Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the lungs. The lungs are two spongy organs in the chest that take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. The air we breathe enters the lungs and passes through tiny air sacs called alveoli. The alveoli are surrounded by a network of small blood vessels called capillaries.

Lung cancer starts when abnormal cells begin to grow out of control in the lungs. These abnormal cells can form tumors, which can interfere with the normal functioning of the lungs.

There are two main types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

SCLC is the less common of the two types, accounting for about 15 percent of all lung cancer cases. It is more likely to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body than NSCLC, most often the brain. This cancer is strongly associated with cigarette smoking (95% of cases). This cancer often presents when the cancer is advanced (⅔ of cases) with 10-15% of patients presenting to their doctor with disease in the brain. After two years, the incidence of disease in the brain is 50-80%. It is very important that patients with this type of cancer have an MRI of the brain as part of the staging process.

NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85 percent of all cases. There are three subtypes of NSCLC:

– Adenocarcinoma

– Squamous cell carcinoma

– Large cell carcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of NSCLC, accounting for about 40 percent of all cases. It arises from the epithelial cells that line the alveoli.

Squamous cell carcinoma arises from the squamous cells that line the air passages of the lungs. It accounts for about 30 percent of all NSCLC cases.

Large cell carcinoma is the least common type of NSCLC, accounting for about 10 percent of all cases. It can arise from any type of lung cell.

The symptoms of lung cancer depend on the size and location of the tumor. Small tumors may not cause any symptoms. If a tumor is large enough to interfere with the normal functioning of the lungs, it may cause shortness of breath, persistent coughing (with or without blood often called ‘rusty colored sputum’ or spit), or chest pain when you breathe in. Lung cancer may also cause other symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss.

If you have symptoms that suggest you may have lung cancer, your doctor will order some tests to confirm the diagnosis. These tests may include a chest x-ray, a computed tomography (CT) scan, and likely a biopsy.

Once lung cancer has been diagnosed, your doctor will order additional tests to determine the stage of the cancer. The stage is a measure of how far the cancer has spread. This is typically a PET/CT (which examines the entire body) and an MRI of the brain.

Stage I: The cancer is confined to the lungs and has not spread to other parts of the body.

Stage II: The cancer has remained in the lung, but it can involve other areas like the airways, the lining of the lung, or can collapse part of the lung.

Stage III: The cancer has remained in the lungs, but can involve lymph nodes, the chest wall, certain nerves, the heart, or have a second tumor deposit.

Stage IV: The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain or liver. When the cancer has spread to multiple organs or tissues , it is very difficult to treat but there are still options. Usually genetic testing is critical to determine if there are specific drugs that may benefit you.

The treatment for lung cancer depends on the stage of the cancer, the type of cancer, your age and overall health, and your preferences.

If you have lung cancer, your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan that is right for you.

The side effects of lung cancer treatment depend on the type of treatment you receive. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy can all cause side effects.

Side effects of surgery may include pain, infection, and bleeding. Side effects of radiation therapy may include fatigue, skin irritation, and difficulty swallowing.

Side effects of chemotherapy may include nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.

Targeted therapy and immunotherapy can also cause side effects. The most common side effects of targeted therapy are fatigue, diarrhea, and skin rash. The most common side effects of immunotherapy are fatigue, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms.Pneumonitis can occur with immunotherapy, which is a sterile (eg. not bacterial or viral) inflammation of the lung.

If you experience any side effects from your treatment, be sure to talk to your doctor. There are often ways to manage or reduce side effects.

Side effects of radiation depend on where you are pointing the radiation. They can include fatigue, chest hair loss, skin itching / redness (light), difficulty swallowing, cough, and later a condition called radiation pneumonitis which is a sterile (non-bacterial or viral) inflammation of the lung.

Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high-dose x-rays or other forms of energy to kill cancer cells. It can be used in ALL STAGES and ALL TYPES of lung cancer.

Radiation therapy in this setting is given externally, which means the radiation comes from a machine outside of the body..

Radiation therapy can be used to ablate/destroy visible tumors, to kill remaining microscopic (not visible to the naked eye or on a CT scan) cancer cells that remain after surgery, or to relieve symptoms caused by the cancer.

The prognosis for someone with lung cancer depends on the stage of the cancer, the type of cancer, and the person’s age and overall health.

These are statistics that are taken from clinical trials. Individual cases will vary based on age, performance status, genetic testing, and tolerance to therapy.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a very serious disease and it is important to get early diagnosis and treatment. If you have any symptoms suggestive of lung cancer, it is important to see your doctor right away.

There are several risk factors for lung cancer, including:

Lung cancer can be a frightening diagnosis, but with the help of our experienced team of doctors and nurses, you can feel confident that you’re getting the best possible treatment. We believe that each patient is unique and deserves their own specific care plan, so we will work with you to find the best option for your situation.

Whether it’s surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or a combination of treatments, we will create a plan that gives you the best chance for a full recovery. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call us.

We are here to help you through this difficult time.