In this article, we will learn about diagnosis Lung Cancer Its stage and lung cancer treatment in detail.
Tests To Diagnose lung Cancer
If you suspect you have lung cancer, see a doctor who will perform the following tests for you:
- 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 that might not be detected on an X-ray.
- Sputum cell test: If you have a cough and produce sputum, examining sputum under a microscope can sometimes reveal the presence of lung cancer cells.
- Tissue sample (biopsy): A sample of abnormal cells can be removed in a procedure called a biopsy, and your doctor can perform a biopsy in several ways, including
- Bronchoscopy: Your doctor examines abnormal areas of your lungs with a lighted tube passed down your throat and into your lungs.
- Mediastinoscopy: An incision is made at the base of your neck and surgical instruments are inserted behind the breastbone to take tissue samples from the lymph nodes.
- Needle biopsy: Your doctor uses X-ray images or a CT scan to guide a needle through your chest wall into lung tissue to collect suspicious cells.
- Biopsy of lymph nodes or other areas where the cancer has spread, such as Liver
Tests To Determine The Extent Of Lung Cancer
Once diagnosed with lung cancer you have, your doctor will work to determine the stage of the cancer, to determine the most appropriate treatment. Tests may include the following :
- Computerized tomography.
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
- Positron emission computed tomography.
- Bone scan.
Not every test is right for everyone, so talk to your doctor about what procedures are right for you.
Stages Of Lung Cancer
There are four stages of lung cancer, with the lowest stages referring to cancer that is confined to the lung. In stage IV, the cancer is considered advanced and has spread to other areas of the body
Lung cancer Treatment
Your lung cancer treatment plan depends on a number of factors, such as your general health, type and stage cancerTreatment options include the following :
No treatment: If the side effects of treatment outweigh the desired benefits, you may prefer not to treat, then your doctor may suggest comfortable care to treat only symptoms caused by the cancer, such as pain orshortness of breath.
Surgery: During surgery, the surgeon works to remove lung cancer and a portion of healthy tissue. Procedures to remove lung cancer include the following:
Wedge resection to remove a small portion of the lung that contains a tumor along with a portion of healthy tissue .
Partial resection to remove a larger portion of the lung, but not the entire lobe.
Lobectomy to remove the entire lobe of one lung.
Pneumonectomy to remove the entire lung .
When is surgery an option for lung cancer treatment?
Surgery may be an option in the following cases:
If the cancer is confined to the lungs.
If you have larger lung cancer, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy or Radiation therapy Before surgery to shrink the cancer.
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams such as X-rays and protons to kill cancer cells. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you, directing the radiation to specific points on your body.
When is Radiotherapy Used To Treat Lung Cancer?
Radiation therapy may be used in the following cases:
Lung cancer you have advanced lung : Radiation may be used before or after surgery. It is often combined with chemical treatments.
For advanced lung cancers and those that have spread to other areas of the body, radiation therapy may help relieve symptoms, such as pain.
Chemotherapy: is usedChemotherapyMedicines to kill cancer cells can be given either through a vein in your arm or orally. The medications are usually given in a series of treatments over a period of weeks or months, with breaks in between until you can recover.
When Is Chemotherapy Used To Treat Lung Cancer?
Chemotherapy is often used in the following cases:
After surgery: To kill any cancer cells that might remain, it can be used alone or with radiation therapy.
Before surgery: To shrink the cancers and facilitate their removal.
If you have advanced lung cancer: Use chemotherapy to relieve pain and other symptoms.
Radiosurgery: It is an intense radiation treatment that targets multiple beams of radiation from many angles at the cancer. Radiosurgery is usually completed in one or several sessions.
When is Radiosurgery used to treat lung cancer?
Radiosurgery may be an option for lung cancer treatment in the following cases:
If you have small lung cancer and cannot undergo surgery.
Treating lung cancer that spreads to other parts of the body, including the brain.
Targeted lung cancer drug therapy: It focuses on specific abnormalities present within cancer cells. By preventing these abnormalities, targeted drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die.
When Is Targeted Drug Therapy Used To Treat Lung Cancer?
Targeted drug therapy is used to treat lung cancer in the following cases:
If you have advanced or recurrent lung cancer.You have cancer cells that contain certain genetic mutations. Cancer cells may be tested in a laboratory to see if these drugs might help you.
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer. It may not attackimmune systemWhich fights diseases in your body is the cancer you suffer from because the cancer cells make proteins that help them hide from the cells of the immune system. Immunotherapy works by interfering with this process.
When is immunotherapy used to treat lung cancer?
Immunotherapy is used to treat lung cancer in the following cases:
If you have advanced lung cancer.
It is important for early diagnosis of lung cancer as it helps in facilitating and speeding up treatment, and in the event that you have lung cancer – God forbid – there is a wide range of treatments according to your condition and the stage of cancer that you are in.
