Lung cancer - early symptoms and signs. Lung cancer - the first symptoms and signs in men and women at an early stage. Can there be lung cancer without symptoms?

The first symptoms of lung cancer are nonspecific; they resemble the signs of many ailments that can develop in the respiratory system. This is precisely the reason why patients are in no hurry to seek help from specialists. Lung cancer is the name of a whole group of tumors that are malignant in nature. The area of primary localization of the tumor process is the cells of the bronchi and lung parenchyma. The earliest stages of lung cancer are highly treatable with chemotherapy and surgery. If cancer is detected at later stages, the prognosis is usually poor.

As the disease progresses, cancer cells metastasize throughout the body, which leads to the occurrence of metastases in healthy human organs and tissues.

Diagnosing lung cancer at an early stage is the most important condition for effective treatment.

Symptoms of lung cancer

A patient who has been diagnosed with the disease is concerned about the early symptoms of lung cancer, manifested in the form of:

whistling sound when breathing;
shortness of breath;
dry cough or sputum production.

If a cough occurs with sputum, there may be traces of blood in the sputum. Additionally, as the disease progresses, the following first symptoms of lung cancer may develop:

decreased vitality;
state of apathy;
lethargy of the body;
an increase in temperature for no apparent reason.

When a person experiences an increase in body temperature, difficulties arise in diagnosing the disease, since most often this symptom is perceived as a sign of the development of chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.

The first signs of lung cancer, such as wheezing and persistent cough, most often force the patient to seek help from a specialist at a medical facility. It is worth noting that the appearance of a cough may signal the transition of the disease to a more severe phase of development.

If the first signs of the disease went unnoticed and no treatment was carried out, the patient’s condition worsens significantly over time. If left untreated, the disease begins to progress rapidly, leading to damage to neighboring organs. Damage to organs and systems leads to the appearance of more obvious symptoms. Most often, metastases penetrate into bone tissue, liver, adrenal glands and brain.

With the long-term development of the disease, a person develops the following signs of disease progression:

obstructive jaundice;
disorders of a neuralgic nature;
increased heart rate and cardiac arrhythmia;
pain in the bones;
difficulties in swallowing acts.

The appearance of these signs forces the patient to visit specialists of various profiles.

The appearance of external signs may indicate the progression of the disease. The main external signs of the disease are:

swelling of the upper half of the body;
the appearance of pallor of the skin;
expansion of saphenous veins;
inflammation of the lymph nodes.

Read also: Are injections for colds and flu really necessary?

These signs characterize the development of central cancer; in contrast, peripheral cancer develops almost asymptomatically.

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Diagnosis, stages of development and types of lung cancer

Diagnosing cancer in the early stages of development is associated with certain difficulties, since the data obtained do not always reflect the full picture of the development of the disease.

The early stages of cancer development are most often perceived by patients as ordinary pneumonia.

The main method for detecting cancer today is radiography. In addition to radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography are used to diagnose developing cancer. If necessary, the diagnostic specialist may prescribe an additional examination of the patient’s body using bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy.

Specialists in the field of oncological diseases classify the disease according to differences revealed during histological examination of tumor foci. Experts identify the following types of lung cancer:

squamous cell carcinoma;
small cell;
large cell;
glandular cancer.

The squamous cell type of cancer is characterized by slow progression and the absence of metastases for a long time. The glandular type of cancer has a long development period. However, this type of disease is characterized by the rapid spread of cancer cells throughout the body through the bloodstream. Large cell and small cell types of cancers develop very rapidly. These forms of the disease are characterized by the early appearance of metastases.

Depending on the degree of progression of the disease, experts distinguish 5 stages of cancer development.

The zero stage of the disease is characterized by the formation of clusters of tumor cells. When the first stage is reached, a local tumor formation with a size of up to 3 cm appears. When the cancer reaches the second stage, the tumor does not increase in size, but the presence of damage to the lymph nodes is detected. At the third stage of cancer formation, the tumor enlarges and metastases spread to neighboring organs. The fourth stage is characterized by the development of a tumor of any size and active metastasis to other organs and tissues of the body.

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Causes and risk factors for cancer

The human lungs are the only organ that is in direct contact with the environment. The air entering the lungs reaches the alveoli unchanged. Microparticles that are present in the inhaled air are retained on the walls of the mucous membrane. Due to constant contact with the external environment, the mucous epithelium of the lungs has a high rate of cell renewal.

Read also: Main types of pulmonary tuberculosis

The inhaled air contains various aggressive components that settle on the microvilli of the epithelium.

When the protective properties of epithelial tissue cells decrease, they are exposed to external pathogenic factors, which increases the likelihood of various mutations that provoke the occurrence of neoplasms.

