The nature and severity of early symptoms of lung cancer in men and women depend on the type, location and stage of the disease. Such tumors are rarely detected in the early stages of development, so representatives of risk groups (smokers, close relatives of cancer patients) need to pay special attention to even mildly expressed symptoms. For the most effective treatment, you should consult a doctor if any alarming changes in your health occur.

First symptoms

What signs appear first at an early stage and how does this happen? Some types of neoplasms make themselves felt quite early due to the fact that they are located in large bronchi, grow rapidly and reach large sizes. Despite the aggressiveness of such tumors, if detected early, most of them can be effectively treated.

In other forms of lung cancer, the first symptoms appear only as the process progresses, while the early stages of the disease are virtually asymptomatic or are accompanied by signs that are mistakenly taken for manifestations of other health problems.

Any cancerous tumor, in addition to local symptoms, causes intoxication of the body; when the focus is localized in the lungs, these manifestations are especially pronounced.

Clinical picture when cancer intoxication

The first symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage are most often accompanied by general health problems caused by the action of toxic waste products of malignant cells and impaired oxygen metabolism. Patients are worried increased fatigue, depression, decreased ability to work, low-grade fever, lack of appetite, weight loss .

Sometimes it is possible to develop the so-called paraneoplastic syndrome due to the effect of tumor toxins on the central nervous system. In this case, there may be problems with speech, swallowing, balance and coordination are impaired.

One of the characteristic manifestations of paraneoplastic syndrome is a change in the shape of the nail phalanges of the fingers (clubs)

Symptoms of intoxication are characteristic of all types of disease.

If the above signs appear, you must visit a therapist at the clinic at your place of residence or go to a private medical institution. The doctor’s task is to understand the causes of the ailment. The more information a specialist receives during a conversation with a patient, the easier it is for him to guess the source of the problem and draw up an examination plan. Therefore, before visiting a doctor, it is useful and correct to make a list of complaints so that at the appointment none of them goes unnoticed. Based on the results of the examination, existing complaints and medical history, the therapist decides which type of x-ray examination is preferable - fluorography, x-ray or CT. The primary diagnostic scheme for severe intoxication also usually includes a detailed general blood test and biochemistry.

Manifestations similar to the clinical picture of pneumonia

Patients complain of shortness of breath, they are worried cough, often with sputum production - mucous, purulent-mucous, mixed with blood. Hoarseness and chest pain.

These symptoms of lung cancer in women and men who smoke at an early stage are often mistaken for an exacerbation of the so-called smoker's bronchitis, whereas their occurrence requires the most serious treatment. In this case, it is better to be safe than to start the disease. An ordinary x-ray or computed tomography, which has become no less common, will allow us to identify the true cause of deterioration in well-being and take the necessary measures in a timely manner. Moreover, absolutely all people who smoke 40 cigarettes a day are recommended to have an x-ray every four months, regardless of whether they cough or not.

Severe manifestations of pneumonia are most characteristic of adenocarcinoma, endobrachial forms of central lung cancer. At peripheral type the symptoms are smoothed out, the clinical picture resembles manifestations of sluggish chronic inflammation.

Manifestations similar to signs of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Patients complain for numbness and weakness in the hand, pain in the shoulder girdle and between the shoulder blades. The presence of a tumor process can be assumed by assessing the condition of the eye muscles on the affected side: a person’s pupil may narrow and the eyelid may droop.

Drooping of the eyelid and constriction of the pupil of the right eye in a patient with Pancoast cancer

In addition, such patients experience asymmetry of sweating by the facial skin (absent on the affected side). This picture is typical for damage to the apex of the lung (Pancoast cancer).

In the later stages of the disease, patients develop manifestations caused by the consequences of tumor growth and metastasis.

Including, a sharp increase in shortness of breath is possible due to the development of atelectasis - the exclusion of the affected organ from the breathing process. The cause of these disorders may be pneumothorax or hemothorax - filling of the pleural cavity with air or blood due to its “depressurization” by a disintegrating tumor. This pleural cavity increases in size and compresses the lung. In addition, atelectasis can be caused by the accumulation of tumor masses and/or sputum in the lumen of the main bronchus.

