Informative Speech Outline On Lung Cancer
I. Introduction 1
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, its deadly claws stretched over all continents in the world. Lung cancer is now the most prevalent form of cancer affecting Americans with an estimated 222,500 new cases every year, according to the American Cancer Society in 2010. A few symptoms of Lung cancer are: stubborn cough that will not quit, sometimes accompanied by a hoarse throat, pain in the chest and respiratory infections. As the cancer worsens and spreads the patient may experience: severe coughing, feelings of weakness and fatigue, and odd lumps appearing on the body.Although lung cancer is difficult to treat and cure, it is for the most part preventable. Lifestyle choices can be made which can …show more content…
almost eliminate your risk for getting the disease. Your decision to stop smoking and to eat a healthy diet featuring plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can greatly decrease your risk.
II. Defenition-
Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. When a cell divides once, there should be twin cells with the same DNA. Unfortunately, sometimes the DNA in one cell mutates and continues to grow, at a much faster rate than normal cells. It can be caused by environmental factors (smoking, asbestos, etc.) or can be caused simply from the normal aging process.
A) Different forms and stage 2-
Non-small cell lung carcinoma
Small cell lung carcinoma
Carcinoid
Sarcoma
Unspecified lung cancer
stage 2 of lung cancer is life expectancy
B) How it is stage 2 categorized
Stage 2 lung cancer life expectancy can vary considerably among different people. Some of these variables include:
Your particular lung cancer type and location – Stage 2 lung cancer encompasses several lung cancer types, and includes cancers that are small but have spread to nearby lymph nodes, or larger but have not spread to any lymph nodes
Your age – Younger people tend to live longer than older people with lung cancer
Your sex – The life expectancy for woman with lung cancer is higher at each stage of lung cancer
Your general health at the time of diagnosis – Being healthy overall at the time of diagnosis is associated with a longer life expectancy, and a greater ability to withstand treatments that may extend survival
How you respond to treatment .
Complications of lung cancer – Complications such as blood clots can lower stage 2 lung cancer life expectancy
Smoking - Continued smoking after a diagnosis of stage 2 lung cancer appears to lower survival
III. Different causes of lung cancer
Cigarette
smoking is the most important cause of lung cancer. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which have been identified as causing cancer.
A person who smokes more than one pack of cigarettes per day has a 20-25 times greater risk of developing lung cancer than someone who has never smoked.
Once a person quits smoking, his or her risk for lung cancer gradually decreases. About 15 years after quitting, the risk for lung cancer decreases to the level of someone who never smoked.
Cigar and pipe smoking increases the risk of lung cancer but not as much as smoking cigarettes.
About 90% of lung cancers arise due to tobacco use. The risk of developing lung cancer is related to the following factors
The number of cigarettes smoked
The age at which a person started smoking
How long a person has smoked (or had smoked before quitting)
Other causes of lung cancer, including causes of lung cancer in nonsmokers, include the following:
Passive smoking, or
secondhand smoke, presents another risk for lung cancer. An estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year in the U.S. that are attributable to passive smoking.
Air pollution from motor vehicles, factories, and other sources probably increase the risk for lung cancer, and many experts believe that prolonged exposure to polluted air is similar to prolonged exposure to passive smoking in terms of risk for developing lung cancer.
Asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer nine times. A combination of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking raises the risk to as much as 50 times. Another cancer known as
mesothelioma (a type of cancer of the lining of the chest cavity called the pleura or of the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum) is also strongly associated with exposure to asbestos.
Lung diseases, such as
tuberculosis (TB) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also create a risk for lung cancer. A person with COPD has a four to six times greater risk of lung cancer even when the effect of cigarette smoking is excluded.
Radon exposure poses another risk.
Radon is a by-product of naturally occurring radium, which is a product of uranium.
Radon is present in indoor and outdoor air.
The risk for lung cancer increases with significant long-term exposure to radon, although no one knows the exact risk. An estimated 12% of lung cancer deaths are attributable to radon gas, or about 21,000 lung cancer-related deaths annually in the U.S. Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after cigarette smoking. As with asbestos exposure, smoking greatly increases the risk of lung cancer with radon exposure.
Certain occupations where exposure to arsenic, chromium, nickel, aromatic hydrocarbons, and ethers occurs may increase the risk of lung cancer.
A person who has had lung cancer is more likely to develop a second lung cancer than the average person is to develop a first lung cancer.
B) Causes from tobacco smoking 2-3
Tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally.