Potential causes of lung cancer may include:

increased rate of epithelial apoptosis;
relative lack of protection of the tissue that makes up the organ.

The likelihood of developing cancer is directly related to age and the presence of genetic prerequisites, as well as the presence of chronic pulmonary diseases in the body.

Most often, oncological foci occur in the lungs in people who have been exposed to physicochemical and biological factors for a long time, and in those who have a hereditary predisposition. The main risk factors are:

carcinogenic substances from tobacco smoke;
natural radon radiation;
age-related changes in the body;
presence of genetic predisposition;
factors related to professional activity;
endogenous factors.

In some patients, the causes of cancer are unclear, and the use of modern examination methods does not allow them to be determined.

The lungs are located in the chest and are the respiratory organ. Air enters through them, providing the body with oxygen necessary for the functioning of all organs and systems of the human body.

Lung cancer is the development of a malignant tumor. It arises from the epithelium of the lung and can metastasize, affecting other internal organs. It usually develops over a long period of time and often manifests itself in the later stages.

Currently, lung cancer is quite common. Moreover, men are more susceptible to this dangerous disease than women. The risk of developing cancer increases by the age of 50-60, when the possibility of developing a malignant tumor increases several times than at a younger age. This disease kills many more people every year than any other type of cancer. Therefore, it is important to know the symptoms of its appearance.

Different types of lung cancer

Lung cancer has two main types, depending on the type of lung cancer: small cell and non-small cell cancer.

Small cell

This type of cancer is considered the most aggressive type of malignant tumor. It is characterized by a latent course, rapid development and metastasis. With this form of lung cancer, the survival prognosis is low - the five-year survival rate is no more than 1%. This type of cancer usually develops in heavy smokers.

Non-small cell

This type of cancer is much more common than small cell cancer and accounts for almost 80% of all types of lung tumors. It develops much more slowly than small cell cancer. It has three types: adenocarcinoma (a malignant tumor formed from mucus cells), squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.

Depending on where the tumor is located, lung cancer is divided into central and peripheral.

Central cancer is located in the area of large bronchi, its manifestations begin earlier, and its development is accompanied by characteristic symptoms.

Peripheral cancer forms in the small bronchi, has a long course, usually asymptomatic. Most often it is detected during a preventive examination - a fluorographic examination.

In general, lung cancer is most often detected during a standard chest examination using an X-ray machine or computed tomography.

Thus, the presence of a tumor is detected in approximately 25% of patients. At that stage, the cancerous tumor is a separate, round, small formation, the size of a small coin. At the time of its discovery, as a rule, there are still no signs of cancer. As the disease progresses, the symptoms of an oncological tumor appear more clearly.

First of all, alarming symptoms appear such as chronic cough, whistling sound when breathing, pain in the chest, and hemoptysis. All this may indicate that the tumor is actively growing, penetrating into the tissue of the lung and surrounding organs.

As the cancer develops, it sometimes damages the nerve endings, causing pain in the shoulder area. Pain sensations spread over the surface of the entire arm, along its outer side. Paralysis of the vocal cords is possible, which often causes. These symptoms, characteristic of lung cancer, are called Pancoast syndrome.

If a malignant tumor penetrates the walls of the esophagus, a swallowing disorder (dysphagia) develops. When there is blockage, blockage, or neoplasm of large airways, an infection develops in this area of the lung, resulting in pneumonia and an abscess.

Symptoms of tumor metastasis:

When metastases develop and penetrate into the bone tissue, severe, excruciating pain appears in the bones.

Metastasis is characterized by neurological symptoms: double vision, blurred vision, a feeling of weakness in the muscles, loss of sensitivity in some areas, headache, convulsions. These sensations may indicate the spread of metastases to the brain.

Other (nonspecific) symptoms:

These include: rapid weight loss for no apparent reason, general weakness, fatigue. These are symptoms characteristic of lung cancer, as well as all other types of cancer.

Doctors have been sounding the alarm for decades. The leading cause of the development of this dangerous disease is tobacco smoking! The risk of developing a cancerous tumor in the lungs depends on the age of the smoker, the amount smoked per day, and the length of smoking. After completely giving up this habit, the likelihood of developing lung cancer gradually decreases.

You need to know that the mortality rate from lung cancer is much higher than from other forms of cancer. The five-year survival rate for patients with stage 1-2 lung cancer is 50%. At a later stage 3, no more than 25% survive.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, there is no need to panic. Modern oncology uses the entire spectrum of treatment: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery. The success of therapy depends on the stage of development of the lung cancer. In this regard, it is very important to periodically undergo an X-ray examination of the chest and lungs and begin treatment on time. Be healthy!

