Lung cancer name. What is central lung cancer? Regional lymph nodes

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of squamous cell lung cancer, the development of which, as a rule, occurs from the epithelial cover of the bronchial mucosa. In almost all cases, it affects the central sections of the bronchi, capturing them in separate segments.

Symptoms of right lung cancer:

frequent dry cough, sometimes with blood;
history of regular treatment for pneumonia;
shortness of breath appears for no apparent reason;
body temperature rises and remains at 37º C for a long period;
pain in the chest area on the right side;
a sharp decrease in body weight;
general weakness and malaise of the body.

Diagnosis of right and left lung cancer

Treatment of cancer of the right and left lung

There are three basic methods of treating oncological lesions of the pulmonary system:

surgical;
exposure to ionizing radiation;
chemotherapy.

The choice of one or another method of treating lung cancer directly depends on the location of the malignant process. Treatment of left lung cancer through surgery is usually performed in the early stages and can be partial or complete. For example, when diagnosed with “Cancer of the upper lobe of the right lung” (left lung), the oncologist decides on partial resection of the upper lobe of the lung. During the operation, lymph nodes are also removed along with the affected lung tissue to prevent the development of relapse of the disease.

Ionizing radiation can be used either independently or in combination with surgery. The complex method of exposure is recommended for use in hard-to-reach locations of cancer cells (cancer of the lower lobe of the lung).

Chemotherapy is mainly used for patients who are unable to undergo surgery, or in advanced stages with extensive foci of tumor metastasis.

Prognosis for lung cancer

The prognosis for lung cancer depends directly on the histological structure of the lungs.

It has a better prognosis than other forms of cancer because it is more sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

The most favorable outcome is possible when treating cancer in the initial stages (stages 1, 2). The prognosis is extremely unfavorable and survival rate does not exceed 10% at stages 3 and 4 of the disease.

Informative video: central cancer of the upper lobe of the right lung

Unfortunately, today cancer is not uncommon. Quite a large number of people suffer from malignant tumors. One of the most common is considered to be. At an early stage, the symptoms already become pronounced, although many people do not pay due attention to them. And in vain, because the neoplasm can be defeated. Well, we should talk about this in more detail.

Important information

What is the first thing you should say about lung cancer at an early stage? Many people do not perceive the symptoms of this disease as something scary or unusual. In general, oncological lesions of this organ are very rarely detected randomly (for example, after fluorography). Only 1/5 of all cases were detected through this procedure.

It is also worth remembering that many symptoms are, in fact, similar to other pathologies not related to oncology. They are often similar to those that accompany a person with tuberculosis, during acute infectious diseases (or chronic), bronchial asthma, pneumonia or even pleurisy. So if a person feels strange, then complaints alone will not be enough. But how to detect lung cancer at an early stage? CT (computed tomography) is the way out. The procedure is expensive, but it is better than any x-ray. Sometimes a tumor can be detected by examining fluid from the pleural cavity. But today CT is the safest and most effective method.

Cough is a reason to worry

Indeed, often it can be a kind of “beacon”. A cough always accompanies early stage lung cancer. The symptoms are different, but this is the main one. So, the cough is usually frequent and very debilitating. Accompanied by sputum of an unpleasant yellow-green color. If a person is in the cold for a long time or engaged in physical labor, then the amount of these waste secretions increases.

There may also be blood discharge when coughing. They usually have a scarlet or pink tint. Clots are often visible in the sputum. Even when a person coughs, he feels severe pain both in the throat and in the chest area. This is often a symptom of a strong virus, the flu, for example, but if there are other suspicions and signs, you should not ignore it. In addition to coughing, there is shortness of breath and wheezing. These are all also symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage.

Pain and other sensations

Oncology can also be accompanied by excessively rapid fatigue, apathy and eternal fatigue. Significant weight loss is often observed. These lungs at an early stage are a warning sign. It is necessary to listen to this if a person, with the same diet, suddenly began to lose weight.

General malaise is also one of the signs of the disease. An increase in body temperature that is not associated with viral diseases is also often observed. Often a person’s voice also changes. Hoarseness appears - this is due to the fact that the tumor affects the nerve that controls the larynx. By the way, if we talk about how to recognize lung cancer at an early stage, then, perhaps, the main answer here is the following - listen specifically to breathing. It is important. In the initial stages, a person has to make a lot of effort to breathe fully. This is due to the fact that the tumor is an obstacle to the usual air flow.

