The lungs are a pair of respiratory organs with cone located in the chest. The lungs incorporate oxygen into the body when inhaled and eliminate carbon dioxide, a product of waste from the cells of the body, when you exhale. Each lung has sections called lobes. The left lung has two lobes. The right lung, which is slightly larger, has three lobes. Two tubes called bronchi communicate the trachea with the right and left lungs. Sometimes the bronchi are also affected by lung cancer. The inside of the lungs is composed of a few tiny air sacs called alveoli and small tubes called Bronchioles.
The pleura, a thin membrane, covers the outer surface of each lung, and inside of the chest cavity. This creates a bag which is called pleural cavity. Typically, the pleural cavity contains a small amount of fluid that helps the movement of the lungs within the chest when breathing.
There are two main types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
The types of non-small cell lung cancer.
Each type of non-small cell lung cancer has different kinds of cancer cells. The cancer cells of each type grow and spread in different ways. The types of non-small cell lung cancer are called according to the kinds of cells that are found in the cancer and the appearance of cells under a microscope:Squamous cell carcinoma: cancer that begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that resemble fish scales. Also called epidermoid carcinoma.
Large cell carcinoma: cancer that may result in various types of large cells.
Adenocarcinoma: cancer that begins in the cells that line the alveoli and produce substances such as mucus.
Other less common types of non-small cell lung cancer are Pleomorphic carcinoid tumor, carcinoma of the salivary gland and unclassified carcinoma.
Smoking increases the risk of non-small cell lung cancer.
Smoking cigarettes, pipes or cigars is the most common cause of lung cancer. The earlier a person begins to smoke, how much more often smoke and how many more years a person smokes the greater is the risk of lung cancer. If a person stops smoking, the risk decreases with age.
Anything that increases the likelihood of developing a disease is called a risk factor. Have a risk factor does not mean that it will have that disease; do not have risk factors does not mean that you will not have that disease. Consult your doctor if you think you are at risk.
The risk factors for lung cancer include the following:
Smoking cigarettes, pipes or cigars, at present or in the past.
Be passive exposure to tobacco smoke.
Having a family history of lung cancer.
Treatment of radiation therapy to the breast or chest.
Exposure to asbestos, chromium, nickel, arsenic, soot or tar in the workplace.
Exposure to radon in the home or workplace.
Live where the air is contaminated.
Be infected with the human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus.
Use supplements of beta carotene and being a heavy smoker.
When smoking is combined with other risk factors, increases the risk of lung cancer.
The signs of cell lung cancer not small include shortness of breath, persistent cough.
Sometimes, lung cancer does not cause any signs or symptoms. It can be found in a chest x-ray performed by another condition. Lung cancer or other conditions can cause signs or symptoms.
Check with your doctor if you experience any of the following:
Discomfort or pain in the chest.
A cough that doesn't go away or worsen over time.
Shortness of breath.
Respiratory wheezing.
Blood in the sputum (mucus that is expelled from the lungs).
Hoarseness.
Loss of appetite.
Loss of weight for unknown reason.
Very tired.
Difficulty swallowing.
Swelling of the face or neck veins.
To detect (find), diagnose, and stage non-small cell lung cancer, tests are used to examine the lungs.
In general, tests to detect, diagnose and stage non-small cell lung cancer are conducted at the same time.
Some of the following tests and procedures may be used:
Physical exam and history: examination of the body to check general signs of health, as the control of signs of disease, such as masses or anything else that doesn't look normal. Also the background of the patient's health habits, are recorded even if you smoke, earlier works, diseases and treatments.
Laboratory tests: medical procedures that analyzed samples of tissue, blood, urine or other substances from the body. These tests help to diagnose diseases, plan and monitor treatment, or monitoring the evolution of the disease.
Chest x-ray: lightning X of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of beam of energy that can go through the body and translated into a film, which creates images of the inside of the body.
Scan CT (CT scan): procedure whereby a series of detailed pictures of the inside of the body, such as for example the thorax, is taken from different angles. The images are created by a computer connected to an x-ray machine. Inject a dye into a vein or swallowed to organs or tissues stand out more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computed tomography or CT scan.
Sputum cytology: procedure during which a pathologist noted a sample of sputum (mucus expelled while coughing) under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
Lung (AAF) fine-needle aspiration biopsy: removal of tissue or fluid from the lung, using a fine needle. To locate the tissue or abnormal fluid in the lung, is a CT scan, ultrasound, or another procedure with images. You should be a small cut in the skin where biopsy needle is inserted into the tissue or abnormal fluid. A sample is removed and sent to the laboratory. A pathologist noted the sample under a microscope to check for cancer cells. A chest x-ray is then performed to make sure there is no leakage of air from the lung into the chest.
Bronchoscopy: procedure used to observe the inside of the trachea and the large lung Airways and determine if there are any abnormal areas. It introduces a bronchoscope through the nose or mouth into the trachea and lungs. A bronchoscope is a thin instrument tube with a light and a lens for viewing. You can also have a tool to remove tissue samples and observe them under a microscope to check for signs of cancer.
Thoracoscopy: surgical procedure to see if there are abnormal areas in the internal organs of the chest. An incision (cut) between two ribs is made and is inserted a thoracoscope into the chest. A thoracoscope is a thin instrument tube with a light and a lens for viewing. You can also have a tool to remove tissue or lymph node sampling and observe them under a microscope to check for signs of cancer. In some cases, this procedure can be used to remove part of the esophagus or the lung. If you can be reached to certain tissues or organs, can be a Thoracotomy. In this procedure, becomes a larger cut between the ribs and chest is opened.
Thoracentesis: extraction of the liquid which is located in the space between the lining of the chest and the lung through a needle. A pathologist examines the fluid under a microscope to detect cancer cells.
Optical and electronic microscopy: laboratory test in which there are cells of a sample of tissue with common microscopes and high power to verify if there are certain changes in the cells.
Immunohistochemistry: testing that used antibodies to identify certain antigens in a tissue sample. Usually the antibody is attached to a radioactive substance or a dye that makes that illuminates tissue under a microscope. This type of study is used to determine the difference between different types of cancer...
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following aspects:
The stage of the cancer (the size of the tumor and if it affects the lung only or has spread to other parts of the body).
The type of lung cancer.
If cancer mutations (changes) in certain genes, like the gene Lymphoma kinase (EGFR) or epidermal growth factor receptor gene anaplastic (ALK).
If there are signs or symptoms, such as coughing or difficulty breathing.
The general State of health of the patient.
Current treatments do not cure cancer in the majority of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
If lung cancer is detected, the participation should be considered in one of the numerous clinical trials that are performed to improve the treatment. Clinical trials are performed in most of the country for patients in any of the stages of non-small cell lung cancer. For more information about ongoing clinical trials, see the NCI Web site
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