In addition, lung cancer often has similar symptoms to tuberculosis, including severe weight loss, weakness, fatigue, weakness, blood in the sputum, cough, chest pain, and tachycardia.

At the same time, the symptoms of cancer, the above and other non-cancer diseases have certain differences:

Symptom	Lungs' cancer	Other diseases
Increased body temperature	Unstable, periodic rise to 38°C and above (“candles”). Each such attack is accompanied by severe weakness.	Tuberculosis – constant increase in temperature up to 37.2°C -38°C.
Cough	At the beginning of the disease it is rare, as it develops it is paroxysmal, constant, and does not bring relief.	With tuberculosis - a severe cough with colorless sputum and characteristic blistering wheezing. With pneumonia and fibrosis - accompanied by moist rales.
Hyperhidrosis, including excessive night sweats	Absent	Characteristic of tuberculosis
Swelling in the neck and face	One of the possible signs	Not observed in tuberculosis, pneumonia
Blueness of mucous membranes, skin of fingers, lips, ears	One of the possible signs	Not typical for tuberculosis
Enlarged lymph nodes, chronic runny nose	Not typical	Characteristic of tuberculosis
Acute onset of the disease	Not typical	Characteristic of pneumonia

Symptoms of stage 4 lung cancer

At the last stage, general malaise and respiratory dysfunction are accompanied by signs of malfunction of other organs affected by metastases (microbleeds in the brain, etc.). In particular, the patient may be concerned about the appearance of:

• excruciating pain that occurs when bone tissue is damaged;
• neurological symptoms, manifested by decreased clarity of vision, seizures and headaches (in some cases, the symptoms resemble the picture of a stroke);
• hormonal dysfunction with the development of Cushing's syndrome, accompanied by an increase in calcium levels in the blood, changes in skin color and other characteristic signs.

Important to remember

Attentive attitude to your health and regular preventive examinations make it possible in 87% of cases to detect the disease at the stage when it can and should be successfully combated. Competent, timely assistance can stop the growth of tumors and the spread of cancer cells throughout the body, and in some cases lead to recovery. The diagram once again shows the main signs that should raise suspicion and serve as a reason to consult a doctor.

If you need a second opinion to clarify your diagnosis or treatment plan, send us an application and documents for consultation, or schedule an in-person consultation by phone.

+7 499 490-24-13

Expert opinion

Science degree: Candidate of Medical Sciences

Specialization: oncologist, hematologist, chemotherapy

Job title: head physician

Place of work: "Outpatient Oncology and Hematology Clinic"

City: Moscow

Worked in leading cancer centers in the USA and UK. Trained in medical management in Canada, Germany, Singapore. Author of a number of publications, participates in scientific programs as a principal investigator. Invited expert on thematic radio and television broadcasts on TV channels “Dozhd”, “Mir”, “RBC”, etc., Radio Liberty, “Echo of Moscow”, “Mayak”, etc. Publishes articles and gives interviews to journalists popular publications “AIF”, “Women’s Health”, etc.

Stage 1 – malignant neoplasm in the respiratory system, requiring immediate contact with a medical institution specializing in this disease. The tumor is based on bronchial epithelial tissues of various sizes. The type of disease is recognized by the location of the tumor and can be called central, peripheral, massive, that is, mixed.

Signs of a malignant neoplasm may not appear in any way, but still, you need to pay attention to your own health status. There are also exceptions; the disease is detected if a tumor begins to grow in a certain area of ​​the organ.

The signs and stages of lung cancer in the initial period of development manifest themselves in central localization (in the very center of the respiratory organs). In this place, the tissues from which the tumor begins to form actively irritate the bronchial mucosa, causing improper functionality of the organs. Next, the nerve trunks and hymen grow, which causes pain in a person. At the first stage of lung cancer, metastases are not detected, but what happens to the organs next can lead to immediate death. Rupture of bronchial tissue due to tumor enlargement leads to the opening of internal bleeding.