Weakness

Pain in the shoulder area can often occur. If the neoplasm has affected the nerve endings, then sensations will appear from the affected organ. Swallowing function is also impaired - also a common sign by which lung cancer can be recognized at an early stage. Symptoms of this kind appear when the tumor enters the walls of the esophagus. In this case, the airways are simply blocked.

And of course, muscle weakness. Many people take it for granted - maybe it was due to heavy work or there was an excessive force load. But often this is an alarming signal that you need to pay attention to.

What can cause cancer?

This topic also needs to be noted with attention when talking about how to recognize lung cancer at an early stage, the photo of which is provided above. In fact, there can be a lot of reasons. The most common is, of course, smoking. But it is not only because of this that a malignant neoplasm appears. There are two factors - constant (unchangeable) and modifiable (that is, changing). And a person cannot change the first of these in any way. Firstly, this is the person’s age - more than 50 years. Secondly, genetic factors (conditioning). Thirdly, environmental pollution. Severe disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine system (especially in women) and the presence of chronic lung diseases (pneumonia, etc.) can also affect. Due to these ailments, the lung tissue is deformed and scars appear on it. This often becomes an excellent breeding ground for cancer.

As for smoking... Hundreds of scientists are developing this topic, they talk about it in all the media, and all over the world they are trying to solve this problem so that as few people as possible buy cigarettes and other tobacco products. We can talk about the dangers of smoking and tobacco addiction forever. But the fact remains that in the process of absorbing tobacco smoke, harmful carcinogenic substances enter the lungs, settling on the living soft pink epithelium, which over time becomes a dead, scorched, blue-black surface.

Oncology degrees

So, how to detect lung cancer at an early stage at home? The answer is simple - no way. If even fluorography reveals a malignant neoplasm in only 20% of cases, then what can we say about “folk” methods.

The first stage of oncology is a small tumor, the size of which is a maximum of three centimeters. Or is it a completely “screening out” from the main tumor of another organ. It is extremely difficult to detect it - only through computed tomography, which was mentioned at the very beginning.

The second stage is when the tumor is more than 3 centimeters and blocks the bronchus. The neoplasm can grow into the pleura. At the third stage, the tumor spreads to nearby structures. Atelectasis of the entire lung appears. And the fourth stage is when the tumor grows into nearby organs. This is the heart, large vessels. Metastatic pleurisy may occur. Unfortunately, the forecasts in this case are disappointing.

Is it really possible to cure?

This question arises for all people who have discovered cancer. All of them, regardless of the stage, hope for a positive outcome. Well, everything is possible in this life! There are people who claim that they managed to overcome cancer, and it has receded. Of course, the prognosis will be much more positive if the stage is early. This form is amenable to chemotherapy and radiation treatment. And in general, the percentage of recoveries in such cases is very high. But unfortunately, if you catch it in the final stages, it may not be easy for the patient. In these cases, the survival rate is 10%.

Prevention

So, when talking about how to recognize lung cancer at an early stage in adults, it is impossible not to touch on the topic of prevention. It is very important because it helps fight the disease. Well, the most important thing is to quit smoking, follow a special diet and, of course, quit your job if it requires you to be present in a place where there is a high content of harmful substances.

It is worth giving up spicy, fatty and fried foods and instead eating high-fiber foods, lean fish and always white meat. It would be a good idea to include dried fruits, nuts, cereals and natural, real chocolate in your diet.

Medical measures are extremely important. These are routine examinations and treatment. If the patient is at particular risk, he is sometimes prescribed special drugs that replace tobacco. Due to this, the need for smoking is reduced to a minimum, but the dose of harmful nicotine is replaced by medical nicotine. Gradually, step by step, following all the recommendations and not neglecting your health, you can get better and start enjoying life again.

The causes of lung cancer are diverse, all of them can be divided into those dependent and independent of the person.

Unchangeable, independent factors include: genetic predisposition - the presence of lung cancer in close relatives, three or more cases of lung cancer in the family, as well as the presence of several tumor diseases of other organs in a given patient (multiple forms of cancer). In addition, the unchangeable factors include the general status of the patient: age over 50 years, the presence of chronic pulmonary diseases (chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia - pneumonia, scar changes in lung tissue); as well as endocrine disorders in the body, especially in women.