Svetlana, www.site

Lung cancer is the most common tumor worldwide. More than 1 million people die from this disease every year. Lung oncology is characterized by a latent course and rapid spread of metastases. In men, this pathology is diagnosed much more often than in women, approximately seven to eight times. People of different age groups get sick.

The first signs of lung cancer

Let's look at how lung cancer manifests itself. At the beginning of tumor formation, symptoms are subtle or may be completely absent, which is why most people lose a lot of time and the cancer moves to another stage.

Which people are at risk?

Age. People over forty need to be checked annually.
Male gender. Lung cancer most often affects men. Moreover, the difference is very noticeable - 5-8 times depending on the age category of those being compared.
Nationality. African Americans get sick much more often than other nations.
Genetic predisposition. Presence of cancer in blood relatives.
Smoking. The decisive factors in this matter are not only the overall smoking experience, but also the intensity in the number of cigarettes smoked per day. The reason for this may be the deposition of nicotine in the lungs.
Passive smoking. Frequently being near people who smoke or in smoky rooms exceeds the risk factor for the disease by 20%.
Chronic lung diseases. Diseases such as tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, lung destruction, polycystic pulmonary disease.
HIV infection. Cancer is diagnosed twice as often in people living with HIV.
Radiation therapy. People who have undergone radiation exposure are at risk, since the rays affect the cell, changing the functions of the organelles, as a result of which they cannot work fully.

Types

Small cell cancer- the most terrible and aggressively developing tumor and giving metastases even to the small size of the tumor itself. It is rare, usually in smokers.
Squamous cell carcinoma– the most common type of tumor, develops from flat epithelial cells.
Adenocarcinoma– rare, formed from the mucous membrane.
Large cell– affects women more often than men. A peculiarity is the onset of the development of cancer in the subsegmental bronchi and the early formation of metastases in the lymph nodes of the mediastinum; in addition, peripheral damage to the adrenal glands, pleura, bones, and brain occurs.

Stages of cancer

There are only four stages of cancer, each of these stages is characterized by certain symptoms and manifestations. For each stage, individual treatment is selected by an oncologist. It is possible to completely get rid of this pathology only in the early stages.

First stage 1A. The neoplasm should not exceed 3 cm in diameter. This stage occurs without coughing. It is very difficult to detect.
First stage 1B. The size of the tumor can reach up to 5 centimeters in diameter, but the malignant neoplasm does not release tumor markers into the blood, which means it can still be completely removed.

If this disease is detected at this stage, then the prognosis of the disease in 70 cases out of 100 will be favorable. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, recognition at the initial stage is very difficult and almost impossible, since the tumor is very small and there are no obvious symptoms.

It is always worth paying attention to alarming symptoms in both adults and children: the degree of cough and the consistency and smell of sputum; it can be putrid and greenish in color.

Small cell cancer can be a huge danger, spreading metastases throughout the body almost instantly. If you suspect such a cancerous lesion, you should immediately resort to treatment: chemotherapy or surgery.

The SECOND stage of cancer begins when a tumor forms more than five centimeters in diameter. Among the main symptoms are an increased cough with sputum interspersed with blood, fever, rapid breathing, and possible “lack of air.” At this stage, sudden weight loss often occurs.

Stage 2A. The malignant formation has grown 5 centimeters in diameter. The lymph nodes have almost been reached, but are not yet affected.
Stage 2B. The malignant tumor reaches 7 cm, but the neoplasm, as in stage 2A, has not yet spread to the lymph nodes. There may be indigestion. Metastases to the chest cavity are possible.

Survival rate in the second stage: 30 patients out of 100. Correctly chosen treatment can increase life expectancy: up to approximately 4-6 years. For small cell cancer, the prognosis at this stage is even worse: 18 patients out of 100.

THIRD stage of cancer. At this stage, treatment practically does not help.

Stage 3A. The tumor is more than 7 centimeters. It has already reached closely adjacent tissue and the lymph nodes near the lung are affected. Metastases appear, their area of appearance expands noticeably and covers the chest, trachea, blood vessels, even near the heart and can penetrate the thoracic fascia.
Stage 3B. A malignant tumor is more than 7 cm in diameter; it can already affect even the walls of the lung. Rarely, metastases can reach the heart, tracheal vessels, which cause the development of pericarditis.

Symptoms in the third stage are pronounced. Severe cough with blood, severe pain in the chest area, chest pain. At this stage, doctors prescribe cough suppressants. The main treatment is to suppress the growth of cancer cells with chemotherapy, but unfortunately, the treatment is ineffective, the tumor grows and destroys the body. Cancer of the left or right, with these lesions of parts of the lungs, resection of all or part of the lung is performed.