Signs of stage 1 lung cancer (and in some cases, other stages of lung cancer) of peripheral disease are asymptomatic.

As tumor tissue grows, its size increases, reaching the bronchi, hymen, and organ junctions, which leads to serious consequences.

With any type of pathology, the patient can observe:

• Cough.
• Shortness of breath.
• Increased body temperature due to the inflammatory process.
• Weight loss.
• Loss of appetite.
• Weakness, rapid fatigue.

How does bronchogenic carcinoma manifest in the early stages? , Only a specialist can explain, but if the patient comes to the appointment with obvious symptoms, he will be immediately referred to oncology and the appropriate tests will be prescribed.

When receiving a diagnosis of stage 1 lung cancer, patients wonder how long they can live with this pathology? If you address this problem in time and complete the entire course of treatment, a complete recovery is possible. The first stage of the pathology does not have metastases, but the oncological disease has the ability to develop quickly, so the consequences are very unpredictable, especially without complex treatment.

Diagnosis of lung cancer in the early stages

• The cough may resemble a cold or complications after an acute respiratory infection.
• A clear and serious sign is coughing up mucus and blood.
• Shortness of breath does not appear just like that; you also need to pay attention to this symptom.
• Pain in the chest area that occurs for no reason.

This symptomatology is primary and can develop into more severe forms if not treated.

The initial stage of lung cancer may not show any symptoms if its formation does not affect the bronchi. Tumor cells grow in an environment favorable to them, without complicating breathing and without causing any symptoms until they increase in size. Most cases of stage 1 lung cancer are detected during a routine medical examination. That is, people do not even suspect about the pathology; they learn about their diagnosis after a fluorography image is taken and deciphered.

It is impossible to recognize the early stage of lung cancer by breathing! If this is said by a medical specialist who claims that a cough accompanied by expectoration of blood is the consequences of a cold, do not believe it. Having lost precious time that could have been spent on treatment, people in a hopeless situation trust such “specialists.” Only appropriate diagnostics will help determine the diagnosis, and it is impossible to accurately make a conclusion after listening to breathing in the bronchi area with a stethoscope.

Prognosis after treatment for stage 1 lung cancer

Bronchogenic carcinoma at stage 1 has a high life expectancy and a high chance of full recovery. Innovative technologies and research in the field of medicine have made great strides. As practice shows, patients continue to live a full life after removal of part of the respiratory organ.

To have a chance for a full recovery, you must undergo a full course of procedures prescribed by a specialist. Treatment is necessarily comprehensive and may include:

1. Chemotherapy.
2. Radiation therapy.
3. Operation.
4. Taking medications.
5. Rehabilitation.

Answer whether lung cancer can be treated at an early stage , Sometimes it’s difficult even for the doctors themselves. This disease has not been fully studied, so it behaves unpredictably in each individual case. Medicines prescribed to the patient may cause allergic or other negative reactions that prevent the destruction of malignant cells. Therefore, it is necessary to take other treatment methods that are more gentle on the body, but have less effect on the tumor.

Life expectancy for stage 1 lung cancer

Failure to contact the oncology center in a timely manner significantly reduces the chances of recovery, so if you notice changes in your own health, be sure to seek help immediately.

If therapy is started on time, life expectancy, of course, increases. But according to statistics, only 70-80% of patients diagnosed with the first stage of oncology cross the 5-year life threshold. The rate varies depending on age, physical fitness and other chronic ailments.

Prevention and prevention of disease

Preventing pathology is much easier than getting rid of it. Statistics show that the disease is most often diagnosed in smokers. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle without bad habits gives a great chance for a long, carefree life.

Correct lifestyle, clean air, absence of stressful situations, significantly reduce the likelihood of diseases in general.

Content

According to statistics, more than 60 thousand cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year in Russia. The majority of people at risk are people over 50 years of age. Smoking and air pollution are the main reasons that provoke the development of the disease. The outcome of treatment depends on the timely detection of a malignant tumor.

What is lung cancer

Today, among oncological diseases, lung cancer occupies a leading position. A malignant tumor is formed from the tissue of the lungs and bronchi. Manifestations of the disease depend on the location and form of the tumor.