[3] Tobacco use leads most commonly to diseases affecting the heart, liver and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), and cancer (particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer). It also causes peripheral vascular disease and hypertension. The effects depend on the number of years that a person smokes and on how much the person smokes. Starting smoking earlier in life and smoking cigarettes higher in tar increases the risk of these diseases. Also, environmental tobacco smoke, or secondhand smoke, has been shown to cause adverse health effects in people of all ages
The
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco caused 5.4 million deaths in 2004[6] and 100 million deaths over the course of the 20th century.[7] Similarly, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes tobacco use as "the single most important preventable risk to human health in developed countries and an important cause of premature death worldwide."[
Tobacco also contains
nicotine, which is a highly addictive psychoactive drug.
When tobacco is smoked, nicotine causes physical and psychological dependency. Tobacco use is a significant factor in miscarriages among pregnant smokers, and it contributes to a number of other threats to the health of the fetus such as premature births and low birth weight and increases by 1.4 to 3 times the chance for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
V. Diagnosis 4
How is lung cancer diagnosed?
Your doctor will check your symptoms and ask questions about whether you smoke or have been exposed to another person's smoke or to any cancer-causing substances. He or she will also ask about your medical history, including any history of cancer in your family. This information will help your doctor decide how likely it is that you have lung cancer and whether you need tests to be sure.
Lung cancer is usually first found on a chest
X-ray or a CT scan. More tests are done to find out what kind of cancer cells you have and whether they have spread beyond your lung. These tests help your doctor and you find out what stage the cancer is in. The stage is a rating to measure how big the cancer is and how far it has spread.
Soon after your results are in, your doctor will inform you if the cancer …show more content…
is
benign (non-cancerous), or malignant (cancerous.) If the abnormality is malignant, further studies are done to see if the cancer has spread to other areas in the body.
A chest x-ray is usually the first test performed to evaluate any concerns based on a careful history and physical. This may show a mass in the lungs or enlarged lymph nodes. Sometimes the chest x-ray is normal, and further tests are needed look for a suspected lung cancer. Even if a mass is found, these are not always cancerous and further studies are needed.
A CT scan is frequently the second step either to follow up on an abnormal chest x-ray finding, or to evaluate troublesome symptoms in those with a normal chest x-ray. CT scanning involves a series of x-rays that create a 3-dimensional view of the lungs. If the CT is abnormal, the diagnosis of lung cancer still needs confirmation through a sample of tissue by one of the procedures below.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
In some patients, MRI will be used to evaluate the possibility of lung cancer. This procedure uses magnetism and does not involve radiation. Certain individuals, such as those with metal implants (pacemakers, etc) should not have MRI scans. The technician will ask questions to make sure these are not present.
PET scan
A PET scan uses radioactive material to create colorful 3-dimensional images of a region of the body. This type of scan differs from the others in that it defines tumors that are actively growing. As an addition to the other procedures, some researchers suggest that PET scanning may detect tumors earlier, even before they are visible anatomically through other studies.
Sputum Cytology
After a lung cancer is suspected based on imaging, a sample of tissue is required to confirm the diagnosis and determine the type of cancer. Sputum cytology is the easiest way to do this, but its use is limited to those tumors that extend into the airways. Sputum cytology is not always accurate and can miss some cancer cells.
Endobronchial ultrasound is a relatively new technique for diagnosing lung cancer. During a bronchoscopy, physicians use an ultrasound probe within the airway to examine the lungs and area between the lungs
Test to Determine Spread of Lung Cancer (
Metastasis)
Lung cancer most commonly spreads to the
liver, the adrenal glands, the brain, and the bones. Common tests include:
CT scan of the abdomen – to check for spread to the liver or adrenal glands
CT scan of the brain – to look for
metastases to the brain
Bone Scan – to test for bone involvement, especially the back, hips and ribs
Other Tests During Diagnosis
Additional non-diagnostic tests are frequently performed during the diagnosis of lung cancer as well. These can include:
Pulmonary function tests – these test lung capacity and can determine how much the tumor is interfering with breathing, and sometimes, whether it is safe to perform surgery
Blood tests – certain blood tests can detect biochemical abnormalities caused by lung cancers, and can also suggest spread of the tumor
Chest X-Ray/Chest CT Terminology
At this time, it may also help to understand some of the terminology used by doctors to describe a "spot" on the lungs. A "lung nodule" is defined as an abnormality that is 3 cm (1 1/2 inches) in diameter or smaller. In contrast the term "lung mass" is used to describe an abnormal region on a imaging study of the chest that is greater than 3 cm in diameter.
VII.
Treatment
Treatment for lung cancer includes surgery, anti-cancer medicines (
chemotherapy), radiation, or a mix of all three. It depends on what type of cancer you have and how much it has spread.