Lung cancer is a disease accompanied by the development of a malignant tumor formation in the lungs. Lung cancer, the symptoms of which may be absent for a long time, most often occurs due to smoking, and its detection, precisely due to absent symptoms, without preventive methods of studying the area in question, often occurs already at serious stages of the process.

general description

Lung cancer in general is a group of types of tumors that develop in the lung. These tumors are formed by the cells lining the lungs or bronchi, they are characterized by their intensive growth and early metastasis, which implies the formation of tumor nodes already at a distance from the lungs (in this case).

Lung cancer in men is almost 10 times more common compared to the incidence of this disease in women, and the increase in incidence is determined in proportion to age. Thus, for the age of 60-70 years, the morbidity figures are 60 times higher than the morbidity figures determined for the 30-40-year-old age.

Remarkably, lung cancer (lung cancer) is one of the most common cancers. As for the transformation that is relevant for the process as a whole, due to which the transformation of ordinary cells into cancer cells occurs, its mechanism is not completely clear at the moment. Meanwhile, a number of studies carried out in this regard have identified a specific group of substances, the action of which has a corresponding effect, against the background of which, in turn, the transformation of normal cells into malignant ones occurs. These substances are defined as carcinogens.

The main cause of cancer development, accordingly, in this case, is the inhalation of carcinogens. As already noted, smoking is the main reason contributing to the development of lung cancer - about 90% of the total number of incidence cases indicates precisely this trend, which, in turn, is based on the inhalation of carcinogens contained directly in tobacco smoke. As for the likelihood of developing cancer, it increases in proportion to the total smoking experience and the number of cigarettes smoked. The greatest danger in this regard is identified for smokers who use unfiltered cigarettes using cheap tobacco.

What is noteworthy is that tobacco smoke is dangerous not only for the smoker himself, but also for the people around him. It is known that lung cancer develops in family members of a smoker up to two times more often than in families of non-smokers.

Air pollution also plays an important role. For example, industrial areas with developed mining and processing infrastructure are characterized by an increase in the incidence of lung cancer up to several times (when compared with results in remote villages, for example).

Other risk factors for lung cancer include the following:

contact with a specific type of substance: arsenic, asbestos, chromium, radon, cadmium, chlormethyl ether, nickel, etc.;
exposure to radiation;
long-term course of lung diseases (advanced cases): bronchitis, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia.

Lung cancer: features of the process

The division of cancer cells occurs, as we noted above, quite quickly, due to which, in turn, the tumor formation increases in size. The lack of appropriate therapy leads to the fact that it gradually begins to grow into the organs adjacent to it, and these are large vessels, the heart, the esophagus and the spine. This process inevitably leads to damage to the affected areas.

With lymph and blood, cancer cells spread throughout the body, which already determines metastasis, in which new nodes of tumor formations are formed. The development of metastases is predominantly concentrated in the other lung, in the area of the lymph nodes, in the liver, in the adrenal glands, kidneys, brain and bones.

In accordance with the histological structure, lung cancer can occur in four types: squamous cell cancer, glandular cancer (or adenocarcinoma), small cell cancer and large cell cancer.

The most important in practical terms and the most general position relating to the histological structure of lung cancer is the following: the lower the differentiation of the tumor formation, the more malignant the tumor is, accordingly, in development. Given this feature, each of the histological types of lung cancer has its own characteristics. Briefly, they can be distinguished as follows:

squamous cell lung cancer develops relatively slowly, in addition, it is less prone to early metastases;
the development of adenocarcinoma also occurs relatively slowly, but here we already highlight its tendency to early onset of hematogenous spread with accompanying symptoms;
undifferentiated type of lung cancer (especially small cell) is predisposed to particularly rapid development; in addition, a characteristic feature of such cancer is that it is predisposed to early and extensive metastasis (hematogenous and lymphogenous).

Tumor growth in lung cancer, main features

The development of lung cancer occurs on the basis of the mucosal epithelium. Almost the same degree of incidence was determined for both the right and left lungs. If cancer affects the lobar, segmental or central bronchi, central lung cancer is determined. The occurrence of a tumor in the bronchi, whose caliber is smaller than segmental ones, determines peripheral cancer.

With a peripheral tumor formed on the basis of the bronchial epithelium of the subsegmental bronchi and smaller bronchi, in most cases the uniformity of its development within the lung parenchyma is determined when a round formation of a characteristic spherical shape is formed in it.

Further growth of this type of tumor often leads to spread to nearby extrapulmonary structures, namely the parietal pleura, diaphragm, chest wall, etc. As a variant of a peripheral lung tumor, a cancer defined as “Pencoast type cancer” is isolated. It, in turn, is characterized by the formation of a spherical tumor formation, concentrated in the area of the upper lobe of the lung with its subsequent transition to the nerves of the brachial plexus, to the subclavian vessels and to the trunk of the sympathetic nerve (which occurs in combination with Horner’s symptoms in the form of enophthalmos, miosis and ptosis on the affected side).

