Overview
Lung cancer occurs when the cells of the lungs start to divide uncontrollably due to external or internal factors. In India, lung cancer accounts for about 5.9% of all cancer cases. The age-adjusted cases of lung cancer have increased in the last five years in India. Most of the cases in India are associated with tobacco chewing and smoking. For the best lung cancer treatment in Nashik, one can visit HCG Manavata Cancer Center, which houses advanced treatment facilities and a large pool of cancer specialists.
Types of Lung Cancer
- Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: This is a common type of lung cancer. It consists of about 80 to 85 percent of the total cases of lung cancer.
- Small Cell Lung Cancer: This type of lung cancer is more aggressive than non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is more difficult to manage than non-small lung cancer.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Symptoms of lung cancer are:
- The cough may worsen with time
- Presence of blood in cough
- Loss of appetite
- Hoarseness in voice
- Wheezing
- Weight loss
- Headache
- Bone pain
- Dysphagia (trouble in swallowing)
Causes of Lung Cancer
The most common cause of lung cancer is smoking. However, not every person who has lung cancer is a smoker. It can occur to any person. Following are the factors that increase the chances of developing lung cancer:
- Passive smoking
- Genetic changes in the body of the person (either inherited or acquired)
- Air pollution
- Family history of lung cancer
- HIV infection
- Diagnostic imaging tests
Diagnosis of Lung Cancer
- Imaging Tests: Imaging tests are performed to check the presence of cancer in the lung and alveoli. It also detects if the tumor has spread to other organs.
- Needle Biopsy: In this method, a small needle is used to withdraw a sample of the tissue from the affected part of the lung. This method is done because it does not include any kind of incision.
- Fine Needle Aspiration: A small sample is aspired from the tumor and checked for the presence of the cancerous cells.
- Core Biopsy: In this method, the syringe used is larger than the needle used in fine-needle aspiration.
- Sputum Cytology: If you are having a cough and secreting sputum, studying the sputum may help detect any cancer-producing agents.
Diagnosis of lung cancer should be made by top lung cancer doctors in Nashik to avoid any misdiagnosis.
Treatment for Lung Cancer
HCG Manavata Cancer Center is one of the best lung cancer treatment hospitals in Nashik. We have multiple treatment options available for lung cancer:
Surgery
- Wedge resection: In this surgery, the affected tissues of the lungs are removed along with some of the healthy tissues. Healthy tissues are removed to restrict the spread of the tumors.
- Segmental resection: In this surgery, a segment of the lungs is removed. However, the lobes are not removed. A larger portion, as compared to wedge resection, is removed.
- Lobectomy: It is the procedure of removal of a lobe of the lung. It is done when cancer has been spread to the lobe and cannot be treated by medicines.
- Pneumonectomy: Pneumonectomy is done when the tumor in the lung has spread to the extent where it cannot be controlled using medicines or other ways. During this surgery, the surgeon removes the affected lung.
Chemotherapy: In chemotherapy, the doctors use a combination of anti-cancer medicines. In most cases, a combination of drugs is used to treat lung cancer.
Radiation therapy: In radiation therapy, high-energy beams, such as x-rays, are used. These beams are focused on the tumors by a machine that moves around the body of the patient. It is used in combination with chemotherapy to treat lung cancer and when cancer has spread to other body parts.
Immune therapy: It is an approach of treatment that uses the immune system of the body to fight against lung cancer. Some immune modulator drugs are used to strengthen the immune system of the body. It is done because the cancer cells in the lungs produce a protein that helps them hide from the immune cells.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can lung cancer be treated by itself?
It is a rare case when cancer goes on its own. However, in most cases, treatment is required to treat it. It is because the cancer cells do not behave like normal cells and continue to grow.
2. What are the other medical conditions that have similar symptoms to lung cancer?
Many of the symptoms of lung cancer can also be noticed in other medical conditions, especially the early signs and symptoms like shortness of breath and coughing blood. Some of the diseases with symptoms similar to that of lung cancer are:
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Acid reflux
- Lymphoma
- Pulmonary edema
3. How can I prevent lung cancer?
Quitting smoking is a method to prevent lung cancer from occurring. However, even- after quitting smoking, your risk is not fully minimized. Having a history of smoking makes you a high-risk individual for lung cancer, and therefore you should opt for regular screening for lung cancer.
4. What are the different stages of lung cancer?
- Stage 1: It is the initial stage of cancer when the cancer is localized in the lungs.
- Stage 2: This is the stage in which the lymph nodes spread and have grown to the lymph nodes near the lungs and other areas of the lungs.
- Stage 3: At this stage, cancer has spread to lymph nodes and the middle portion of the chest.
- Stage 4: It is an advanced stage of cancer when cancer has spread to other organs like the brain and bones.
5. What are the long-term complications of lung cancer treatment?
The long-term complications of lung cancer treatment are:
- Lung Damage: The problems associated with the lungs like loss of function of lungs, inflammation, and difficulty in breathing may occur.
- Cardiotoxicity: Cardiotoxicity or damage to heart muscles in any other form may be caused.
- Chronic Swelling: This condition is caused when the lymph nodes are needed to be removed due to the spread of cancer, resulting in an accumulation of lymphatic fluid. It causes swelling and pain.