Few lung cancers are found in the early stages when treatment is most effective. When lung cancer is found before it has spread outside the lungs, about half of these people will live at least 5 more years. After lung cancer has spread outside the lungs, how long a person lives usually depends on how far the cancer has spread (the stage) by the time it is found.
It can be very scary to learn that you may have lung cancer. Talking with your doctor or joining a support group may help you deal with your feelings. Having support from family and friends can help a lot. And staying as active as possible will also help.
A) Types of treatment 6
More than one type of therapy may be prescribed for lung cancer. In such cases, the therapy that is added to enhance the effects of the primary therapy is referred to as adjuvant therapy. An example of adjuvant therapy is chemotherapy or radiotherapy administered after surgical removal of a tumor in an attempt to kill any tumor cells that remain following
surgery.
Surgery
: Surgical removal of the tumor is generally performed for limited-stage (stage I or sometimes stage II) NSCLC and is the treatment of choice for cancer that has not spread beyond the lung. About 10%-35% of lung cancers can be removed surgically, but removal does not always result in a cure, since the tumors may already have spread and can recur at a later time. Among people who have an isolated, slow-growing lung cancer removed, 25%-40% are still alive five years after diagnosis. It is important to note that although a tumor may be anatomically suitable for resection, surgery may not be possible if the person has other serious conditions (such as severe heart or lung disease) that would limit their ability to survive an operation. Surgery is less often performed with SCLC than with NSCLC because these tumors are less likely to be localized to one area that can be removed.
The surgical procedure chosen depends upon the size and location of the tumor. Surgeons must open the chest wall and may perform a wedge resection of the lung (removal of a portion of one lobe), a lobectomy (removal of one lobe), or a pneumonectomy (removal of an entire lung). Sometimes lymph nodes in the region of the lungs also are removed (lymphadenectomy). Surgery for lung cancer is a major surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia, hospitalization, and follow-up care for weeks to months. Following the surgical procedure, patients may experience difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, pain, and weakness. The risks of surgery include complications due to bleeding, infection, and complications of general anesthesia.
Radiation
: Radiation therapy may be employed as a treatment for both NSCLC and SCLC. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill dividing cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be given as curative therapy, palliative therapy (using lower doses of radiation than with curative therapy), or as adjuvant therapy in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. The radiation is either delivered externally, by using a machine that directs radiation toward the cancer, or internally through placement of radioactive substances in sealed containers within the area of the body where the tumor is localized.
Brachytherapy is a term used to describe the use of a small pellet of radioactive material placed directly into the cancer or into the airway next to the cancer. This is usually done through a bronchoscope.
Radiation therapy can be given if a person refuses surgery, if a tumor has spread to areas such as the lymph nodes or trachea making surgical removal impossible, or if a person has other conditions that make them too ill to undergo major surgery. Radiation therapy generally only shrinks a tumor or limits its growth when given as a sole therapy, yet in 10%-15% of people it leads to long-term remission and palliation of the cancer. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy can further prolong survival when chemotherapy is administered. External radiation therapy can generally be carried out on an outpatient basis, while internal radiation therapy requires a brief hospitalization. A person who has severe lung disease in addition to a lung cancer may not be able to receive radiotherapy to the lung since the radiation can further decrease function of the lungs. A type of external radiation therapy called the "gamma knife" is sometimes used to treat single brain metastases. In this procedure, multiple beams of radiation coming from different directions are focused on the tumor over a few minutes to hours while the head is held in place by a rigid frame. This reduces the dose of radiation that is received by noncancerous tissues.
For external radiation therapy, a process called simulation is necessary prior to treatment. Using CT scans, computers, and precise measurements, simulation maps out the exact location where the radiation will be delivered, called the treatment field or port. This process usually takes 30 minutes to two hours. The external radiation treatment itself generally is done four or five days a week for several weeks.
Radiation therapy does not carry the risks of major surgery, but it can have unpleasant side effects, including fatigue and lack of energy. A reduced white blood cell count (rendering a person more susceptible to infection) and low blood platelet levels (making blood clotting more difficult and resulting in excessive bleeding) also can occur with radiation therapy. If the digestive organs are in the field exposed to radiation, patients may experience
nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Radiation therapy can irritate the skin in the area that is treated, but this irritation generally improves with time after treatment has ended.
Chemotherapy
: Both NSCLC and SCLC may be treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy refers to the administration of drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells by killing them or preventing them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be given alone, as an adjuvant to surgical therapy, or in combination with radiotherapy. While a number of chemotherapeutic drugs have been developed, the class of drugs known as the platinum-based drugs have been the most effective in treatment of lung cancers.
Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for most SCLC, since these tumors are generally widespread in the body when they are diagnosed. Only half of people who have SCLC survive for four months without chemotherapy. With chemotherapy, their survival time is increased up to four- to fivefold. Chemotherapy alone is not particularly effective in treating NSCLC, but when NSCLC has metastasized, it can prolong survival in many cases.
Chemotherapy may be given as pills, as an intravenous infusion, or as a combination of the two. Chemotherapy treatments usually are given in an outpatient setting. A combination of drugs is given in a series of treatments, called cycles, over a period of weeks to months, with breaks in between cycles. Unfortunately, the drugs used in chemotherapy also kill normally dividing cells in the body, resulting in unpleasant side effects. Damage to blood cells can result in increased susceptibility to infections and difficulties with blood clotting (bleeding or bruising easily). Other side effects include fatigue, weight loss,
hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mouth sores. The side effects of chemotherapy vary according to the dosage and combination of drugs used and may also vary from individual to individual. Medications have been developed that can treat or prevent many of the side effects of chemotherapy. The side effects generally disappear during the recovery phase of the treatment or after its completion.
B) Rehabilitation 6-7
In the industrial world incidence and prevalence of lung cancer are increasing. At the same time new drugs and new therapies can improve cure rates, prolong survival and procure better quality of life. Nowadays, oncology provides multimodal therapies which may cause psychological and physical stress in the often multimorbid patients. Furthermore, the tumour itself may cause pain and bring about special nutritional and coping problems. Patients may face fear and depression, nicotine withdrawal, socioeconomic problems and the risk of permanent disability. The sequelae of multimodal therapies can vary according to the chosen procedure such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone or immune treatment. After the end of treatment, rehabilitation needs to address the never-ending fear of disease relapse, dyspnoea and suffocation feelings as well as the psychological problems associated with lung cancer. At the initiation of rehabilitation, physical performance is usually limited by the underlying disease as well as the different therapeutic modalities. In Germany, rehabilitation is mainly carried out as in-patient rehabilitation in specialised oncological or pneumological rehabilitation centres. The analysis of published data shows that in-patient rehabilitation has not been evaluated sufficiently for its efficiency so far. This also applies to out-patient rehabilitation, which is largely unavailable in Germany. Oncologists, pneumologists and patient groups agree that rehabilitation should be offered or even strongly recommended to all lung cancer patients.
VIII. How it effects the families 7
How it affects family and friends
People say that when they first told their family members about their lung cancer they were usually met with expressions of shock, fear, and distress - some did not know how to react and seemed embarrassed.
Relationships within families can change as the result of illness, and sometimes news of the diagnosis could help to bring family members closer together. Some patients become aware of how important they are were to their family and friends.
It's sometimes hard to predict how other people will react to the diagnosis. Most family members offer great support, but a few people complain that support had not been forthcoming when they needed it. Some people emphasise that their loved ones have to face a very difficult time too and need support and reassurance themselves.
Many people say that their friends felt uncomfortable and avoided them once they knew about the cancer diagnosis. Some of those with lung cancer found that others would cross the road to avoid a conversation because they did not know what to say. They thought that their friends were either embarrassed by the situation, or that they did not want to confront the idea of death. It was also suggested that other people might think that lung cancer patients were to blame because they had smoked.
Other people, however, report that friends have been marvellous, helping with shopping, offering lifts to the hospital, providing practical help and making normal conversation as usual.
A few people say that they wanted other people to treat them as they had treated them before the diagnosis. They didn't want others to react with tears. Others commented that they did not want fake sympathy.
Some people realize that the diagnosis and the illness had made them self-absorbed or short tempered.
VIIII. Conclusion
thesis statement
Lung Cancer is a terrible disease affecting many people around the word. Lung cancer can be caused from an unhealthy life style and symptoms:difficulty breathing, pains in chest, difficulty walking personal suffering: unable to enjoy simple daily tasks such as going grocery shopping, taking walks, being on oxygen due to diffiuclty breathing, unable to spend quality time with family - play with children run around. difficulty breathing lying down (dyspnea if u want to get fancy) treatment: chemotherapy & 5 weeks of radiation therapy everyday another personal suffering causes severe fatigue exhaustion and inconvience.. not to mention depression.. decreased quality of life.. social costs - society .. well if the person doesn't have health insurance and is unemployed (seems to be a growing trend these days) then u qualify for charity care if u really have no money.. unfortuantely if u own a home and have no job or insurance they will take ur house first to cover the medical expenses.. Smoking. Although non smokers can also suffer from lung cancer smoking is a terribly destructive habit because it causes lung cancer. About 90% of lung cancers arise due to tobacco use.