Modifiable factors, that is, those that a person is able to change, include: Smoking is the main and reliably confirmed cause of lung cancer. Poisonous carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances released during the combustion of tobacco are more than 4,000 types, the most famous and dangerous of which are the following: benzopyrene, toluidine, naphthalamine, heavy metals (nickel, polonium), nitroso compounds. The above compounds, entering the lungs with inhaled cigarette smoke, settle on the delicate mucous membrane of the bronchi, as if burning it out, destroying living cells, lead to the death of the ciliated epithelium - the mucous layer, are absorbed through the blood vessels into the blood and spread throughout the body, entering the internal organs, liver, kidneys, brain, causing similar changes in them.

All harmful compounds inhaled with cigarette smoke are permanently deposited in the lungs; they do not dissolve and are not eliminated, but form accumulations, slowly covering the lungs with black soot. The lungs of a healthy person have a soft pink color, a soft porous structure, while the lungs of a smoker are rough, inelastic tissue that takes on a black or bluish-black color.

Benzopyrene is the most dangerous; it has a direct damaging effect on the bronchial mucosa, causing degeneration of normal cells even in small doses. Passive smoking is no less dangerous: the smoker absorbs only a small part of the smoke, exhaling the remaining 80% of the smoke into the air. For the risk of developing lung cancer, smoking experience plays a significant role: more than 10 years, the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking more than 2 packs a day increases the risk of lung cancer by 25 times.

The next factor that increases the risk of developing lung cancer is occupational exposure:

Work in factories related to asbestos production, grinding of metal products and in blacksmithing (iron and steel smelting),
- fulling, cotton and linen production,
- professional contact with heavy metals, pesticides (arsenic, chromium, nickel, aluminum);
- work in the mining industry: coal mining, radon mines, coal tars;
- rubber industry.

Another factor is air pollution. Every day in large cities, residents inhale thousands of carcinogens released into the air by factories and the combustion of automobile fuel. Inhalation of such substances invariably leads to degeneration of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

Symptoms of lung cancer

Symptoms that allow one to suspect lung cancer are divided into general and specific.

General symptoms: weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, sweating, causeless rises in body temperature.

Specific symptoms of lung cancer may include the following:

Cough - the occurrence of an unreasonable, annoying, debilitating cough accompanies bronchial cancer (central cancer). The patient, carefully monitoring his health, can independently notice changes in the nature of the cough: it becomes more frequent, annoying, and the nature of the sputum changes. The cough may be paroxysmal, without cause, or associated with inhaling cold air, physical activity, or lying down. This cough occurs when the mucous membrane of the bronchial tree is irritated by a tumor growing into its lumen. With central lung cancer, sputum appears, usually yellowish-greenish in color, due to concomitant inflammatory phenomena in the lung tissue.

One of the most characteristic symptoms of lung cancer is hemoptysis (blood discharge with sputum): the blood can be foamy, mixed with sputum, giving it a pinkish tint and bright scarlet, intense, in the form of streaks (active bleeding) or in the form of dark clots (coagulated old blood). Bleeding from the respiratory tract can be quite intense and prolonged, sometimes leading to the death of patients. But, hemoptysis can be a symptom of other pulmonary diseases: pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchiectasis (air cavities in the lung).

Shortness of breath is associated with changes in the lung tissue: inflammation of the lungs accompanying the tumor, collapse of part of the lung due to blockage of the bronchial tube by the tumor (atelectasis), disrupting gas exchange in the lung tissue and worsening the conditions of ventilation of the lungs, reducing the respiratory surface. With tumors growing in large bronchi, atelectasis of the entire lung and its complete shutdown can occur.

Chest pain is associated with tumor growth of the serous lining of the lungs (pleura), which has many painful endings, concomitant inflammatory changes in the lungs and tumor growth into the bones and large nerve plexuses of the chest.

At the early stage of the disease there is no pain; persistent intense pain is typical for late, advanced stages of the tumor. The pain may be in one place or radiate to the neck, shoulder, arm, back or abdominal cavity, and may worsen when coughing.

