What is it?
The lungs are a pair of organs that give oxygen to the body and expel carbon dioxide, a waste product produced by the body’s cells. The bronchi, meanwhile, are tubes through which inspired air reaches from the mouth to the lungs are divided into other smaller and smaller tubes, called bronchioles, until they form alveoli which is where exchange occurs of venous blood gases. Lung cancer is caused by overgrowth of malignant cells in this body, and if not diagnosed early may be shifted to other body organs.
Most forms of lung cancer in the cells of the lungs, but cancer can also spread (metastasize) to the lung from other parts of the body. Lung cancer is the most common, either in men or women, and most importantly, is the most common cause of cancer deaths in both men and women.
Causes
* Snuff. It is the main cause. Snuff smoke, with its high concentration of carcinogens, goes straight into the air and is inhaled by smokers as nonsmokers. Quitting smoking also significantly reduces the risk of other diseases related to snuff, such as heart disease, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
* Effects of radon. Radon is a radioactive gas found in rocks and soil of the earth, formed by the natural decay of radium. Being invisible and odorless, the only way to determine if one is exposed to the gas is to measure their levels. In addition, exposure to radon combined with smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer. Therefore, for smokers, exposure to radon is an even greater risk.
* Exposure to carcinogens. Asbestos is perhaps the best known industrial substance associated with lung cancer, but there are many others: uranium, arsenic, certain petroleum products, etc..
* Willingness genética.Se know that cancer can be caused by mutations (changes) of DNA which activate oncogenes or inactivate the tumor suppressor genes. Some people inherit DNA mutations from their parents, which greatly increases the risk of developing cancer.
* Agents that cause cancer in people at risk trabajo.Entre are miners who inhaled radioactive minerals such as uranium, and workers exposed to chemicals such as arsenic, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, products from coal, mustard gas and chloromethyl ethers.
* Marijuana. The marijuana cigarettes contain more tar than the snuff. Similarly, the smoke is inhaled deeply and held in the lungs for long. In addition, smoked marijuana cigarettes until the end where tar content is higher.
* Inflammation recurrente.La tuberculosis and some types of pneumonia often leave scars on the lung. This scarring increases the risk that the person develops lung cancer called adenocarcinoma.
* Powder talco.Algunos studies conducted in talc miners and millers suggest that they have a higher risk of developing the disease due to exposure to the same industrial grade talc. This dust, in its natural form may contain asbestos.
* Other types of exposure to mineralesLas people with silicosis and berylliosis (lung disease caused by breathing in certain minerals) also are at increased risk for lung cancer.
* Excess or deficiency of vitamin A. People who do not receive enough vitamin A are at increased risk for lung cancer. Moreover, taking too much vitamin A may also increase the risk of developing lung cancer.
* Pollution aire.En some cities, air pollution may slightly increase the risk of lung cancer. This risk is much lower than that caused by smoking.
Symptoms
People who suffer
* People over fifty years of age who have smoked cigarettes for many years.
* The incidence of lung cancer among women in general has increased, which can be clearly attributed to the increasing number of women smokers.
Symptoms
* Cough or chest pain that does not clear and may be accompanied by expectoration.
* A whistle in breathing, shortness of breath.
* Coughing or spitting up blood.
* Hoarseness or swelling of the face and neck.
* Design or feeling of shortness of breath
Prevention
The main way to prevent lung cancer is to quit smoking or avoid smoke snuff, in the case of non-smokers. It is also important to avoid potential carcinogens that may be in the normal environment (work and home).
Types
According to the appearance of the cells to be examined under a microscope, lung cancers can be divided into two types:
* Lung cancer, non-small cell. It is associated with having smoked before, having lived with a smoker or smokers or being exposed to radon. The main types of lung cancer non-small cell are named depending on the type of cells found in cancer: squamous cell carcinoma (also called squamous cell carcinoma), adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma.
* Lung cancer, small cell. It is found in people who smoke or used to smoke cigarettes.