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, its deadly claws stretched over all continents in the world. Lung cancer is now the most prevalent form of cancer affecting Americans with an estimated 222,500 new cases every year, according to the American Cancer Society in 2010. A few symptoms of Lung cancer are: stubborn cough that will not quit, sometimes accompanied by a hoarse throat, pain in the chest and respiratory infections. As the cancer worsens and spreads the patient may experience: severe coughing, feelings of weakness and fatigue, and odd lumps appearing on the body.Although lung cancer is difficult to treat and cure, it is for the most part preventable. Lifestyle choices can be made which can …show more content…
almost eliminate your risk for getting the disease. Your decision to stop smoking and to eat a healthy diet featuring plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can greatly decrease your risk.
II. Defenition-
Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. When a cell divides once, there should be twin cells with the same DNA. Unfortunately, sometimes the DNA in one cell mutates and continues to grow, at a much faster rate than normal cells. It can be caused by environmental factors (smoking, asbestos, etc.) or can be caused simply from the normal aging process.
A) Different forms and stage 2-
Non-small cell lung carcinoma
Small cell lung carcinoma
Carcinoid
Sarcoma
Unspecified lung cancer
stage 2 of lung cancer is life expectancy
B) How it is stage 2 categorized
Stage 2 lung cancer life expectancy can vary considerably among different people. Some of these variables include:
Your particular lung cancer type and location – Stage 2 lung cancer encompasses several lung cancer types, and includes cancers that are small but have spread to nearby lymph nodes, or larger but have not spread to any lymph nodes
Your age – Younger people tend to live longer than older people with lung cancer
Your sex – The life expectancy for woman with lung cancer is higher at each stage of lung cancer
Your general health at the time of diagnosis – Being healthy overall at the time of diagnosis is associated with a longer life expectancy, and a greater ability to withstand treatments that may extend survival
How you respond to treatment .
Complications of lung cancer – Complications such as blood clots can lower stage 2 lung cancer life expectancy
Smoking - Continued smoking after a diagnosis of stage 2 lung cancer appears to lower survival
III. Different causes of lung cancer
Cigarette
smoking is the most important cause of lung cancer. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which have been identified as causing cancer.
A person who smokes more than one pack of cigarettes per day has a 20-25 times greater risk of developing lung cancer than someone who has never smoked.
Once a person quits smoking, his or her risk for lung cancer gradually decreases. About 15 years after quitting, the risk for lung cancer decreases to the level of someone who never smoked.
Cigar and pipe smoking increases the risk of lung cancer but not as much as smoking cigarettes.
About 90% of lung cancers arise due to tobacco use. The risk of developing lung cancer is related to the following factors
The number of cigarettes smoked
The age at which a person started smoking
How long a person has smoked (or had smoked before quitting)
Other causes of lung cancer, including causes of lung cancer in nonsmokers, include the following:
Passive smoking, or
secondhand smoke, presents another risk for lung cancer. An estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year in the U.S. that are attributable to passive smoking.
Air pollution from motor vehicles, factories, and other sources probably increase the risk for lung cancer, and many experts believe that prolonged exposure to polluted air is similar to prolonged exposure to passive smoking in terms of risk for developing lung cancer.
Asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer nine times. A combination of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking raises the risk to as much as 50 times. Another cancer known as
mesothelioma (a type of cancer of the lining of the chest cavity called the pleura or of the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum) is also strongly associated with exposure to asbestos.
Lung diseases, such as
tuberculosis (TB) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also create a risk for lung cancer. A person with COPD has a four to six times greater risk of lung cancer even when the effect of cigarette smoking is excluded.
Radon exposure poses another risk.
Radon is a by-product of naturally occurring radium, which is a product of uranium.
Radon is present in indoor and outdoor air.
The risk for lung cancer increases with significant long-term exposure to radon, although no one knows the exact risk. An estimated 12% of lung cancer deaths are attributable to radon gas, or about 21,000 lung cancer-related deaths annually in the U.S. Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after cigarette smoking. As with asbestos exposure, smoking greatly increases the risk of lung cancer with radon exposure.
Certain occupations where exposure to arsenic, chromium, nickel, aromatic hydrocarbons, and ethers occurs may increase the risk of lung cancer.
A person who has had lung cancer is more likely to develop a second lung cancer than the average person is to develop a first lung cancer.
B) Causes from tobacco smoking 2-3
Tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally.
