Lung cancer detected at an early stage is curable! At Dr Daniel’s Medical Centre, we propose lung scanner to our patients, according international scientific guidelines. Three major medical organisations; the National Comprehensive Network, the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend screening for lung cancer in smokers with annual lung CT scans starting at the age of 55. Being diagnosed with lung cancer at an early stage does make it more likely that surgery, the best treatment for most types of lung cancer, can remove and cure the cancer.
But what are the risks of Lung CT scan? The risks are: exposure to radiation, finding of very small abnormalities which require further follow up scans, but also finding abnormalities that are eventually determined not to be cancer. Lung CT scans find abnormalities in more than 20 per cent of smokers and former smokers, but, most of these abnormalities are scares from inflammation or non-cancerous conditions.
Lung cancer, also known as carcinoma of the lung or pulmonary carcinoma, is a malignant lung tumour characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung by process of metastasis into nearby tissue or other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in the lung, known as primary lung cancers, are carcinomas that derive from epithelial cells. The main primary types are small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The most common symptoms are coughing (including coughing up blood), weight loss, shortness of breath, and chest pains.
The vast majority (80–90%) of cases of lung cancer are due to long-term exposure to tobacco smoke. About 10–15% of cases occur in people, who have never smoked. These cases are often caused by a combination of genetic factors radon gas, asbestos, or other forms of air pollution, including second-hand smoke. Lung cancer may be seen on chest radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans. The diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy which is usually performed by bronchoscopy or CT-guidance.
Treatment and long-term outcomes depend on the type of cancer, the stage (degree of spread), and the person’s overall health, measured by performance status. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. NSCLC is sometimes treated with surgery, whereas SCLC usually responds better to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Overall, 16.8% of people in the United States diagnosed with lung cancer survive five years after the diagnosis, while outcomes on average are worse in the developing world. Worldwide, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and women, and was responsible for 1.56 million deaths annually, as of 2012.