There are several clinical and radiological forms of lung cancer:

1. central cancer - bronchial cancer, grows in the lumen of large bronchi (central, lobar, segmental). The tumor grows both in the lumen of the bronchus (manifests earlier) and in the lung tissue surrounding the bronchus. In the initial stages it does not manifest itself in any way, often not visible on fluorography and x-ray photographs, since the shadow of the tumor merges with the heart and blood vessels. The presence of a tumor can be suspected by indirect signs on an x-ray: a decrease in the airiness of an area of the lung or inflammation in the same place repeatedly (recurrent pneumonia). Characterized by cough, shortness of breath, hemoptysis, in advanced cases - chest pain, high body temperature

2. Peripheral cancer - grows in the thickness of the lung tissue. There are no symptoms, it is detected accidentally during examination or when complications develop. The tumor can reach large sizes without manifesting itself; such patients often refuse treatment, citing the absence of symptoms.

A type of peripheral cancer - cancer of the apex of the lung (Penkosta), is characterized by germination into the vessels and nerves of the shoulder girdle. Such patients are treated for a long time by a neurologist or therapist with a diagnosis of osteochondrosis, plexitis and are referred to an oncologist with an already advanced tumor. A type of peripheral cancer is also a cavitary form of cancer - a tumor with a cavity in the center. The cavity in the tumor occurs as a result of the disintegration of the central part of the tumor, which lacks nutrition during the growth process. These tumors can reach large sizes up to 10 cm or more, they are easily confused with inflammatory processes - abscesses, tuberculosis with decay, lung cysts, which delays the correct diagnosis and leads to the progression of the disease without special treatment.

Cavity form of lung cancer: the tumor in the right lung is indicated by an arrow

3. Pneumonia-like cancer, as the name suggests, is similar to pneumonia, patients are treated for a long time by a general practitioner, when there is no effect of antibiotic treatment, cancer is suspected. The tumor is characterized by rapid growth, grows diffusely, not in the form of a node, and occupies one or more lobes of the lung.

Pneumonia-like form of lung cancer affecting both lungs

with damage to the lower lobe of the right lung

4. Atypical forms: liver, brain, bone and others. They are associated with the symptoms not of the lung tumor itself, but of its metastases. The hepatic form is characterized by jaundice, changes in blood tests, enlarged liver, heaviness in the right hypochondrium. Brain - often manifests as a stroke clinic - the arm and leg on the side opposite to the lesion stop working, speech impairment, loss of consciousness, there may be convulsions, headaches, double vision. Bone – pain in the spine, pelvic bones or limbs, spontaneous (not associated with trauma) fractures often occur.

5. Metastatic tumors are screenings from the main tumor of another organ (for example, breast, intestines, other lung, ENT organs, prostate gland and others), having the structure of the original tumor and capable of growing, disrupting the function of the organ. In some cases, metastases can reach enormous sizes (more than 10 cm) and lead to the death of patients from poisoning by tumor waste products and disruption of internal organs (liver and respiratory failure, increased intracranial pressure, and so on). Most often, metastases arise from tumors of the intestine, mammary gland, second lung, which is associated with the specifics of the organ’s blood circulation: a very small and highly developed vascular network, tumor cells settle in it from the bloodstream and begin to grow, forming colonies - metastases. A malignant tumor of any organ can metastasize to the lungs. Metastases in the lungs are common and can be very similar to independent tumors.

Sometimes, after a complete examination, the tumor - the original source of metastases - cannot be detected.

Diagnosis of lung cancer

As can be seen from the above, diagnosing lung cancer is a rather difficult task; tumors are often disguised as other pulmonary diseases (pneumonia, abscesses, tuberculosis). In view of this, more than 50% of lung tumors are detected at large, advanced and inoperable stages. The initial stages of the tumor, and sometimes some types of advanced tumors, do not manifest themselves and are detected only by chance or with the development of complications.

To avoid this, it is necessary to undergo an X-ray examination of the lungs at least once a year.

Examination for suspected lung cancer includes:

Fluorography is a mass examination carried out for preventive purposes among large groups of the population, allowing to identify the most severe pulmonary pathology: tuberculosis, tumors of the lungs and mediastinum (the space between the lungs containing the heart, large vessels and adipose tissue), pneumonia. If pathological changes are detected on the fluorogram, an X-ray examination of the lungs is performed in 2 projections: direct and lateral.

X-ray of the lungs allows for a more accurate interpretation of changes in the lungs; both images must be evaluated.