[3] Tobacco use leads most commonly to diseases affecting the heart, liver and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), and cancer (particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer). It also causes peripheral vascular disease and hypertension. The effects depend on the number of years that a person smokes and on how much the person smokes. Starting smoking earlier in life and smoking cigarettes higher in tar increases the risk of these diseases. Also, environmental tobacco smoke, or secondhand smoke, has been shown to cause adverse health effects in people of all ages
The
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco caused 5.4 million deaths in 2004[6] and 100 million deaths over the course of the 20th century.[7] Similarly, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes tobacco use as "the single most important preventable risk to human health in developed countries and an important cause of premature death worldwide."[
Tobacco also contains
nicotine, which is a highly addictive psychoactive drug.
When tobacco is smoked, nicotine causes physical and psychological dependency. Tobacco use is a significant factor in miscarriages among pregnant smokers, and it contributes to a number of other threats to the health of the fetus such as premature births and low birth weight and increases by 1.4 to 3 times the chance for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
V. Diagnosis 4
How is lung cancer diagnosed?
Your doctor will check your symptoms and ask questions about whether you smoke or have been exposed to another person's smoke or to any cancer-causing substances. He or she will also ask about your medical history, including any history of cancer in your family. This information will help your doctor decide how likely it is that you have lung cancer and whether you need tests to be sure.
Lung cancer is usually first found on a chest
X-ray or a CT scan. More tests are done to find out what kind of cancer cells you have and whether they have spread beyond your lung. These tests help your doctor and you find out what stage the cancer is in. The stage is a rating to measure how big the cancer is and how far it has spread.
Soon after your results are in, your doctor will inform you if the cancer …show more content…
is
benign (non-cancerous), or malignant (cancerous.) If the abnormality is malignant, further studies are done to see if the cancer has spread to other areas in the body.
A chest x-ray is usually the first test performed to evaluate any concerns based on a careful history and physical. This may show a mass in the lungs or enlarged lymph nodes. Sometimes the chest x-ray is normal, and further tests are needed look for a suspected lung cancer. Even if a mass is found, these are not always cancerous and further studies are needed.
A CT scan is frequently the second step either to follow up on an abnormal chest x-ray finding, or to evaluate troublesome symptoms in those with a normal chest x-ray. CT scanning involves a series of x-rays that create a 3-dimensional view of the lungs. If the CT is abnormal, the diagnosis of lung cancer still needs confirmation through a sample of tissue by one of the procedures below.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
In some patients, MRI will be used to evaluate the possibility of lung cancer. This procedure uses magnetism and does not involve radiation. Certain individuals, such as those with metal implants (pacemakers, etc) should not have MRI scans. The technician will ask questions to make sure these are not present.
PET scan
A PET scan uses radioactive material to create colorful 3-dimensional images of a region of the body. This type of scan differs from the others in that it defines tumors that are actively growing. As an addition to the other procedures, some researchers suggest that PET scanning may detect tumors earlier, even before they are visible anatomically through other studies.
Sputum Cytology
After a lung cancer is suspected based on imaging, a sample of tissue is required to confirm the diagnosis and determine the type of cancer. Sputum cytology is the easiest way to do this, but its use is limited to those tumors that extend into the airways. Sputum cytology is not always accurate and can miss some cancer cells.
Endobronchial ultrasound is a relatively new technique for diagnosing lung cancer. During a bronchoscopy, physicians use an ultrasound probe within the airway to examine the lungs and area between the lungs
Test to Determine Spread of Lung Cancer (
Metastasis)
Lung cancer most commonly spreads to the
liver, the adrenal glands, the brain, and the bones. Common tests include:
CT scan of the abdomen – to check for spread to the liver or adrenal glands
CT scan of the brain – to look for
metastases to the brain
Bone Scan – to test for bone involvement, especially the back, hips and ribs
Other Tests During Diagnosis
Additional non-diagnostic tests are frequently performed during the diagnosis of lung cancer as well. These can include:
Pulmonary function tests – these test lung capacity and can determine how much the tumor is interfering with breathing, and sometimes, whether it is safe to perform surgery
Blood tests – certain blood tests can detect biochemical abnormalities caused by lung cancers, and can also suggest spread of the tumor
Chest X-Ray/Chest CT Terminology
At this time, it may also help to understand some of the terminology used by doctors to describe a "spot" on the lungs. A "lung nodule" is defined as an abnormality that is 3 cm (1 1/2 inches) in diameter or smaller. In contrast the term "lung mass" is used to describe an abnormal region on a imaging study of the chest that is greater than 3 cm in diameter.
VII.
Treatment
Treatment for lung cancer includes surgery, anti-cancer medicines (
chemotherapy), radiation, or a mix of all three. It depends on what type of cancer you have and how much it has spread.