Diagnostics
Because lung cancer symptoms often do not manifest until the disease is advanced, only 15 percent of cases are detected in its early stages. Many lung cancer cases are diagnosed in early stage by accident, which means that are detected as a result of medical tests carried out due to other unrelated health problem.
A biopsy of lung tissue serves to confirm or refute a possible diagnosis of cancer as well as provide valuable information to determine the appropriate treatment. If it is eventually detected lung cancer, additional tests will be conducted to determine how far the disease has spread, including:
# History clínicoy physical examination: The medical history is recorded risk factors and symptoms the patient presents. The physical examination provides information about signs of lung cancer and other health problems.
# Radiological studies: These studies use X-rays, magnetic fields, sound waves or radioactive substances to create images inside the body. They are frequently used imaging studies to detect lung cancer and determine the body part where you have spread. It performs a chest x-ray to see if there is any mass or spot on the lungs.
# Computed tomography (CT): It gives more precise information about the size, shape and position of a tumor and can help detect enlarged lymph nodes that may contain a cancer from the lung. The computed tomography is more sensitive than routine chest radiographs for detecting early-stage cancers.
# Tests magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses powerful magnets and radio waves to make modern computers detailed cross-sectional images. These images are similar to those produced with computed tomography, but are even more accurate in detecting lung cancer spread to the brain or spinal cord.
# The positron emission tomography (PET): Use a sensitive tracer of low dose that accumulates in cancerous tissues. Bone scans require the injection of a small amount of radioactive substance into a vein. This substance accumulates in abnormal areas of bone that may result from the spread of cancer.
# Sputum cytology: is examined under the microscope a sample of phlegm to see if it contains cancer cells. * Needle biopsy: A needle is inserted into the mass while the lungs are displayed on a computer tomograph. After removing a sample of the mass and observed through a microscope to see if it contains cancer cells.
# Bronchoscopy: We introduce a flexible lighted tube through the mouth into the bronchi. This procedure can help find tumors located centrally or obstructions in the lungs. Can also be used to take biopsies or remove fluids to be examined with a microscope to see if they contain cancer cells.
# Mediastinoscopy: A small cut is made in the neck and a lighted tube is inserted behind the sternum. They used special instruments that are managed through this tube to take a sample of tissue from the mediastinal lymph nodes (along the windpipe and the main areas of bronchial tubes). The observation of the samples under a microscope can show if cancer cells.
# Bone marrow biopsy: A needle is used to remove a cylindrical core of bone of approximately 1.5 millimeters wide and 2.5 inches long. Usually, the sample is taken from the back of the hip bone and studied under a microscope to see if cancer cells.
# Blood tests: It is often carried out some blood tests to help detect if lung cancer has spread to the liver or bones, as well as to diagnose certain paraneoplastic syndromes.
Treatments
The prognosis and treatment options depend on the extent to which stage the cancer, tumor size or type of lung cancer.
The surgery involves removing the tumor and some tissue from the surrounding area and is often used in the early stages of the disease
* Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
* Radiation therapy using high energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink the tumor.
Other information
The doctor needs to know the stage of the cancer to plan treatment.
The classification of lung cancer non-small cell goes through the following stages:
* Step hidden. Cancer cells are found in sputum, but you can not find any tumor in the lung.
* Stage 0. The cancer is localized in one area, in some cell layers only, and no growth through the lining of the lung. Another term for this type of lung cancer is “carcinoma in situ.
* Stage I. Cancer is found only in the lung and surrounded by normal tissue. * Stage II Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
* Stage III. The cancer has spread to the chest wall or diaphragm near the lung, or the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the area separating the two lungs (mediastinum) or lymph nodes across the chest, or neck.
* Stage IV. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
* Recurrent cancer has returned after being treated.
In the classification of lung cancer small cell discusses the stages that follow:
* Limited Stage Cancer is found only in one lung and nearby lymph nodes.
* Extensive Stage Cancer has spread outside the lung where it began to other tissues of the chest or other body parts.
* Step appellant. The disease has reappeared after being treated, whether in the lungs or other body part.
* Step appellant. The disease has reappeared after being treated, whether in the lungs or other body part
