How to know if I have lung cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the tissues of the lung, usually in the cells of the bronchial epithelium. It presents 4 differentiated types:

  • Epidermoid
  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Undifferentiated large cell
  • Microcytic or small cell undifferentiated

For treatment purposes, these groups are classified into two major groups: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

It represents the main cause of death from cancer in both men and women, although it is not statistically the most frequent carcinoma.

What are the symptoms?

The most common presenting symptom is cough, which may be dry or productive (with expectoration). Other additional symptoms can be:

  • Expectoration, of different characteristics, including hematic or bloody.
  • Breathing sounds
  • Shortness of breath
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Chest pain
  • Pain in other body locations
  • Absence of symptomatology

The most important problem when assessing symptomatology is the overlapping that occurs with previous symptoms of the patient, mostly attributable to previous smoking in the vast majority of patients, which sometimes leads to a delay in consultations when the disease is already well developed or widespread.

What are the causes?

The most frequent etiological cause is tobacco consumption and the continuous inhalation of a series of substances or components of tobacco smoke. Other contributing causes are atmospheric pollution by fumes from petroleum and other fossil fuels and the inhalation of radon gas.

Is it possible to prevent it?

The prevention of smoking, its initiation and cessation, is the first preventive measure for its development. Avoidance of atmospheric pollution and all measures to reduce it.

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Another no less important action is early diagnosis in terms of the final prognosis and response rates to the different treatments to be implemented.

How is it treated?

Treatment will depend on the degree of development and extension of the cancer at the time of diagnosis, known as staging. It is based on surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy.

The establishment and choice of all of them will depend on their localization, local extension or distant dissemination. The same patient could receive only one type of treatment or combined therapies.