Andrew
Dr Natsayi Mujuru
What is lung cancer?
This is cancer that starts in the lungs.
The cancer starts when cells in the lung begin to grow out of control.
Types of lung cancer
There are two main types of lung cancer based on the appearance of the cells seen on samples taken from the lung growths.
Non-small cell lung cancer
This type of cancer constitutes between 80 to 85 percent of lung cancers and arise from any of three main cell types of the lung, namely: adenocarcinoma (from cells that secrete mucus), squamous cell carcinoma (from cells that line the airways), and large cell carcinoma.
Small-cell lung cancer
Accounts for between 10 to 15 percent of all lung cancers and is also known as oat cell cancer.
This cancer grows very quickly but is often responsive to chemotherapy (medication used to kill cancer cells) and radiation therapy (high-energy ray used to kill cancer cells).
Risk factors for lung cancer
- Smokers have the greatest risk although lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked. Risk of cancer increases with the length of time and number of cigarettes one has smoked.
- Second-hand smokers
- Exposure to certain substances such as asbestos, arsenic, silica, radon and chromium
- Family history
- Radiation therapy to the chest
Symptoms of lung cancer
These may be related to the lungs, or due to lung cancer, spread to other parts of the body or general feelings of being unwell and may include:
- Persistent cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling tired all the time
- Unexplained weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Spread of the cancer can present as bone pain, headache, paralysis, fits, jaundice and abdominal pain
Tests for lung cancer
- Chest X-ray picks up abnormal areas in the lung;
- A biopsy (samples of tissue taken from the suspicious areas) is the confirmatory test for lung cancer and also determines the type of cancer which will then guide the treatment plan;
- CT or MRI scans of other parts of the body to determine if the cancer has spread;
- Bone scan may be indicated to diagnose spread to bone; and
- Blood tests to assess overall health of the patient and fitness for cancer treatments
These tests will determine the stage of cancer.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer and includes the following:
- Lifestyle – quit smoking;
- Medications – chemotherapy, targeted therapy (precision medicine which targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, divide and spread) and immunotherapy (treatment that assists your immune system to fight cancer);
- Surgery to remove sections of the lung that have the cancer;
- Radiation therapy; and
- Palliative care team (doctor, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, spiritual counsellors, and others) to relieve pain and other symptoms as well as offer psychosocial support to the patient and his/her family and caregiver(s).
It is important for the health professionals involved in the care of lung cancer patients to discuss treatment options and the chances of curing or controlling the disease as well as possible side effects of the treatments in a language that is understood by the patient, family and caregivers.
This will allow them to make the decision about their treatment that best fits the patient’s needs and goals.
Complementary or alternative medicines such herbs, special diets and vitamins may help the patient feel better but many have not been proven to work.
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