Lung Cancer Flashcards
What is the leading cause of death in men and women
Lung cancer
*13% of new cancer diagnosis
*24% of all cancer deaths
Lung cancer has more deaths than (), (), and () combined
Colorectal, breast, and prostate combined
What demographic of people have a higher rate of mortality
African Americans
When would be unusual to be diagnosed with lung cancer
Under 40 years old
What is the most common preventable cause of lung cancer death
Tobacco
*carcinogens in tobacco smoke will effect oncogenes
What are the risk factors for lung cancer
- Tobacco cigarette smoking
*80 to 90% of all lung cancer
*over 40 carcinogens in cigarette smoke - Environmental tobacco smoke
*passive smoking
*secondhand smoke
What risk strongly correlates with lung cancer
- Number of cigarettes smoked per day
- Lifetime duration of smoking
- Age at onset of smoking
- Degree of inhalation
- Tar and nicotine content of cigarettes
What does smoking lead to
- Chronic inflammation and destruction of lung tissue and higher incidence of COPD
*COPD patients 4x increased risk to develop lung cancer
What are other risk factors of lung cancer besides smoking
- High consumption of dietary fat
- Exposure
*radon
*asbestos
*arsenic - Disease states
*COPD
*sarcoidosis - Genetics
What decreases the risk of lung cancer
- Increased fruits green and yellow vegetables
- High blood concentration of selenium
What are some selenium foods
- Brazil nuts
- Yellowfin tuna
- Halibut
- Sardines
- Turnkey
- Beef liver
- Chicken
- Egg/
- Spinach
What is the screening protocol for lung cancer
Adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years
*B
What are the signs and symptoms of lung cancer
Nonspecific constitutional signs and symptoms
1. Weight loss (Anorexia)
2. Fatigue
3. Anemia
4. Fever
5. Asthenia
6. New or change in cough, hemoptysis
*asymptomatic (15%)
*most patients have >3 symptoms
What is intrathoracic lung cancer
Regional tumor spreading to lymph nodes and adjacent structures
What is extrathoracic lung cancer
Distant spread of disease
What may be the first or most prominent manifestation of lung cancer
Paraneoplastic syndromes
What are paraneoplastic syndromes
Disorder triggered by an altered immune system response to a neoplasm
1. Tumor secretes substances with biologic activity in another organ or system
2. Collection of symptoms result from substances produced by the tumor
What will be on the PE for lung cancer
- Diminished breath sounds
- Unilateral wheezing
- Stridor
- Neck vein distention
- SVC syndrome
- Horner’s syndrome
What is Horner syndrome
- Miosis
- Ptosis
- Anhidrosis (decreased sweating on the affected side of the face)
What is superior vena cava syndrome
A collection of clinical signs and symptoms resulting from either partial or complete obstruction of blood flow through the SVC
*tumor compressing the veins
What is needed to secure the diagnosis of lung cancer
Cytologies or histologic biopsy
What will be shown on the CXR
- Atelectasis
- Pneumonia
- Effusion
- Nodule
What will be shown on the CT scan
Indicated for any suspicious nodule
1. Characteristics of the lesion
2. Lymphadenopathy
3. Multiple lesions
4. Location to biopsy
*not definitive staging
What are different ways to biopsy the lung tumor
- Thoracentesis
- Flexible bronchoscopy
- Fine needle biopsy
- FNA TTNA
- Thorascopy
- Open biopsy
