Lung cancer

Question 1

Types of non-small cell lung cancer

Answer 1

Lung adenocarcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma

Large cell carcinoma

Question 2

Risk factors for lung cancer

Answer 2

• passive smoking
• Radon - 2nd leading cause of lung cancer + uranium
• arsenic, chromates, nickel, chloromethyl ethers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, mustard gas
• only using open fires for cooking + heating
• Asbestos
• Occupational carcinogens e.g. arsenic, chromium, nickel, beryllium, silica
• Environmental air pollution

Question 3

Why is surgery not normally used for small cell carcinoma?

Answer 3

Aggressive cancer so needs chemotherapy or radiotherapy

Question 4

Treatment for limited stage sml cell carcinoma

Answer 4

radiotherapy

Question 5

Extensive sml cell carcinoma treatment

Answer 5

palliative chemo and radiotherapy

Question 6

Treatment for early stage non-small cell carcinoma

Answer 6

Surgical resection

Question 7

Treatment for advanced stage non-small cell carcinoma

Answer 7

Palliative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy

Question 8

Symptoms of lung cancer

Answer 8

Pulmonary:

• chest pain
• chronic cough
• worsening SOB
• haemoptysis

Extrapulmonary

• fever
• weight loss
• weakness

Secondary to compression of nearby structures

• SVC syndrome - oedema in head, neck + upper limbs
• Hoarseness
• Elevated hemidiaphragm
• Shoulder + axilla pain -> brachial plexus
• Horner’s syndrome

Question 9

2nd most common cancer

Answer 9

Lung cancer

Question 10

4 subtypes squamous cell carcinoma:

Answer 10

• Keratinizing
• Non-keratinizing
• Basaloid
• Carcinoma in situ

Question 11

Epithelial changes in adenocarcinoma

Answer 11

Pneumocytes lining epithelia begin changing from squamous cells to more cuboidal shaped cells