As for the features of the development of central cancer, they consist, first of all, in the fact that the process occurs in the bronchi with a larger caliber, respectively, in the lobar and segmental bronchi. Mostly, the course of the process is accompanied by a current disturbance in their patency and with simultaneous hypoventilation, which can almost reach atelectasis (stretching, collapse of the lung tissue, in which its airlessness is noted).

With this development of the process, its features are determined by the type of growth inherent in a particular tumor; it is predominantly endobronchial, peribronchial or perivasal. Endobronchial tumor is characterized by a predominance of disturbances due to blockage of the airways of bronchial patency. A peribronchial tumor, in turn, is characterized by compression of the airways, which is accompanied by a decrease in the lumen almost up to the formation in this case of an absolute barrier to the entry and passage of air. In frequent cases, “centralization” may be observed, which is relevant for peripheral cancer, in which a tumor initially formed in the periphery, according to the degree of its own growth, is characterized by its own spread to the lobar or segmental bronchi, as a result of which germination occurs in them with subsequent obstruction of patency.

When the blastomatous type of changes passes from the lung to the anatomical structures of the mediastinal region (that is, to the pericardium, pleura, vessels and trachea), it is advisable to determine the mediastinal form of lung cancer.

Lung cancer: stages

Stage I– characterized by the small size of the tumor formation, as well as the absence of its spread to the lymph nodes. This stage, in turn, is divided into substages, 1A and 1B:

1A– this substage determines the size of the tumor formation within up to 3 cm of its largest diameter. For this substage, survival over the next 5 years is determined to be 58-73% in the case of non-small cell cancer and 38% in the case of small cell cancer.
1B– the substage determines the size of the tumor formation within 3-5 cm of its largest diameter. In this case, spread to the lymph nodes, as well as to other parts of the body, does not occur. Regarding the 5-year survival rate in this period, the figures are 43-58% if the cancer is non-small cell and 21% if it is small cell.

Stage II. It, in turn, is also divided into substages 2A and 2B.

2A the substage determines the size of the tumor formation within 5-7 cm in greatest diameter; spread to the lymph nodes does not occur. An option is also possible for diameters up to 5 cm, but in the presence of cancer cells concentrated in the lymph nodes close to the affected lung. Regarding 5-year survival, the figures are 36-46% in the case of non-small cell cancer, and about 38% in the case of small cell cancer.
2B the substage determines the size of the tumor formation within limits not exceeding 7 cm in greatest diameter, without concomitant spread to the lymph nodes. It is also possible for a tumor to develop within the considered substage with its size ranging up to 5 cm in maximum diameter, but in the presence of cancer cells in the lymph nodes located close to the affected lung. This substage can also determine the absence of spread to the lymph nodes of the tumor formation, but with its growth into the lining of the lung (pleura) or affecting neighboring areas. Regarding 5-year survival rates, the figures are 25-36% for non-small cell cancer and about 18% for small cell cancer.

Stage III. In this case, there is also a division into substages, 3A and 3B.

3A substage indicates the size of the tumor formation is more than 7 cm in greatest diameter with spread to the nearest lymph nodes or adjacent areas (diaphragm, pleura, etc.). It is also possible that the tumor will spread to the lymph nodes concentrated in the heart area or that it will interfere with the passage of air through the large respiratory tract (main bronchi and trachea). For this stage, 5-year survival is estimated at 19-24% for non-small cell cancer and 13% for small cell cancer.
3B The substage determines the process in which the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes located on the back of the chest. It is also possible to consider an option in which the tumor spreads to the diaphragm, to the middle of the chest (to the lymph nodes of the mediastinum), to the lining of the heart (pericardium). Regarding the 5-year survival rate for this stage, figures are indicated in the range of 7-9% for non-small cell cancer and about 9% for small cell cancer.

IV stage. This stage indicates the spread of the tumor to other organs (in other words, metastases occur), or it leads to the accumulation of fluid, which includes cancer cells when it is concentrated in the environment of the affected lung or a neighboring lung. The same option is possible when localized in close proximity to the heart. Regarding survival in this case, figures within the range of 2-13% for non-small cell cancer and within 1% for small cell cancer can be indicated.

Lung cancer: symptoms

The health state accompanying the disease in question, as well as the severity of symptoms, is quite variable and is mainly determined by the specific stage of the disease in terms of the development of tumor formation in it.

The most typical type of lung cancer is one in which there is no symptomatology for a long time, which in general can cause anxiety and alertness on the part of the patient in the early stages. It is this kind of course that corresponds to the prevailing ideas about the long-term development of a tumor, which can continue for many years.

