Symptoms, Diagnostic Tools and Treatment for Lung Cancer
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009It’s a debilitating cancer, one that can take the breath away from millions of people afflicted by it. However, once you realize the warning signs of this illness, you don’t have to become a grim statistic. What is this disease that can cause a million people to suffer from the inability to breathe and even die? Always check witih your doctor when having any cancer symptoms.
This illness is known as cancer of the lungs. How do we describe lung cancer? In reality, the disease presents as catastrophic damage to the lungs caused by the rapid, unrestrained reproduction and spread of cancer cells. The lungs are destroyed by the abnormal cells that have turned to tumor growth, no longer are your lungs filled with the healthy cells it needs to function. You can have lung cancer signs that present as cold symptoms.
Although you have been diagnosed with “lung cancer”, there are actually two different forms of the disease. First, there’s the non-small cell that accounts for nearly 80 percent of lung case diagnosis and secondly, there are the small cell cases that account for about 20 percent of all lung cancer cases. This can be a dangerous condition if not addressed immediately, your vital organs at risk such as the brain, bones, liver and lymph nodes, just to name a few.
Smoking is responsible for most of the lung cancer cases that are being discovered. (approximately 4/5), is often not the way it is. In addition, environmental factors exist, like poisonous gas fumes, exposure to cancer-causing agents and so on. Lung Cancer will spread to the brain if not treated or caught early enough and can present as a migraine headache.
If someone is diagnosed with small cell cancer, what are the symptoms of this cancer disease type? Continuous coughing, wheezing, back pain, swelling of the face, appetite loss and changes in the color and quantity of sputum are all indicators.
A Look At Diagnostic Tools To Detect Lung Cancer – Much like other cancers, getting diagnosed early on is vitally important to your survival rate. Your physician will have you undergo a series of diagnostic tests. What are the different tests that need to be completed?
The procedure will be as such so that tissues can be extracted for further studies, CT two-dimensional x-rays, MRSs, PET scans, x-rays of your lung cavity and biopsies.
There are all kinds of treatments for lung cancer including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. What stage and how widespread your lung cancer is, will indicate the most effective treatment for your particular case. Everything is going to depend on your present health condition, how advanced your cancer is and whether your cancer has mastasized.
**Disclaimer** Always consult your doctor for any medical issues, this is not medical advise.