Symptoms And The Early Diagnosis Of Lung Cancer

What is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is cancer that is caused by the uncontrolled division of the cells in the lungs. The lungs are pair of spongy organs in a person’s body that help supply oxygen to the body and remove carbon dioxide for survival.

If not managed well, lung cancer can be life-threatening. It is highly common in males.

People who smoke more often are at risk of lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have been a smoker but are a part of passive smoking. Fortunately, if they quit smoking, they can significantly subside the risk of lung cancer in the future. 

One can still manage and prevent lung cancer from taking a toll on the health. Also, Ayurveda is one of the best remedies for taking care of lung health. Various ayurvedic procedures and therapies have been curated to boost lung function and enhance overall health. Therefore Lung cancer ayurvedic treatment would be the best option for people suffering from Lung Cancer.

Types of lung cancer

Majorly, Lung Cancer has two main types.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

About 80-85% of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer. It has subtypes- adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. 

These subtypes begin with different types of lung cells. But because their prognosis and treatments are similar, they are grouped together. 

• Adenocarcinoma- This type of lung cancer persists in people who have smoked in the past. Usually, the origin is in the cells that would produce a substance called mucus. Women are more susceptible to adenocarcinoma than men, and it is more likely to occur in young adults. It can be diagnosed early before it spreads to distant organs. 
• Squamous cell carcinoma- This type of cancer begins in the cells of the lungs called squamous cells, which are flat cells that outline the inside part of the airways in the lungs. Those with a history of smoking are more prone to this form of lung cancer. It develops in the central part of the lungs, near the main airway, called the bronchus. 
• Large cell (undifferentiated) carcinoma- It may grow in any part of the lung. It tends to grow aggressively, which makes diagnoses tricky. A subtype of large cell carcinoma called large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is fast-growing cancer similar to small cell lung cancer. 

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

Around 10 to 15% of all lung cancers are small-cell lung cancers. It is also called oat cell cancer, which has a progressive rate than non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC. 

In most cases, the progression is so fast that by the time they get to know about it, it has already spread to the other organs. As cancer grows quickly, it responds well to chemotherapies and radiation therapies. So far, cancer has returned in so many cases later in life. 

Other types of lung cancer

Lung carcinoid tumours – Carcinoid tumours occur in 5% of cancer cases. Most of them grow gradually over time. 

Other lung tumours – Other types of lung cancers include lymphomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas, and sarcomas, hamartomas.

Cancers that spread to the lungs – Cancers that begin in the other organs, including the pancreas, breast, or kidneys, may also spread to the kidneys. But they do not develop in the lungs in the first place. For instance, cancer in the pancreas may also gradually swell to the lungs if not managed well. Treatment usually includes treating cancer where it started, which is called the primary site of cancer.

Signs and symptoms

It’s possible that people suffering from lung cancer might not experience symptoms until a later stage. However, some possible lung cancer symptoms include-

• changes in the voice, such as hoarseness
• recurrent infections in the chest, such as bronchitis or pneumonia
• swelling in the lymph nodes 
• A lasting cough that may start to get worse
• chest pain
• shortness of breath 
• wheezing sound while breathing

As cancer progresses, symptoms may extend to the severity and include-

• severe chest pain
• bone pain and bone fractures
• headaches
• coughing up blood
• blood clots
• appetite loss 
• weight loss
• fatigue

Stages of non-small cell lung cancer

Healthcare professionals check out the size of the tumour to map out the stage of non-small cell lung cancer.

Hidden- Cancer that does not show up signs of damage during imaging scans but phlegms or mucus may have cancerous cells; it is called hidden cancer or occult cancer. 

Stage 0- The presence of abnormal cells in the top layers of the cells lining the airways is said to be stage 0 cancer. 

Stage 1- Tumour cells are visible in the lungs, but it is 4 centimetres and has not spread to the other parts of the body. 

Stage 2- The tumour is 7 cm or under fan out to nearby lymph nodes and tissues. 

Stage 3- The tumour cells have already reached the lymph nodes and other parts. 

Stage 4- Cancer has spread to nearby body parts, including the bones.