There are 2 forms of the disease: central and peripheral. In the first case, cancerous tissue develops in areas where blood vessels and nerve endings are concentrated. The disease affects the large bronchi.

Symptoms of a central tumor appear early.

Among them, severe pain and hemoptysis are indicative. The life expectancy of patients is no more than 5 years.

It is difficult to detect peripheral lung cancer at an early stage. The tumor develops slowly. For a long time it has no external manifestations. The tumor affects the epithelium of small bronchi and pulmonary vesicles. The patient experiences pain at the 4th stage of the disease. Patients with this type of cancer live for about 10 years.

Signs of lung cancer do not differ between men and women.

It is extremely rare in children. The risk group includes babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In adolescents, the disease occurs more often and proceeds in the same way as in adults.

Symptoms of lung cancer at an early stage are not associated with disruption of the respiratory system. The first signs of the disease:

• disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system - dizziness, fainting;
• skin problems – itching, dermatitis;
• subfebrile temperature – indicators 37.1–38° C;
• fatigue and weakness in the first half of the day.

Characteristic symptoms

The appearance of clear signs of a lung tumor is typical for late stages. The clinical picture is individual for each patient. It depends on the size of the tumor, the presence of metastases, and the rate of spread of cancer cells.

Temperature

Fever is a nonspecific symptom of a lung tumor. It accompanies many diseases. Long-term indicators of 37–38° C are the first sign of the disease.

Taking antipyretics does not give stable results.

After 2-3 days the fever starts again. At the next stages, it is joined by apathy, lethargy, and unmotivated fatigue.

Cough

A cough helps detect lung cancer. It is observed at all stages of the disease. Infrequent coughing at the initial stage gradually acquires an annoying paroxysmal character.

You should immediately consult a doctor if your cough persists for a month or more.

The symptom manifests itself in different ways. Characteristics of dry cough:

• practically inaudible;
• does not provide relief;
• There is no expectoration.

Physical activity, uncomfortable posture, and hypothermia cause severe coughing attacks. It is accompanied by pulmonary spasms, vomiting, and fainting. A short cough does not last long, but occurs frequently. It provokes intense contraction of the abdominal muscles.

Stages 1 and 2 of cancer are characterized by a dry cough. Strong wet – appears in stages 3 and 4.

No variations in the manifestation of this symptom are expressed in the peripheral form of the disease, which complicates diagnosis.

Sputum

Coughing up light, mucous sputum is a typical symptom of a lung tumor. Detection of blood in it is a reason for bronchoscopy and chest x-ray. In the later stages of the disease, about 200 ml of sputum is produced per day. With a complex form of cancer, it becomes purulent. The mucus takes on a crimson color and a jelly-like consistency.

Pain

Depending on the form of the disease, pain varies in nature and intensity. In most patients, they appear in the area where the tumor is located. In the last stages of lung cancer, the nerve endings are affected and the pain intensifies. When metastases spread, discomfort spreads throughout the body.

The pain can be girdling, stabbing, cutting.

Hypercortisolism syndrome

A tumor in the lungs causes severe hormonal imbalance in the patient’s body - hypercortisolism syndrome. It is characterized by the following symptoms:

• weight gain;
• the appearance of pink stripes on the skin;
• heavy hair growth.

Weight loss

At stage 3 of lung cancer, the patient’s weight decreases by 50%. The patient's nervous and digestive systems are disrupted. No appetite. Frequent vomiting occurs.

Exhaustion weakens the body and brings death closer.

Hemoptysis

At stage 2 of respiratory oncology, hemoptysis appears. Outwardly, it looks like blood streaks in the sputum or blood clots. The pathological phenomenon is associated with the destruction of the blood vessels of the bronchi and alveoli. The disintegration of the tumor causes pulmonary hemorrhage. The patient chokes on blood and coughs it up with a mouthful.

Diagnostics

The first symptoms of a lung tumor are similar to colds. The doctor’s task is to recognize nonspecific signs of lung cancer and prescribe a thorough examination of the patient. The effectiveness of treatment is guaranteed in the early stages of the disease.

