07.2 Lung Cancer

Question 1

What symptoms can a primary lung tumour cause?

Answer 1

Cough
Dyspnoea
Haemoptysis
Chest pain
Weight loss

Question 2

What symptoms can regional metastases cause?

Answer 2

SVC obstruction
Left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy - hoarseness of voice
Dyspnoea due to phrenic nerve palsy
Dysphagia

Question 3

What can distant metastases symptoms be?

Answer 3

Bone pain/fractures
Headache
Confusion

Question 4

What is paraneoplastic syndrome?

Answer 4

Presence of a symptom due the presence of cancer elsewhere in the body.

With lung cancer, hypercalcaemia and ADH caused water retention can occur.

Question 5

How is lung cancer staged?

Answer 5

CT
PET (for distant mets)
Isotope bone scan

Question 6

What is the difference between T1,2,3 and 4 in the TNM staging of lung cancer?

Answer 6

T1 - Tumour in lung - 7cm

T4 - Cancer has invaded the mediastinum

Question 7

What is the difference between N0,1,2 and 3 in TNM staging in lung cancer?

Answer 7

N0 - no cancer in lymph nodes
N1 - cancer nodes nearest the lung
N2 - nodes in mediastinum, same side
N3 - nodes on the opposite side of the mediastinum and/or supraclavicular nodes

Question 8

What type of lung cancer is sometimes operable?

Answer 8

Non small cell

Question 9

How is small cell lung cancer treated?

Answer 9

Combination therapy

Palliative chemo

Question 10

What biological therapy can be used to treat non small cell lung cancers?

Answer 10

EGFR

VEGF

Question 11

What are causes of lung cancer?

Answer 11

Smoking
Asbestos
Radon
Genetic
Dietary factors