The next stage: simple layer-by-layer X-ray tomography of the suspicious area of the lung: several layer-by-layer “slices” are performed, in the center of which there is a pathological focus.

Computed tomography of the chest or magnetic resonance imaging with or without intravenous contrast (injection of a radiopaque drug intravenously): allows you to perform layer-by-layer sections and examine the pathologically changed lesion in more detail, distinguish tumors, cysts or tuberculous changes from each other by characteristic features.

Bronchoscopy: used to identify tumors of the bronchial tree (central cancer) or the growth of large peripheral lung tumors into the bronchus, this study allows you to visually detect the tumor, determine its boundaries, and, most importantly, perform a biopsy - take a piece of the tumor for examination.

In some cases, so-called tumor markers are used - a blood test for proteins produced only by the tumor and absent in a healthy body. For lung cancer, tumor markers are called: NSE - used to detect small cell cancer, SSC marker, CYFRA - to detect squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, CEA - a universal marker. But all of them have low diagnostic value and are usually used in treated patients in order to detect metastasis as early as possible.

Sputum examination has a low diagnostic value and allows one to suspect the presence of a tumor when atypical cells are detected.

Bronchography (injection of a contrast agent into the bronchial tree): an outdated method, it has now been replaced by bronchoscopy.

Thoracoscopy (introduction of a camera into the pleural cavity through punctures to examine the surface of the lungs) allows, in unclear cases, to visually interpret certain changes in the lungs and perform a biopsy.

CT-guided tumor biopsy is performed in unclear cases.

Unfortunately, there is no universal examination method that allows one hundred percent to distinguish malignant lung tumors from other diseases, since cancer can masquerade as another pathology; with this in mind, the entire range of examinations is used. But if the diagnosis is not completely clear, they resort to exploratory surgery in order not to miss a malignant tumor.

Stages (degrees) of lung cancer:

Stage 1: a tumor in the lung no more than 3 cm in size or a bronchial tumor spreading within one lobe, no metastases in nearby lymph nodes;
Stage 2: tumor in the lung more than 3 cm, grows into the pleura, blocks the bronchus, causing atelectasis of one lobe;
Stage 3: the tumor spreads to neighboring structures, atelectasis of the entire lung, the presence of metastases in nearby lymph nodes - the root of the lung and mediastinum, supraclavicular;
Stage 4: the tumor grows into surrounding organs - the heart, large vessels, or fluid joins the pleural cavity (metastatic pleurisy).

Lung cancer treatment

In the treatment of lung cancer, like any other cancer, the leading and only method that gives hope for recovery is surgery.

There are several options for lung surgery:

Removing a lobe of the lung meets all the principles of treating lung cancer.
- Regional resection (removal of only tumors) - used in the elderly and patients with severe concomitant pathology, for whom major surgery is dangerous.
- Removal of the entire lung (pneumonectomy) - for tumors of stage 2 for central cancers, stages 2-3 for peripheral ones.
- Combined operations - with the removal of part of the nearby organs involved in the tumor - the heart, blood vessels, ribs.

When small cell cancer is detected, the leading treatment method is chemotherapy, since this form of tumor is the most sensitive to conservative treatment methods. The effectiveness of chemotherapy is quite high and can achieve good results for several years.

To treat lung cancer, platinum drugs are used - the most effective at the moment, but no less toxic than others, therefore they are administered against the background of a large amount of fluid (up to 4 liters).

Another treatment method is radiation therapy: it is used for incurable lung tumors of stage 3-4; it allows achieving good results in small cell cancer, especially in combination with chemotherapy. The standard dosage for radiation treatment is 60-70 gray.

Treatment of lung cancer with “folk remedies” is unacceptable; the use of toxic substances can lead to poisoning of an organism already weakened by the tumor and aggravate the patient’s condition.

Prognosis for lung cancer

The prognosis for lung cancer depends on the stage and histological structure of the lungs:

Small cell cancer has a better prognosis than other forms of cancer because it is more sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation treatment than other forms of cancer.

A favorable outcome is possible when treating cancer in the initial stages: 1-2. For tumors of the third and fourth stages, the prognosis is extremely unfavorable and survival rate does not exceed 10%.

Prevention of lung cancer

Prevention, first of all, consists of stopping smoking and working in hazardous conditions, using respirators and protective equipment. Preventive fluorography is performed annually to detect lung tumors in the initial stages. For heavy smokers, bronchoscopy is mandatory 1-2 times a year.