Annual chest fluorography helps prevent this dangerous disease.

The examination is especially important for smokers and people employed in hazardous industries.

For a patient with suspected lung cancer, the following chest examinations are prescribed:

• x-ray– is the most common method;
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
• computed tomography (CT)– rarely used as a primary method;
• biopsy– with its help you can determine not only the stage of development of the lesion, but also its type.

Additionally, the doctor prescribes urine and blood tests. The patient's sputum is examined. The results characterize the state of metabolic processes and the functionality of the patient’s internal organs.

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Lung cancer is a disease accompanied by the development of a malignant tumor formation in the lungs.

Lung cancer, the symptoms of which may be absent for a long time, most often occurs due to smoking, and its detection, precisely due to absent symptoms, without preventive methods of studying the area in question, often occurs already at serious stages of the process.

World and Russian statistics on cancer diseases match: 12 percent of Russian patients with cancer pathologies suffer from lung cancer. Among deaths due to malignant tumors, lung cancer in Russia accounts for 15 percent of cases. The situation, according to experts, is close to critical. It is also necessary to highlight the fact that lung cancer is more of a male pathology. Among all malignant neoplasms in men, lung cancer accounts for every fourth case, while in women only every twelfth.

Causes and risk factors

Smoking is considered the main and reliably proven factor in the development of lung cancer. In recent years, a huge amount of research has been carried out in this direction. Now there is no doubt - about 88% of cases are somehow related to smoking.

What's the secret? The carcinogenic effect of smoking, which is caused by the presence of polycyclic aromatic bicarbonates (products of tobacco combustion) in the smoke. In addition, tobacco smoke contains additional carcinogens, which include nicotine derivatives - for example, nitrosamines.

It is impossible not to mention passive smoking. American scientists have found that people who frequently come into contact with a smoker develop cancer 32% more often. A direct relationship has also been identified between the occurrence of lung cancer and an increase in the number of cigarettes smoked per day (2 packs = 25-fold increase in risk) and the period of smoking. An inverse relationship is observed with the quality of tobacco.

However, not only tobacco smoke is carcinogenic. Today it has been proven that substances such as arsenic, beryllium, asbestos, hydrocarbons, chromium and nickel can also provoke the growth of tumor cells. Don't forget about radiation. These are the most common carcinogens, but in fact there are many more of them... And many of them have not yet been fully studied.

Thus, we can identify 4 most important factors:

• Tobacco smoking;
• Genetic predisposition;
• Environmental factors and working conditions;
• Chronic lung diseases.

Types of cancer

1. Small cell lung cancer– occurs in 20% of cases, has an aggressive course. It is characterized by rapid progression and metastasis, early dissemination (spread) of metastases to the mediastinal lymph nodes.
2. Non-small cell lung cancer:
   • Adenocarcinoma – observed in 50% of cases, spreads from the glandular tissue of the bronchi, more often in the initial stages it occurs without symptoms. Characterized by copious sputum production.
   • Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in 20-30% of cases, is formed from flat cells in the epithelium of small and large bronchi, in the root of the lungs, grows and metastasizes slowly.
   • Undifferentiated cancer characterized by high atypicality of cancer cells.
3. Other types of cancer:
   • bronchial carcinoids are formed from hormone-producing cells (asymptomatic, difficult to diagnose, slow growing).
   • tumors from surrounding tissues (vessels, smooth muscles, immune cells, etc.).
   • metastases from tumors localized in other organs.

Small cell lung cancer

Received this name because of the shape of the cells, it is also called neuroendocrine lung cancer. It is one of the most aggressive forms of lung cancer. It occurs mainly in smoking men over 40 years of age. The detection rate of this disease is no more than 25% of all histological types of cancer.

Biological characteristics of small cell cancer:

• small sizes (only twice as large as a lymphocyte - blood cells);
• malignancy;
• rapid growth, active doubling of volume within 30 days, for comparison in other forms of cancer - more than 100 days;
• sensitivity of cancer cell receptors to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

There are several types of small cell cancer:

• oat cell;
• intermediate;
• combined.