The development of lung cancer is determined in three main periods: the biological period (the time determined from the onset of the tumor until the first signs of its presence are identified using an x-ray); preclinical period (or asymptomatic, characterized exclusively by radiological changes in the course of cancer); the clinical period (during which, in addition to radiological manifestations, obvious symptoms are also noted).

Based on the stages discussed above, it can be noted that the I and II stages are characterized by correspondence to the biological period and the asymptomatic period in the development of tumor formation. Due to the absence of symptoms as such, patients do not independently seek appropriate medical care. Most often, if such a visit to medical institutions occurs, it is on the basis of clinical manifestations, which, in turn, indicate more serious stages of lung cancer. What is noteworthy is that even at this time, the manifestations of the disease are ambiguous, which is determined by a complex of various internal factors of its course.

The very beginning of the disease, based on certain observations, is characterized by somewhat disguised symptoms, which in particular manifest themselves in the form of a slight decrease in performance and rapid fatigue, as well as a weakening of interest in everything that happens around and apathy.

The further course, again, manifests itself in the form of a mask, manifested in the form of a number of respiratory diseases, such as repeated episodes of “flu”, pneumonia, etc. Often such manifestations correspond to the third period in the development of lung cancer (clinical). Associated symptoms include a periodic increase in temperature, the appearance, disappearance and reappearance of a mild degree of malaise.

What is noteworthy is that taking anti-inflammatory drugs along with antipyretic drugs in combination with one or another “home” treatment methods - all this allows one to eliminate current manifestations only for a certain time. Meanwhile, the reappearance of such an ailment within a period of 1-2 months allows, in some cases, patients to still pay attention to it from a somewhat more serious angle.

Let's look at other symptoms that accompany lung cancer.

Cough. Initially, the cough is dry in nature, but a little later it becomes annoying and constantly disturbing. And although cough is often indicated as the leading symptom of the disease we are interested in, it does not appear as such often. In the case of central lung cancer, a cough indicates that the process involves the walls of the bronchi, which have a large caliber, respectively, this is either the main bronchus or the lobar bronchus.
Hemoptysis. This symptom consists of the appearance of blood streaks in the sputum, and this, in turn, indicates that the walls of the bronchus have been damaged, and also that this damage is accompanied by destructive processes aimed at the mucous membrane of this wall in combination with damage to the passages in its area of blood vessels. It is noteworthy that this sign, which in most cases is considered one of the early symptoms of cancer, is a sign of cancer at much more serious stages of the process, corresponding in particular to stages III-IV of its course. With a more serious manifestation of this symptom (in the form of pulmonary hemorrhage, accompanied not just by streaks of blood, but by the release of a significant amount of scarlet fresh blood), it is necessary to immediately call an ambulance, because we are talking about a dangerous complication of the general condition, and as with lung cancer, and in general for any other conditions that may be accompanied by this symptom.
Chest pain. This symptom is predominantly concentrated on the side on which the lung has undergone a tumor process. In most cases, this symptom is regarded as neuralgia, but neuralgia, as it becomes clear, is only a “mask” of the disease. As for the nature of the manifestations of pain in this case, it does not have clear norms; accordingly, pain manifests itself in a wide variety of variations in its sensation and intensity. Mostly the pain is associated with the fact that the parietal pleura is involved in the process, and somewhat later – the intercostal nerves and ribs (and all this can even lead to their destruction). If we are talking about the latter option, then this is combined with excruciating and constant pain; moreover, it is almost impossible to eliminate them through the use of analgesics in one form or another. In any case, increased pain is observed at the time of deep inhalation/exhalation, as well as when coughing.
Dyspnea. It consists of a feeling of lack of air that appears at rest or during exercise. In this case, shortness of breath appears due to the tumor process blocking the air flow through large bronchi. This, in turn, leads to disruptions in the functioning of a certain area of the lung.

In some cases, disorders occur that are manifested by disturbances in the process of food passing along the esophagus, which, in turn, is evidence of a fairly advanced stage of the disease - in this case, a tumor of the esophagus acts as a “mask” of lung cancer. The manifestations in question occur against the background of compression of the esophagus by metastases of the peri-esophageal or bifurcation groups of lymph nodes.

The appearance of metastases from lung cancer to the brain, skeletal bones, kidneys, liver and other organs in accordance with their gradual growth leads, accordingly, to an increase in the manifestations of symptoms, which, in turn, manifests itself directly in the disruption of the activity of the organ that is involved in this case was damaged. Disorders of this type already indicate stage IV, which is also defined as the terminal stage. What is noteworthy is that it is often the symptoms of this stage that become the reason for seeking help, and it can lead to a variety of specialists, namely a neurologist, orthopedist, ophthalmologist, etc.

Lack of treatment for lung cancer leads to death in its natural course. According to available data, it can be noted that without treatment required for lung cancer from the moment of correct diagnosis, about 48% of patients die during the first year, about 3.4% survive up to three years, and less than 1% survive up to 5 years.