Consultation with an oncologist on lung cancer:

Question: How common is lung cancer and who is at higher risk of getting it?
Answer: Mostly men suffer from lung cancer. This is due, first of all, to smoking, which is common among most men, as well as to difficult working conditions, work in hazardous areas and factories. As smoking increases among women, the incidence of lung cancer also increases.

Question: How to detect lung cancer at an early stage?
Answer: For this, an annual examination is required - fluorography or radiography of the lungs. In smoking patients, it is advisable to perform bronchoscopy annually.

Question: What alternative to surgery is there?
Answer: The only treatment for lung cancer is surgery. In weakened and elderly patients, with contraindications to surgery, an alternative is chemo-radiation treatment, which provides a life expectancy of 5 years or more with a good response to treatment.

Lung cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the world, as well as the most common cause of death among cancer pathologies. The International Agency on Cancer cites data according to which one million cases of lung cancer are registered every year on the planet. At the same time, the statistics for this particular disease are deplorable: six out of ten patients die due to this pathology.

World and Russian statistics on cancer diseases match: 12 percent of Russian patients with cancer pathologies suffer from lung cancer. Among deaths due to malignant tumors, lung cancer in Russia accounts for 15 percent of cases. The situation, according to experts, is close to critical.
It is also necessary to highlight the fact that lung cancer is more of a male pathology. Among all malignant neoplasms in men, lung cancer accounts for every fourth case, while in women only every twelfth.

The reason for such prevalence of lung cancer lies in the prerequisites for its occurrence. The main one is. According to studies, the risk of developing lung cancer in men and women who smoke is 20 times higher than in non-smokers. Cigarette smoke contains more than fifty carcinogenic substances, and one of the effects of nicotine is the suppression of the body's protective functions. Taken together, this “effectiveness” of cigarettes leads to the fact that in a number of countries, nine out of ten cases of lung cancer in men are caused by smoking.

In addition, the environmental situation has a huge impact on the risk of this pathology. The presence of radon, asbestos, and dust particles in the air increases the risk of developing this cancer significantly. These two factors alone indicate that almost everyone is at risk of lung cancer.

Classifications of lung cancer

Modern medicine classifies lung cancer according to many parameters. The most common among them are classifications according to the place of manifestation of the pathology and the stage of development.

Classification of lung cancer by site of manifestation

According to this classification, there are three types of lung cancer:

central - the main influence of the oncological process occurs on the large bronchi. The malignant neoplasm eventually blocks the lumen of the bronchus, which leads to the collapse of part of the lung;
peripheral - oncology develops in small peripheral bronchi, and the tumor grows outside the lungs. Because of this, peripheral lung cancer is often called pneumonia-like. This type of pathology is characterized by a long absence of external manifestations - up to five years, which is why its diagnosis occurs in the later stages;
the mixed type is quite rare - in five percent of cases. Its development is characterized by the formation of soft whitish tissue of a malignant nature, which fills a lobe of the lung, and sometimes the entire organ.

Classification of lung cancer by stage of development

This classification is based on the degree of development of the tumor or tumors. There are mainly four stages of pathology, but there are also more detailed schemes in which the development of lung cancer is divided into six stages:

Zero stage. The earliest, in most cases asymptomatic form of the disease. Due to its small size, the carcinoma is poorly visible even on fluorography; there is no damage to the lymph nodes.
First stage. The tumor at this stage of development of the pathology does not exceed three centimeters in size. The pleura and lymph nodes at the first stage are not yet involved in the pathological process. Diagnosis of lung cancer at this stage is considered early and allows for favorable treatment prognosis. However, the disease is diagnosed at this stage in only ten percent of patients.
Second stage. The diameter of the tumor is in the range of three to five centimeters, metastases are recorded in the bronchial lymph nodes. Obvious symptoms of pathology begin to appear in most patients. A third of lung cancer cases are detected at this stage.
Stage 3a. The tumor exceeds five centimeters in diameter. The pleura and chest wall are involved in the pathological process. The presence of metastases is recorded in the bronchial and lymph nodes. The manifestation of symptoms of pathology is obvious; more than half of cases of pathology are detected at this stage. The rate of favorable prognosis does not exceed 30 percent.
Stage 3b. A characteristic difference is the involvement of blood vessels, esophagus, spine and heart in the pathological process. The size of the tumor is not a clear sign.
Fourth stage. Metastases spread throughout the body. In the vast majority of cases, the prognosis is unfavorable. The chances of remission, not to mention full recovery, are almost zero.

