Lung Cancer

Question 1

risk factors in lung cancer

Answer 1

smoking
asbestos
nickel
radiation
pollution
genetics

Question 2

local effects to the body of lung cancer (3)

Answer 2

obstruction of airway
invasion of chest wall (pain)
ulceration causing haemoptysis

Question 3

areas of body where LC metastasises (5)

Answer 3

brain
skin
bones
adrenal 
liver

Question 4

4 types of lung tumours

Answer 4

adenocarinoma
squamous carcinoma
small cell carcinoma
large cell carcinoma

Question 5

methods of diagnosing lung cancer

Answer 5

bronchoscopy/biopsy
needle aspiration of metastases
CT/PET scan

Question 6

which lung cancer has the worst prognosis

Answer 6

small cell (90% dead after one year)

Question 7

chemotherapy is most effective for which type of LC?

Answer 7

small cell lung cancer

Question 8

what is the curative treatment option for NSCLC?

Answer 8

Surgery

Question 9

what is the palliative treatment for NSCLC?

Answer 9

radiotherapy or other palliative techniques

Question 10

what are the main symptoms of LC? (8)

Answer 10

cough for over 3 weeks
haemoptysis
chest and shoulder pain 
breathlessness at rest 
unexpected weight loss 
recurrent chest infections 
tiredness
hoarse voice

Question 11

what is haemoptysis caused by?

Answer 11

the tumours vascular supply spreading - ulcerating through the surface of the tumour

Question 12

definition of stridor?

Answer 12

difficulty breathing in and out causing a loud noise greater than a wheeze.
due to tumour obstructing the vocal cords and tightening the neck.

Question 13

what is affected if a bronchial carcinoma invades the recurrent laryngeal nerve?

Answer 13

voice affected - creates hoarse voice

Question 14

what is dysphagia?

Answer 14

difficulty swallowing, as a result of local tumour invasion of oesophagus.

Question 15

what symptoms present in brachial plexus invasion?

Answer 15

wasting away of small muscles in the hand and weakness in muscles.

Question 16

in lung cancer, the volume of the affected lung increases/decreases?

Answer 16

decreases

due to tumour taking over lung volume and materials

Question 17

what is a pleural effusion and what are the symptoms of it?

Answer 17

fluid within the pleural space. presenting symptom is breathlessness

Question 18

what structure is invaded when the head and neck has poor drainage of blood and the abdomen veins are visible?

Answer 18

local invasion of superior vena cava

Question 19

when is radical radiotherapy given as a treatment

Answer 19

patients with early stage NSCLC but with comorbidities for surgery

Question 20

ACTH and ADH are secreted from which lung cancer

Answer 20

small cell

Question 21

parathyroid hormone is secreted from which lung cancer

Answer 21

squamous cells

Question 22

which cancers are located at the periphery of the lungs

Answer 22

adenocarcinoma and large cell cancer

Question 23

which lung cancers are located at the centre of the lungs

Answer 23

small cell lung cancer and squamous cell

Question 24

which lung cancer is located at the apex of the lung and how does it present

Answer 24

pancoast tumour - horners syndrome and neurological symptoms

Question 25

which part of the lung does mesothelioma affect

Answer 25

pleura

Question 26

how long after asbestos exposure does it take for mesothelioma to present

Answer 26

30 years