Small cell neoplasms are capable of producing some hormones (ACTH, antidiuretic, somatotropic).

The clinical symptoms of small cell cancer are not fundamentally different from other forms of lung cancer, with the exception that the pathogenesis develops rapidly, and the manifestations visible to the researcher are scarce.

Non-small cell lung cancer

This group of oncological diseases differs from small cell forms in histological features. Clinically manifested:

• increased fatigue;
• pulmonary syndrome (shortness of breath, cough, hemoptysis);
• progressive loss of body weight.

Includes about 80% of all patients with malignant diseases.

There are three main histological forms of non-small cell cancer:

• squamous;
• large cell;
• adenocarcinoma.

The disease is characterized by a subclinical course of pathogenesis up to stages 2-3. For example, about 30% of patients recognize their diagnosis at stage 3, about 40% at stage 4.

The disease is characterized by a rapid course of the last stages. Within five years, only 15-17% of patients remain alive.

The first signs of lung cancer

It is most important to identify the disease in the early stages of tumor development, and most often the course at the onset of the disease is asymptomatic or asymptomatic.

Symptoms of lung cancer are nonspecific and can appear in many other diseases, but a set of symptoms may be a reason to consult a doctor for further examination for the presence of cancer.

Depending on the spread of the lesion, shape, location and stage, the first signs of lung cancer may be different. However, there are a number of common symptoms, the presence of which can be suspected:

1. Cough. Dry, frequent, persistent, paroxysmal, later wet with copious secretion of thick sputum (mucous or purulent).
2. Dyspnea. It appears with little physical activity: the larger the tumor damage, the more pronounced shortness of breath. Possible shortness of breath due to bronchial obstruction, accompanied by noisy wheezing.
3. Hemoptysis. It is rare and is manifested by the appearance of streaks or blood clots in the sputum, copious discharge of foamy or jelly-like sputum is possible, and in rare cases, profuse bleeding, which can lead to the rapid death of the patient.
4. Pain. The pain can be different: from periodic to acute paroxysmal and constant. The pain can radiate to the shoulder, neck, or stomach. The pain may also intensify with deep breathing or coughing. The pain is not relieved by taking non-narcotic painkillers. The intensity of the pain can be used to judge the extent of damage to the lungs and other organs of the chest.
5. Temperature increase. A common symptom of cancer. The symptom may be temporary (as with ARVI) or recurring (sometimes patients do not pay attention to this symptom).
6. General symptoms. Decreased appetite, weight loss, fatigue, nervous system disorders and others.

Symptoms of lung cancer

Clinical manifestations of lung cancer significantly depend on the location of the primary tumor node.

Central lung cancer

The tumor, originating from the mucous membrane of a large bronchus, manifests itself quite early. As it grows, it irritates the bronchial mucosa, causing disruption of bronchial patency and ventilation of a segment, lobe or the entire lung in the form of hypoventilation and atelectasis. Subsequently, growing through the nerve trunks and pleura, the tumor causes pain and disruption of the innervation of the corresponding nerve (phrenic, recurrent or vagus), as well as a picture of the involvement of the pleura in the tumor process. Associated metastasis leads to the appearance of secondary symptoms in the affected organs and systems.

When the tumor grows into the bronchus, a cough appears, first dry, then with light sputum, sometimes mixed with blood. Hypoventilation of the lung segment occurs and then atelectasis. The sputum becomes purulent, which is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, general malaise, and shortness of breath. Cancer pneumonia is added, which is relatively easily cured, but often recurs. Cancerous pneumonia may be accompanied by cancerous pleurisy, accompanied by pain.

If the tumor grows into the recurrent nerve, hoarseness occurs due to paralysis of the vocal muscles. Damage to the phrenic nerve causes diaphragmatic paralysis. Pericardial growth is manifested by pain in the heart area.

Damage to the superior vena cava by a tumor or its metastases causes disruption of the outflow of blood and lymph from the upper half of the body, upper extremities, head and neck. The patient's face becomes puffy, with a cyanotic tint, and the veins in the neck, arms, and chest swell.

