Lung Cancer

Question 1

what percentages of lung cancer is small cell

Answer 1

20%

Question 2

what percentage of lung cancers are non-small cell

Answer 2

80%

Question 3

what is lung cancer

Answer 3

primary malignant neoplasm of the lung

Question 4

causing/ risk factors of lung cancer

Answer 4

smoking,

asbestos exposure,

occupational exposure (polycyclic hydrocarbons, nickel and radon)

atmospheric pollution

COPD

Question 5

epidemiology of lung cancer

Answer 5

fatal cancer,

more common in males (3x)

Question 6

presenting symptoms (primary lung cancer)

Answer 6

cough,

dyspnoea

haemoptysis,

chest pain,

recurrent pneumonia

Question 7

presenting symptoms (local invasion)

Answer 7

brachial plexus invasion (shoulder/arm pain)

left recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion (hoarse voice)

dysphagia,

arrhythmias

horners syndrome

Question 8

presenting symptoms (metastatic disease)

Answer 8

weight loss, fatigue, bone pain, fractures

Question 9

signs of lung cancer on physical examination

Answer 9

Fixed monophonic wheeze (suggesting that there is a single obstruction)

Signs of lobar collapse or pleural effusion

Signs of metastases (e.g. supraclavicular lymphadenopathy or hepatomegaly)

Question 10

investigations for lung cancer

Answer 10

CXR, bronchoscopy, biopsies of lymph nodes, biopsy, staging requires CT/MRI of chest, head and abdomen

sputum cytology (from cough)

bloods (high calcium, ALP raised with bony metastases)

pulmonary function tests

Question 11

treatment

Answer 11

Treatment modalities include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, as well as molecular-targeted therapy for specific genotypes and immunotherapy.

Question 12

prognosis

Answer 12

poor

The 5-year survival rate for all people with all types of lung cancer is 21%