Diagnosis

Considering the asymptomatic course of the disease, it is recommended that all groups of patients, and especially those who are active smokers, be periodically diagnosed with regard to its presence (in general, this also applies to passive smokers). Every year, adult patients are prescribed fluorography, which involves a preventive X-ray examination of the lung area.

If certain changes are detected during fluorography, the doctor will additionally prescribe studies, based on the results of which a reliable diagnosis can subsequently be established. This type of research includes:

radiography the chest, through which the structure of the lungs is studied, and the relevance of suspicious darkening, possible displacement of organs, the condition of modified lymph nodes and other possible pathologies accompanying lung cancer are determined;
CT , computed tomography, as the most in-depth and informative way to diagnose the disease in question, through which it is possible to examine suspicious areas in the lungs. CT also provides the opportunity to examine other tumor formations that could not be detected by radiographs;
bronchoscopy – a diagnostic method, by which part of the tumor formation is removed for subsequent study (biopsy), involves the insertion of a flexible tube equipped with a video camera into the respiratory tract, due to which an objective examination and removal of the tissue area is carried out;
biopsy performed through the skin (needle biopsy) - this method is applicable when the tumor formation is located deep in the small bronchi, which excludes the possibility of research using the previous diagnostic method.

11.02.2017

Lung cancer is considered a common disease among all cancers. The basis for identifying a diagnosis of lung cancer is the appearance of cancer cells in this organ and the formation of a malignant tumor.

This disease complicates the patient’s air exchange and also severely affects the lung tissue. A feature of this disease is its high mortality rate.

Most of the group at risk of developing lung cancer are men aged 50 to 80 years who abuse smoking. Experts conduct statistics and claim that over time, more and more women are dealing with this problem, and the disease is becoming younger.

How long can you live with lung cancer?

The disease is a dangerous form of cancer, and the mortality rate from lung cancer is high. The thing is that the respiratory function of the body is important for the continuation of normal life support of the human body.

The formation of a cancerous tumor or the appearance of cancer cells makes it difficult for a person to breathe.

The life support of the human body can continue even after the destruction of the kidneys, liver or any other organs except the heart and lungs. Even doctors prescribe the time of death only after breathing or heartbeat stops. This is why there are so many deaths from lung cancer.

Cancer (malignant formation) develops quickly, so at a certain stage in the development of the disease, breathing problems begin. The main problem is that it is impossible to repeat or compensate for the process in the human body; air exchange is a unique process.

Over the years, scientists have compiled estimated survival rates for lung cancer patients. Of course, a large percentage of survival rate falls on identifying the disease in the early stages, and also depends on timely and correct treatment. In addition, a doctor must predict the development of cancer, since this is an exclusively individual disease that can take an unexpected turn at any time.

Doctors note that the location of the source of the disease plays an important role. In particular, if the disease forms in the central part of the lung (where the main airways, nerve connections and blood vessels are located), then the disease can be quite severe and fatal.

Thus, patients with peripheral lung disease have a fairly high chance of surviving lung cancer. Experts say that there are cases where lung cancer patients lived for ten years after the disease was diagnosed. The thing is that the peculiarity of peripheral lung disease is the slow progression and development of cancer.

For a long time, the body may not give any reaction, and patients do not feel pain and show good physical performance. Once the disease reaches a critical point in its development, the patient may begin to experience standard cancer symptoms: fatigue, weight loss, paleness and severe pain. This all happens after metastases have spread throughout the body.

The formation of a tumor in the central part of the lung indicates a low chance of survival for the patient. Often, patients diagnosed with lung cancer do not live more than 4-5 years. With this form, tumor formation is quite aggressive. The pain syndrome is very high, especially in the last stages of development. In the final stages of lung cancer, which develops in the central part of the respiratory tract, any treatment known today is not effective enough.

The above cannot be applied to all forms and methods of spread of cancer, since the disease develops differently in each person. Oncologists say that the degree of aggressive behavior of lung cancer depends solely on the microscopic component of the cells.

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

Lung cancer has been studied by oncologists for many years. In the course of research and ongoing research, it was revealed that lung cancer is difficult to determine in the initial stages of development, in particular this applies to its peripheral form.

What mistakes can be made when diagnosing lung cancer? In lung cancer, the density of normal cells and those mutated into cancer cells is very similar. They are well camouflaged from detection by doctors and the immune system, which allows them to remain undetected for a long time and continue to develop. Another reason may be the location of the tumor formation. It is difficult to detect cancer when it is located under the bone tissue of the chest.

Due to the fact that there are no lymph nodes near the skin in the chest area, the disease may not immediately manifest itself, since they are the first to react. In addition, a person may develop weak pain activity in the extreme (peripheral) regions of the lung.

