Lungs play a vital role in our bodies. These are the only organs that perform the exchange of gases. Oxygen is required for all human beings to live. In our system, lungs help in absorbing the oxygen present in the environment and releasing carbon dioxide. This process is performed with the help of several alveoli.
The entire process of respiration takes place using different parts of the lungs that include the trachea, bronchi, and alveoli. Lung cancer can originate in any of these areas. Cancer cells form in a small region and then spreads to surrounding tissues. Therefore, the affected area needs to be removed to stop the growth of cancer.
General Introduction to Lung Cancer
Cancer is a type of mutation where cells grow rapidly in large quantities and keep spreading in different areas of the body. Such medical conditions can happen due to a variety of reasons. Due to this, cancer is divided into many stages. And with each passing stage, it becomes difficult for doctors to treat any patient.
Causes of Lung Cancer
- Smoking is the primary cause of this disease.
- Family history of cancer.
- Getting exposed to certain gases like radon and asbestos.
- Radiation therapy for some earlier medical problems.
Types of Lung Cancer
There are two types of lung cancer.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
This is not a common type of cancer and is also known as oat cell cancer. It is observed to be faster than other lung cancers and creates difficulty for doctors to operate. Such problems are mostly treated using chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The only issue that happens with most patients is that cancer can grow again after some time.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
A majority of the population suffers from Non-Small Lung Cancer. It is also categorized into various kinds. Some of these varieties are listed below:
Adenocarcinoma: The formation of this lung cancer begins in the outer layer of the lungs. It is slow-spreading cancer that affects a lot of people.
Adenosquamous Carcinoma: It is not as common as other types of non-small cell lung cancer and is also found in the covering layer of the lungs. Smokers are at a higher risk to have adenosquamous carcinoma cancer.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This cancer originates in the squamous cells that are present inside the lungs. Cancer cells can form in the inner lining of the lungs and from there, spread to other regions.
Large Cell Carcinoma: It is difficult to treat such cancer as it grows at a faster rate.
What Are the Symptoms?
- Difficulty in breathing.
- Pain in the chest.
- Coughing blood.
- Sudden weight loss.
- Feeling fatigued all the time.
- Loss of appetite.
- Change in voice.
- Cough staying for a long period.
- Discomfort in the chest area.
Diagnosis
For the diagnosis of any lung cancer, three basic methods are utilized.
Sputum Cytology
The sputum produced while coughing is checked using a microscope. This reveals any presence of cancer cells.
Scans
General imaging tests are conducted on a patient. MRIs, CT, X-rays are some of the common digital scans that are performed by doctors. These techniques create images of the internal area of a body and display them on a digital screen.
Biopsy
A tissue sample is taken from the targeted area that is collected for further testing. Apart from this, some other biopsy tests can also be performed like bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy.
Treatments Available
Depending on the condition of the patient and stage of cancer a surgeon can proceed with a lobectomy, pneumonectomy, segment resection, or wedge resection. All these methods are used to either remove a small section of the lung or the entire lung itself. Additionally, the doctor will go for chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted drug therapy for removing cancer.
Lung Cancer Screening
Screening is the process of finding a medical condition before the symptoms start showing in an individual. In this procedure, several tests are performed. The main focus of such a method is to eliminate the disease at the right time.
If cancer is not treated at an early stage, then it can become a tough task to remove the mutated cells from the system. That is why lung cancer screening is done to help in controlling this disease.
Screening involves several tests. Nowadays, a low-dose computed tomography can show if a person is suffering from this disease or not. Apart from this, blood and fluid tests are also conducted by the doctors.
Finding a Lung Surgeon in Singapore
To cure lung cancer, you can visit a lung surgeon Singapore. The doctor will provide the correct treatment for this problem. Completely cleaning cancer can be a long procedure. However, with proper surgery and medications, the patient can be saved from this disease. In addition to that, you can also go for regular lung cancer screening Singapore to stay protected.