Symptoms of lung cancer

Having dealt with the main classifications of lung cancer, let's move on to the signs of this pathology. The main feature of this disease is its fairly frequent asymptomatic course, especially in the early stages. If this oncology does manifest itself, then the symptoms are predominantly nonspecific and without proper clinical examination they can be mistaken for manifestations of other diseases.

Visual symptoms of pathology, if present, are somewhat different in the early and late stages.

Manifestations of lung cancer in early stages

Since lung cancer is a disease of the respiratory system, it manifests itself as problems with respiratory function. First of all, attention should be drawn to a seemingly causeless dry cough of a chronic nature that does not stop for several weeks. In combination with them, the disease often manifests itself as hoarseness of voice, whistling sounds when breathing, and non-systemic pain in the chest. All this is caused by a tumor that has arisen, which, with its volume, puts pressure on the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
In addition, in the initial stages of development, lung cancer can manifest itself as a slight but constant increase in body temperature up to 37.5°, which entails chronic fatigue and causeless weight loss.
The absence of clear specific symptoms of lung cancer in the early stages is due to the fact that there are no pain nerve endings in the human lungs. And the body practically does not react to the development of neoplasms in this area.

As for the symptoms that may still appear at this stage, even one of them is a reason to consult a doctor and have an unscheduled fluorography. It will make it possible to exclude the presence of a cancerous tumor in the lungs, or to detect it at a stage when treatment in the vast majority of cases has a positive effect.

Manifestations of lung cancer in late stages

At the third and fourth stages of development, lung cancer already manifests itself with quite clear symptoms:

Systemic chest pain. Despite the fact that there are no pain nerve endings in the lungs, pain in pathology at these stages is formed in the pleura - the lining of the lungs and the walls of the chest cavity. That is, the cancerous tumor has already touched this area. In addition, the pain may radiate to the shoulder or the outer side of the arm, as the pathology affects the nerve fibers.
Cough in the later stages of lung cancer changes from a systemic, dry cough that does not cause serious discomfort to a painful one, characterized by attacks and sputum production. Quite often you can see inclusions of blood or pus in it. It is blood in the sputum that is the most dangerous symptom, and with this manifestation, lung cancer of the third and fourth stages is recorded in most cases.
Quite often, the pathology is manifested by enlarged lymph nodes located in the supraclavicular region. They are among the first to respond to the serious development of lung cancer, although this manifestation is not typical for all cases.
In addition to the three above symptoms, with this pathology in the later stages, signs of early stage lung cancer also appear: low-grade fever, hoarseness, and a constant feeling of fatigue.

Any of the symptoms of the early and late stages, and even more so a complex of two or more manifestations, is a reason for immediate examination for the presence of malignant neoplasms. Only this approach will allow pathology to be detected as quickly as possible, which will significantly increase the chances of its effective treatment.

Clinical studies for suspected lung cancer

In the material about the manifestations of this oncological pathology, it is impossible not to touch upon the topic of clinical examination for suspected lung cancer. It is prescribed at the slightest probability of the presence of malignant neoplasms and is divided into two stages:

The preliminary stage is to confirm the diagnosis. First of all, it includes fluorography of the chest in two projections, which allows you to determine the presence of a tumor and its location. This research method is the most popular in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
In addition to radiography, diagnosis of the disease is carried out using bronchoscopy and transthoracic puncture biopsy. The first method allows you to thoroughly examine the bronchi for the presence of tumors, and the second is used in cases where primary diagnosis is impossible or does not confirm the expected diagnosis. A puncture biopsy consists of examining the contents of the tumor to determine whether it is malignant or benign. After taking material for research from the tumor, it is sent for cytological analysis.
The diagnostic stage is carried out when the presence of a cancerous tumor in the lungs is confirmed and it is necessary to determine the stage of development of the disease. For these purposes, computed tomography and positron emission tomography are used. In addition to helping determine the stage and type of cancer, these tests are also used to monitor the tumor during therapy. This allows timely adjustment of treatment tactics depending on the results, which is extremely important when dealing with such a complex pathology.