Peripheral lung cancer

In the initial stage, a peripheral tumor is asymptomatic due to the absence of pain endings in the lung tissue. Subsequently, the tumor node grows, the bronchi, pleura and neighboring organs grow; subsequently, decay and bleeding may occur in the center of the tumor.

In case of lung cancer, the following local symptoms may be observed: cough, bleeding with sputum, hoarseness, syndrome of tumor compression of the superior vena cava and mediastinal displacement, symptoms of tumor invasion of neighboring organs. A particularly characteristic clinical picture, due to localization, is apical lung cancer with Pancoast syndrome.

With cancerous pleurisy, lung compression syndrome with exudate is associated.

General symptoms include a general deterioration in the body's condition, characteristic of the development of malignant tumors: intoxication, shortness of breath, weakness, weight loss, increased body temperature. For lung cancer, calcium metabolism disorders, dermatitis and finger deformities like “drumsticks” are also added.

In advanced stages, symptoms of metastatic damage to vital organs are added, as well as processes of tumor and lung tissue disintegration, bronchial obstruction, atelectasis, and severe pulmonary hemorrhage that join tumor growth.

Stages

When faced with lung cancer, many people do not know how to determine the stage of the disease. In oncology, when assessing the nature and extent of lung cancer, 4 stages of disease development are classified.

However, the duration of any stage is purely individual for each patient. This depends on the size of the tumor and the presence of metastases, as well as on the speed of the disease.

Highlight:

• Stage 1 – tumor less than 3 cm. Located within the boundaries of a segment of the lung or one bronchus. There are no metastases. Symptoms are subtle or non-existent.
• 2 – tumor up to 6 cm, located within the boundaries of a segment of the lung or bronchus. Single metastases in individual lymph nodes. Symptoms are more pronounced: hemoptysis, pain, weakness, and loss of appetite appear.
• 3 – the tumor exceeds 6 cm, penetrates into other parts of the lung or neighboring bronchi. Numerous metastases. Symptoms include blood in mucopurulent sputum and shortness of breath.

How does the last stage 4 of lung cancer manifest?

At this stage of lung cancer, the tumor metastasizes to other organs. Five-year survival rate is 1% for small cell cancer and 2 to 15% for non-small cell cancer

The patient develops the following symptoms:

• Constant pain when breathing, which is difficult to live with.
• Chest pain
• Decreased body weight and appetite
• Blood clots slowly, and fractures (bone metastases) often occur.
• The appearance of severe coughing attacks, often with sputum, sometimes with blood and pus.
• The appearance of severe pain in the chest, which directly indicates damage to nearby tissues, since there are no pain receptors in the lungs themselves.
• Symptoms of cancer also include heavy breathing and shortness of breath, if the cervical lymph nodes are affected, difficulty speaking is felt.

Small cell lung cancer, which develops rapidly and affects the body in a short time, is characterized by only 2 stages of development:

• limited stage, when cancer cells are localized in one lung and tissues located in close proximity.
• extensive or extensive stage, when the tumor metastasizes to areas outside the lung and to distant organs.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of lung cancer is carried out in several stages. If pathological changes are detected on fluorography or x-ray of the chest organs (focus, compaction, decrease in lung volume, increased pulmonary pattern, etc.), images are prescribed in additional projections with multiple magnification in different phases of the respiratory cycle.

The patient undergoes a computed tomography scan to determine the presence of metastases and the condition of the lymph nodes.

Bronchoscopy is an effective method of examination, but not for all types of tumors. So, it is absolutely useless for detecting peripheral cancer.

If necessary, an endoscopic bronchological examination is performed, and in case of peripheral cancer, the diagnosis can be clarified using a transthoracic (through the chest) targeted biopsy under X-ray control.

If all of these methods do not make it possible to make a diagnosis, then they resort to thoracotomy (opening the chest). In this case, an urgent histological examination is carried out, and, if necessary, the focus of tumor growth is immediately removed. Thus, the diagnostic procedure immediately turns into surgical treatment of the disease.

