Lung Cancer

Question 1

Lung cancer

Answer 1

The uncontrolled proliferation of cells starts packing up the airway, narrowing the airway. The immune system also attacks the cancerous lung cells causing inflammation -> fluid build up in space -> pressure. Lung cells produces enzymes that breaks tissue around cells to invade into the space.
Causes of mutation - smoking, radon, medical imaging

Question 2

Lung cancer diagnosis

Answer 2

CXR, CT, PET (shows if cells are using a lot of glucose, will appear very bright in CT scan ), Bronchoscopy, lung biopsy, sputum sample testing.

Question 3

Lung cancer types

Answer 3

Small cell lung cancer - immature cells cancer, usually occurs in female, rapidly spreads and divides.
Non small cell lung cancer - mature cells cancer, more common. Various types - Adenocarcinoma (mucin glands cancer, common in female ), Squamous cell carcinoma (Keratin containing and Desmosome forming cells, common in male), large cell carcinoma (regular cells), Carcinoid cancer (Hormone producing cells cancer, happens in both male and female )

Question 4

Lung cancer complication

Answer 4

Nerves can get compressed by Lung mass (voice box, Diaphragm), blood vessels can get compressed (superior vena cava), cancer can spread to other parts of body, most common site - liver, adrenal glands, bones, pleural space. Constant immune response - inflammation

Question 5

Lung cancer Metastasis

Answer 5

Lung cancer cells spread through vasculature and lymphatic system. The lymph nodes in central chest become secondary site for cancer, the cells travel through blood vessels to get into the lymph nodes and then from there spread to other parts of body

Question 6

Lung cancer staging

Answer 6

Location where cancer cells are located - staging
Tumor size - 1-4 (very spreader in lungs and may be out in body)
Lymph node - 0-3 in lymph nodes (no cancer cells are present )
Metastasis - 0-1
TNM staging is used in Non small cell lung cancer due to slower progression. In small cell lung cancer - limited vs extensive

Question 7

Lung cancer treatment

Answer 7

Depends upon - stage and type
Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy
Surgery - if tumors is localized (in on location), the cells and near by normal cells are taken out - wedge resection, if the cancer has spread to other areas of lungs - whole segment will be taken out - segmental resection, if cancer has spread throughout lobe-whole lobe is taken out, if spreader in whole lung - Pneumoectomy.
Radiotherapy - used if cancer is advanced and dreaded a lot, small cell lung cancer is more responsive. Chemotherapy - systemic therapy, goes through vasculature, done in metastasis , affects the division of all cells in body leading to symptoms.