allaboutlungcancer.net

Lung Cancer Seriously Kills

Image Source: www.topnews.in
Lung cancer kills more men and women than any other cancer does. It occurs most often in people over age 50 who smoked for many years. Lung cancer can develop when the lungs are damaged by repeatedly inhaling smoke (including second hand smoke which is even worst) or other harmful substances including asbestos, radioactive dust, and radon.
Having a combination of risk factors, such as being a smoker who works with asbestos, greatly increases you risks of developing lung cancer. Symptoms of lung cancer are similar to those of other chest and lung problems: chronic cough; shortness of breath; wheezing; hoarseness; repeated lung infections or pneumonia; pain in the chest wass, shoulders, or back; or coughing uppus- filled of bloody sputum. So beware because there may be no symptoms during the early stages. If you smoke, see your physician about any chronic respiratory symptoms and your risks in getting lung cancer.

X-Ray

Chest x ray–a painless test that is noninvasive. Non-invasive means that surgery is not done, and that no instruments are inserted in the body, whicle the procedure is done. It creates pictures of the structures that are found inside your chest, like the heart and lungs.

Chest x-rayis done to look for the cause of symptoms, like shortness of breath, chronic cough–a cough that lasts for a long time), and fever.

X rays–they are electromagnetic waves that use ionizing radiation in creating pictures of the inside of your body.

Mediastinoscopy

Mediastinoscopy–a surgery that lets doctors to view the middle of the chest cavity and to carry out minor surgery through very small incisions. It permits surgeons or pulmonary doctors in removing lymph nodes that are found between the lungs. This will also test them for cancer or infection. The test is also useful for the examination of the outside surface of the large tubes of the airways (like the trachea) or for evaluating masses or tumors the middle of the chest.

Screening of Lung Cancer (Part 2)

Staging

Once your lung cancer has been diagnosed, your doctor will work to determine the extent, or stage, of your cancer. Your cancer’s stage helps your doctor decide what treatment is most appropriate. Staging tests may include imaging procedures that allow your doctor to look for signs that cancer has spread beyond your lungs, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission testing (PET) and bone scans. Not every test is appropriate for every person, so talk with your doctor about which procedures are appropriate for you.

Continue reading ‘Screening of Lung Cancer (Part 2)’

Screening of Lung Cancer (Part 1)

Screening
Doctors aren’t sure whether you should undergo screening for lung cancer. Even if you have an increased risk of lung cancer — for instance, if you’re a smoker — it isn’t clear that a chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan can be beneficial. Some studies show that these tests can find cancer earlier, when it may be treated more successfully. But other studies find that these tests often reveal more benign conditions that require invasive testing and expose people to unnecessary risks.

Screening for lung cancer is controversial among doctors. Studies are ongoing to determine what types of tests may be helpful and who would benefit from lung cancer screening. In the mean time, talk with your doctor if you’re concerned about your risk of lung cancer. Together you can determine strategies to reduce your risk and decide whether screening tests are appropriate for you.

Diagnosis
If there’s reason to think that you may have lung cancer, your doctor can order a number of tests to look for cancerous cells and to rule out other conditions. In order to diagnose lung cancer, your doctor may recommend:

Imaging tests. An X-ray image of your lungs may reveal an abnormal mass or nodule. A CT scan can reveal small lesions in your lungs.

Sputum cytology. If you have a cough and are producing sputum, looking at the sputum under the microscope can sometimes reveal the presence of lung cancer cells. Before the test, you may be asked to breathe a mildly irritating mist to help you produce more sputum.

Tissue samples (biopsy). A sample of abnormal cells may be removed in a procedure called a biopsy in order to diagnose lung cancer. Your doctor can perform a biopsy in a number of ways, including bronchoscopy, in which your doctor examines abnormal areas of your lungs using a lighted tube that is passed down your throat and into your lungs; mediastinoscopy, in which an incision is made at the base of your neck and surgical tools are inserted behind your breastbone to take tissue samples; and needle biopsy, in which your doctor uses X-ray or CT images to guide a needle through your chest and into a suspicious lump or nodule to collect cells. A biopsy sample may also be taken from lymph nodes or other areas where cancer has spread, such as your liver.

Source: mayoclinic.com