Few lung cancers are found in the early stages when treatment is most effective. When lung cancer is found before it has spread outside the lungs, about half of these people will live at least 5 more years. After lung cancer has spread outside the lungs, how long a person lives usually depends on how far the cancer has spread (the stage) by the time it is found.
It can be very scary to learn that you may have lung cancer. Talking with your doctor or joining a support group may help you deal with your feelings. Having support from family and friends can help a lot. And staying as active as possible will also help.
A) Types of treatment 6
More than one type of therapy may be prescribed for lung cancer. In such cases, the therapy that is added to enhance the effects of the primary therapy is referred to as adjuvant therapy. An example of adjuvant therapy is chemotherapy or radiotherapy administered after surgical removal of a tumor in an attempt to kill any tumor cells that remain following
surgery.
Surgery
: Surgical removal of the tumor is generally performed for limited-stage (stage I or sometimes stage II) NSCLC and is the treatment of choice for cancer that has not spread beyond the lung. About 10%-35% of lung cancers can be removed surgically, but removal does not always result in a cure, since the tumors may already have spread and can recur at a later time. Among people who have an isolated, slow-growing lung cancer removed, 25%-40% are still alive five years after diagnosis. It is important to note that although a tumor may be anatomically suitable for resection, surgery may not be possible if the person has other serious conditions (such as severe heart or lung disease) that would limit their ability to survive an operation. Surgery is less often performed with SCLC than with NSCLC because these tumors are less likely to be localized to one area that can be removed.
The surgical procedure chosen depends upon the size and location of the tumor. Surgeons must open the chest wall and may perform a wedge resection of the lung (removal of a portion of one lobe), a lobectomy (removal of one lobe), or a pneumonectomy (removal of an entire lung). Sometimes lymph nodes in the region of the lungs also are removed (lymphadenectomy). Surgery for lung cancer is a major surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia, hospitalization, and follow-up care for weeks to months. Following the surgical procedure, patients may experience difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, pain, and weakness. The risks of surgery include complications due to bleeding, infection, and complications of general anesthesia.
Radiation
: Radiation therapy may be employed as a treatment for both NSCLC and SCLC. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill dividing cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be given as curative therapy, palliative therapy (using lower doses of radiation than with curative therapy), or as adjuvant therapy in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. The radiation is either delivered externally, by using a machine that directs radiation toward the cancer, or internally through placement of radioactive substances in sealed containers within the area of the body where the tumor is localized.
Brachytherapy is a term used to describe the use of a small pellet of radioactive material placed directly into the cancer or into the airway next to the cancer. This is usually done through a bronchoscope.
Radiation therapy can be given if a person refuses surgery, if a tumor has spread to areas such as the lymph nodes or trachea making surgical removal impossible, or if a person has other conditions that make them too ill to undergo major surgery. Radiation therapy generally only shrinks a tumor or limits its growth when given as a sole therapy, yet in 10%-15% of people it leads to long-term remission and palliation of the cancer. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy can further prolong survival when chemotherapy is administered. External radiation therapy can generally be carried out on an outpatient basis, while internal radiation therapy requires a brief hospitalization. A person who has severe lung disease in addition to a lung cancer may not be able to receive radiotherapy to the lung since the radiation can further decrease function of the lungs. A type of external radiation therapy called the "gamma knife" is sometimes used to treat single brain metastases. In this procedure, multiple beams of radiation coming from different directions are focused on the tumor over a few minutes to hours while the head is held in place by a rigid frame. This reduces the dose of radiation that is received by noncancerous tissues.
For external radiation therapy, a process called simulation is necessary prior to treatment. Using CT scans, computers, and precise measurements, simulation maps out the exact location where the radiation will be delivered, called the treatment field or port. This process usually takes 30 minutes to two hours. The external radiation treatment itself generally is done four or five days a week for several weeks.
Radiation therapy does not carry the risks of major surgery, but it can have unpleasant side effects, including fatigue and lack of energy. A reduced white blood cell count (rendering a person more susceptible to infection) and low blood platelet levels (making blood clotting more difficult and resulting in excessive bleeding) also can occur with radiation therapy. If the digestive organs are in the field exposed to radiation, patients may experience
nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Radiation therapy can irritate the skin in the area that is treated, but this irritation generally improves with time after treatment has ended.
Chemotherapy
: Both NSCLC and SCLC may be treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy refers to the administration of drugs that stop the growth of cancer cells by killing them or preventing them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be given alone, as an adjuvant to surgical therapy, or in combination with radiotherapy. While a number of chemotherapeutic drugs have been developed, the class of drugs known as the platinum-based drugs have been the most effective in treatment of lung cancers.
Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for most SCLC, since these tumors are generally widespread in the body when they are diagnosed. Only half of people who have SCLC survive for four months without chemotherapy. With chemotherapy, their survival time is increased up to four- to fivefold. Chemotherapy alone is not particularly effective in treating NSCLC, but when NSCLC has metastasized, it can prolong survival in many cases.
Chemotherapy may be given as pills, as an intravenous infusion, or as a combination of the two. Chemotherapy treatments usually are given in an outpatient setting. A combination of drugs is given in a series of treatments, called cycles, over a period of weeks to months, with breaks in between cycles. Unfortunately, the drugs used in chemotherapy also kill normally dividing cells in the body, resulting in unpleasant side effects. Damage to blood cells can result in increased susceptibility to infections and difficulties with blood clotting (bleeding or bruising easily). Other side effects include fatigue, weight loss,
hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mouth sores. The side effects of chemotherapy vary according to the dosage and combination of drugs used and may also vary from individual to individual. Medications have been developed that can treat or prevent many of the side effects of chemotherapy. The side effects generally disappear during the recovery phase of the treatment or after its completion.
B) Rehabilitation 6-7
In the industrial world incidence and prevalence of lung cancer are increasing. At the same time new drugs and new therapies can improve cure rates, prolong survival and procure better quality of life. Nowadays, oncology provides multimodal therapies which may cause psychological and physical stress in the often multimorbid patients. Furthermore, the tumour itself may cause pain and bring about special nutritional and coping problems. Patients may face fear and depression, nicotine withdrawal, socioeconomic problems and the risk of permanent disability. The sequelae of multimodal therapies can vary according to the chosen procedure such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone or immune treatment. After the end of treatment, rehabilitation needs to address the never-ending fear of disease relapse, dyspnoea and suffocation feelings as well as the psychological problems associated with lung cancer. At the initiation of rehabilitation, physical performance is usually limited by the underlying disease as well as the different therapeutic modalities. In Germany, rehabilitation is mainly carried out as in-patient rehabilitation in specialised oncological or pneumological rehabilitation centres. The analysis of published data shows that in-patient rehabilitation has not been evaluated sufficiently for its efficiency so far. This also applies to out-patient rehabilitation, which is largely unavailable in Germany. Oncologists, pneumologists and patient groups agree that rehabilitation should be offered or even strongly recommended to all lung cancer patients.
VIII. How it effects the families 7
How it affects family and friends
People say that when they first told their family members about their lung cancer they were usually met with expressions of shock, fear, and distress - some did not know how to react and seemed embarrassed.
Relationships within families can change as the result of illness, and sometimes news of the diagnosis could help to bring family members closer together. Some patients become aware of how important they are were to their family and friends.
It's sometimes hard to predict how other people will react to the diagnosis. Most family members offer great support, but a few people complain that support had not been forthcoming when they needed it. Some people emphasise that their loved ones have to face a very difficult time too and need support and reassurance themselves.
Many people say that their friends felt uncomfortable and avoided them once they knew about the cancer diagnosis. Some of those with lung cancer found that others would cross the road to avoid a conversation because they did not know what to say. They thought that their friends were either embarrassed by the situation, or that they did not want to confront the idea of death. It was also suggested that other people might think that lung cancer patients were to blame because they had smoked.
Other people, however, report that friends have been marvellous, helping with shopping, offering lifts to the hospital, providing practical help and making normal conversation as usual.
A few people say that they wanted other people to treat them as they had treated them before the diagnosis. They didn't want others to react with tears. Others commented that they did not want fake sympathy.
Some people realize that the diagnosis and the illness had made them self-absorbed or short tempered.
VIIII. Conclusion
thesis statement
Lung Cancer is a terrible disease affecting many people around the word. Lung cancer can be caused from an unhealthy life style and symptoms:difficulty breathing, pains in chest, difficulty walking personal suffering: unable to enjoy simple daily tasks such as going grocery shopping, taking walks, being on oxygen due to diffiuclty breathing, unable to spend quality time with family - play with children run around. difficulty breathing lying down (dyspnea if u want to get fancy) treatment: chemotherapy & 5 weeks of radiation therapy everyday another personal suffering causes severe fatigue exhaustion and inconvience.. not to mention depression.. decreased quality of life.. social costs - society .. well if the person doesn't have health insurance and is unemployed (seems to be a growing trend these days) then u qualify for charity care if u really have no money.. unfortuantely if u own a home and have no job or insurance they will take ur house first to cover the medical expenses.. Smoking. Although non smokers can also suffer from lung cancer smoking is a terribly destructive habit because it causes lung cancer. About 90% of lung cancers arise due to tobacco use.