To fully and correctly determine the diagnosis, it is necessary to collect a sufficient amount of information and analyzes about the patient; the disease can have different development paths depending on the individual factors of the person.

All people may experience symptoms of lung cancer:

Expectoration of blood, severe coughing and fatigue, weight loss, unpleasant odor when breathing and many other facts related to the primary manifestations of lung cancer are possible. As soon as you discover one of these signs, you must immediately consult a doctor for advice and testing.
The manifestation of general symptoms is the order of tests and studies of the body. Determined by a doctor.

A screening method is used to detect lung cancer. It can detect the disease in the early stages. This procedure in itself represents a large-scale medical examination.

What is a cough like with lung cancer?

What is a cough and why does it occur during lung cancer? To answer these questions, you need to understand that coughing is a kind of protective reflex of the human body to strong irritation of the respiratory tract and receptors. Cough can occur both from the influence of internal and external factors on the receptors.

With any type of cough, it is best to consult a doctor, since the cough itself indicates problems in the lungs or the respiratory system as a whole. At your appointment, you will try to accurately describe the type of cough you have. Even though coughing in lung cancer is the primary symptom, it can be used to determine the presence of pathology. The doctor will not make a diagnosis based on one cough; for this you need to go for an x-ray and take blood tests. All these studies can play a serious role in the process of diagnosing the disease.

Pathological types of cough include: frequent or rare; loud and hoarse; both strong and weak; painful, both dry and wet; long and short. There are types of cough that characterize damage to the larynx or esophagus.

Doctors note that a sudden cessation of cough may be a dangerous sign. Since, in this case, the reflex was suppressed and rapid intoxication of the body began.

After identifying a cough, you should not think that you can diagnose the disease, much less diagnose lung cancer. Remember that a doctor can do this if additional tests are available.

What can be the prognosis of the disease?

It was previously written in the article that if cancer is detected in time, a positive treatment outcome is possible. But the problem is that lung cancer is difficult to detect at the first stage.

It is possible to detect stage 3 or 4 cancer without difficulty using standard diagnostic algorithms. But at these stages, surgical treatment is no longer effective, and metastases can spread beyond the respiratory organs throughout the body. Using modern technologies, the prognosis of diseases can be improved.

We pay attention to the costs of diagnostics and the quality of treatment received. The costs of detecting lung cancer using high-tech methods are justified in the early stages of the disease, if the doctor offers a wide range of treatment methods.

But the costs may not be justified or may be questionable if the process of tumor initiation and development is at a detectable stage of the disease. In this case, a routine diagnostic test can be performed.

There are two effective methods for detecting a tumor in the lung - multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) and positron emission tomography (PET-CT).

Using the first method, you can examine the breast in about 8-10 seconds, and also conduct an examination of the entire human body in order to detect the presence of tumors in other parts of the body.

This technique allows you to identify a tumor with a diameter of up to 3 millimeters, as well as construct a 2- and 3-dimensional image with determination of the exact location. The second method is significantly better than computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Using this method, you can detect a tumor up to 7 millimeters in size.

Treatment options for lung cancer

There are several standard treatments for lung cancer, including:

Surgical removal of the tumor.
Chemotherapy is the use of chemical drugs that slow down the growth of a tumor.
Radiation therapy involves influencing the affected cells with harsher types of radiation.

These methods can be used once or in combination. There are forms of cancer that cannot be operated on and may be too sensitive to chemotherapy.

Mass chemotherapy can be used after determining the form of the disease and the stage at which the tumor is located. There are a number of drugs that can stop the growth of cancer cells, for example: carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, gemcitabine and others. These drugs should be used before surgery in order to reduce the size of the tumor.

Not long ago, hormonal and immunological methods of treating lung cancer began to be used. Such methods are used very rarely due to the complex hormonal correction of certain forms of cancer. If during an illness the immune system is very weakened, then the use of immunotherapy and terget therapy is prohibited.

Modern methods of treating lung cancer

Radiation exposure to an infected cell, under the supervision of specialists, or Image-guided radiation therapy technology. The purpose of the technique is to irradiate the infected cell, instantly correct it and transfer the load to the nearest damaged area of tissue.

Brachytherapy technology, also called contact radiation. The method is to place special substances as close as possible to the tumor for a better effect on the infected cell.

There is a treatment method using smart knife technology. The essence of this method is to use a cyber knife to influence a cluster of infected cells. A more modern method of treating lung cancer is cancer cell tagging, or PDT technology.

Marking occurs with the help of substances that increase sensitivity to laser action, which in turn eliminates damaged areas of healthy tissue. The main disadvantage of modern technologies is that they are aimed at destroying a developed tumor, but preventing its development.