Lung Cancer Flashcards
What are the three types of lung cancer?
- Small cell
- Non-small cell
- Unknown- patients too ill to undergo full diagnostics
Describe small cell cancer and what treatment is best used against it?
Rapidly progressive and metastasises early
Rarely suitable for surgery asa. result
Responsive to chemotherapy
Describe non-small cell cancer and the best treatment against it?
Includes squamous and adenocarcinomas
Slower to proliferate compared with small cell
Surgery and chemotherapy are the best treatment options
Which cancers have the best chance of survival ?
Non-small cell
In terms of cancer what can a PET scan determine ?
Positron emission tomography
Shows metastasis by highlighting highly metabolically active areas
What are the two main types of lung cancer surgery?
Pneumonectomy- lung removed
Lobectomy- lobe removed
What is a thoracotomy ?
An incision into the chest wall
What is cytotoxic chemotherapy?
Whole body IV treatment that targets rapidly dividing cells
Good for small cell
What are some side effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy?
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tiredness
- Bone marrow suppression- opportunist infection, anemia
- Hair loss
- Pulmonary fibrosis
Describe radiotherapy
Ionising radiation with either a curative or palliative intent is directed at a tumour
Useful for metastases
What is a maximum accumulated dose?
This is the maximum out of radiation that a patient can be exposed to before its can be damaging
This is why it is important to use this dose strategically
How can the exposure to radiotherapy be minimised in surrounding tissues, but maximised at the tumour site?
By using multiple beam angles aimed at the tumour
What is a photodynamic therapy?
A photsensitizer (drug) is taken, when is coincides with light of a certain wavelength it releases reactive oxygen species
Which palliative treatment is commonly used to extend patients’ lives?
Palliative radiotherapy
What can cause lung cancer?
- smoking
- asbestos
- radon gas
