is infamous for being among the deadliest cancers, but the reality is not always so; in most cases, it can easily be detected early before the onset of its symptoms, and there have been advances in treatment in recent times.
This blog will discuss lung cancer in simple terms: what it is, what causes it, the symptoms of lung cancer to watch out for, diagnosis methods, and treatment options.
What Is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer starts when the cells in the lungs have abnormalities in their genetic makeup or DNA – the genes which tell the cell what functions it should perform, how it should function, and ultimately its life span. These abnormalities, known as mutations, make the cell begin to divide without control.
There are two major categories of lung cancer which can include the following below:
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Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): This is the most prevalent type, accounting for about 80-85 percent of lung cancers overall. It is relatively slow-growing compared to the other type of cancer.
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Small cell lung cancer (SCLC): Less common, but generally grows and spreads rapidly; it is almost always associated with cigarette smoking.
There is another kind of cancer called mesothelioma which, however, develops in the membrane covering the lungs rather than in the lungs themselves. Mesothelioma is relatively rare and is mostly due to asbestos exposure.
Causes of Lung Cancer
Smoking Causes Most Lung Cancers
Smoking is undoubtedly one of the most common cause of lung cancer in the world. The smoke from cigarettes contains a number of chemicals that have been proven to harm the DNA of lung cells; the longer and the more you smoke, the greater the risk of developing the disease becomes. Quitting smoking, no matter how long you've been smoking, will decrease your risk in the future.
However, There Is Lung Cancer among Non-Smokers as Well
This is something many overlook when talking about the topic: quite a large number of people develop lung cancer despite the absence of any smoking habit. Risk factors that are associated with the disease include:
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Exposure to second-hand smoke: Inhaling someone else’s smoke regularly
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Exposure to radon gas – a colorless and odorless gas that forms naturally, and the most common reason for lung cancer among those who do not smoke
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Air pollution – exposure to polluted outdoor air as a risk factor becomes increasingly apparent across the globe
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Contact with asbestos and other chemicals used at work
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Personal history of cancer or family history of lung cancer
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Previous radiotherapy on the chest, such as cancer treatment.
Lung cancer among non-smokers is unique in the sense that there is a larger prevalence of certain mutations that can now be treated thanks to the development of new drugs.
Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Symptoms of early lung cancer are typically not very apparent, which explains the fact that this type of cancer is usually detected at an advanced stage compared to other types of cancer. If there are symptoms, they typically include the following:
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Persistent or worsening cough
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Coughing up blood
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Chest pain, which worsens when breathing deeply, coughing, or laughing
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Shortness of breath
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Hoarseness
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Unexplained weight loss
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Fatigue
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Recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia.
The aforementioned symptoms can be attributed to many other conditions – for example, a cough does not necessarily mean cancer. However, if one of these persists for several weeks, or keeps coming back, it makes sense to seek medical attention rather than to ignore it.
How Is Lung Cancer Diagnosed?
When doctors suspect lung cancer, there are several tests which are performed to diagnose and assess the extent of the disease:
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Imaging scans – the initial procedure involves a chest X-ray followed by a CT scan if something abnormal is seen on the X-ray
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Screening by low-dose CT – for those who have high chances of developing lung cancer (see the section regarding screening below)
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Biopsy – a small piece of the lung tissue is taken for examination by your heathcare worker. This is the only method for the confirmation of cancer diagnosis
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PET scan – allows revealing if cancer cells spread outside the lungs
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Molecular testing – after the confirmation of cancer, further genetic testing of the tumor is done to reveal the presence of any treatable mutations
Lung Cancer Staging
Like most forms of cancer, lung cancer is staged between 0 and IV, depending on the tumor size and if the cancer has metastasized:
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Stage I and II: Lung cancer remains in the lungs or has spread to adjacent lymph nodes
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Stage III: Cancer has spread more widely through the chest
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Stage IV: Cancer has spread farther away to other organs such as the other lung, bones, liver, or brain.
In general, the earlier lung cancer is detected, the more favorable the prognosis, and the easier the treatment route tends to be – and that is precisely why screening and early diagnosis of symptoms is so important for this form of cancer.
Lung Cancer Treatment Options
Treatment of this cancer depends largely on the type of lung cancer, the stage, and the genetics of the tumor. The treatment usually involves one or several of the following methods:
Surgery: In cases of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer that has not yet metastasized, surgery to remove the tumor is quite effective, in some cases even curative.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is a treatment that involves using concentrated high energy rays to kill cancer cells. This can be applied as an alternative to surgery to people who cannot undergo surgery, or as a supplementary treatment alongside surgery and others.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy treatment relies on the use of medication that moves into the blood to kill cancer cells. This form of treatment has mostly been used in advanced cases of lung cancer, or in conjunction with other forms of treatment.
Targeted Therapy: The most significant breakthrough in lung cancer treatment has been targeted therapy treatment. This is because it involves medications designed to target cancer cells with certain genetic mutations such as those associated with EGFR, ALK, or KRAS genes. Mutations in these genes are more prevalent in lung cancer among non-smokers. The advantage of targeted therapy compared to conventional chemotherapy is that it is less likely to cause severe side effects.
Immunotherapy: This treatment helps the body to detect and eliminate cancer cells more efficiently. It has been made a standard form of treatment among lung cancer patients, especially with advanced cases.
Read: Cancer Treatment Cost in India
Living With Lung Cancer
Being diagnosed with lung cancer, especially in a more advanced stage, can be an overwhelming experience – however, treatments for lung cancer have greatly changed over the past decade. In addition to other methods of treatment, patients may need to undergo:
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Pulmonary rehabilitation – involving exercises to practice breathing and physical therapy
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Palliative care – aimed at symptom management and improving patients' quality of life, this approach can be used in combination with active treatment, not only during the last stage of the disease
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Counseling – a lung cancer diagnosis can bring a lot of mental stress, and counseling or participation in support groups might help
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Periodic follow-up scans – to monitor the presence of the disease after treatment
Stigma of Lung Cancer
There is a unique stigma associated with lung cancer as it is strongly related to smoking – some people diagnosed with it say that they feel blamed or judged, regardless of their smoking history (some people who never smoked have also been diagnosed with lung cancer). That stigma might be a factor that prevents patients from going for a medical examination when noticing any symptoms of the disease. And here is something important: nobody deserves cancer, whether they smoke or not.
Conclusion
Lung cancer is prevalent and deadly, but it is not the same as lung cancer of generations past. Cigarette smoking continues to be the major cause, but there are a significant number of lung cancer diagnoses among those individuals who did not smoke due to a wide range of risk factors including exposure to radon or genetics. Early detection via screenings for those individuals at risk or diagnosis of persistent coughing is the way to go, and developments in treatments such as targeted therapies or immunotherapies have truly transformed the disease. If you have a cough or difficulty breathing which has persisted for several weeks, you should see your doctor.