Treatment

Standard treatments for lung cancer are:

• surgical removal of the tumor;
• Chemotherapy is the intravenous administration of chemical drugs that suppress the growth of tumor cells.
• Radiation therapy – exposure of altered cells to hard types of radiation.

Apply the above as a single method or in combination. Some forms, such as small cell carcinoma, are not amenable to surgery but are sensitive to chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy

The tactics of mass chemotherapy are determined by the form of the disease and the stage of carcinogenesis.

Common cytostatics are pharmacological drugs that have the ability to suppress the growth of cancer cells: Cisplatin, Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, Nimustine, Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, Irinotecan, Gemcitabine. These drugs are used before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor. In some cases, the method has a good therapeutic effect. Side effects after using cytostatics are reversible.

Relatively recently introduced into practical use:

• hormonal treatments;
• immunological (cytokinetic) methods of combating lung cancer.

Their limited use is due to the complexity of hormonal correction of certain forms of cancer. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy do not effectively fight cancer in an immune-compromised body.

Consequences of chemotherapy

Side effects may include nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, and hair loss. Also, all the troubles are accompanied by ulcers on the oral mucosa, and there is a feeling of increased fatigue. Further, the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow suffers, leukocytes and hemoglobin decrease, and various types of infections can occur.

There are drugs that minimize side effects; they can prevent everything, including nausea. Before using chemotherapy drugs, it is better to cool the hair roots; this effect has a more than beneficial effect on them. After the medications are discontinued, the hair grows back and grows at an even faster rate than before.

As an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of lung cancer, ASD, which is a drug of natural origin. But before using this drug, consulting a specialist will not be superfluous, because, like any other drug, it has its contraindications. ASD 2 itself is used orally for the treatment of lung cancer, but local use is also possible.

Promising treatments for lung cancer

Radiation therapy

• Visually controlled radiation therapy to a cancer cell, or technology (IGRT). It consists of irradiating a damaged cell, instantly correcting it after sufficient exposure and moving the load to an adjacent area of ​​damaged tissue.
• Contact radiation exposure, or brachytherapy technology. It consists of delivering special substances to tumor tissues that enhance the targeted effect on damaged cells.
• Smart knife technology. The principle is the perfectly precise impact of the cyber-knife on a cluster of damaged cells.

Modern chemotherapy

• Marking of cancer cells (PDT technology) with substances that increase sensitivity to external laser action and eliminate damage to healthy tissue.

The main disadvantage of new technologies is that they affect the developed pathogenesis, but do not prevent pathological mutations.

Operation

Surgical treatment for lung cancer may be the last “straw” that a drowning person can grab at. But it is possible to remove the tumor through surgery, usually at stages 1 and 2 for NSCLC.

Also, surgery on the lungs for cancer is performed depending on the prognosis factors of the disease, which take into account the stage of the disease, in accordance with the International TNM classification, depending on the cellular structure of the tumor and the degree of its malignant degeneration, taking into account concomitant pathology and indicators of life-supporting organs and systems. A natural question may arise about whether lung cancer can be treated with surgery? It can be answered unequivocally, yes, only in combination with other methods that complement each other.

It is worth noting the fact that if, given the anatomical location of the tumor, it can be completely removed, then the operation is not always possible due to the patient’s health condition. With SCLC, surgery is performed less frequently than with NSCLC, since small cell tumors are rarely located in one area.

The choice of surgical intervention depends on the size and location of the tumor.

There are several types of surgical intervention; surgeons open the chest and perform:

• wedge resection of the lung (part of one lobe of the lung is removed);
• lobectomy - removal of a lobe of the lung;
• pneumonectomy - complete removal of the lung;
• lymphadenectomy - removal of lymph nodes.

Removing a lung for cancer is a rather complex and sensitive procedure and the consequences can be the most unpredictable. When performing surgery, it is necessary to use general anesthesia, hospitalize the patient and follow-up for several weeks or even months. After surgery, breathing problems, shortness of breath, and weakness may occur. Risks of surgery include complications such as bleeding, infection, and complications from general anesthesia.

If a person has a respectable form of non-small cell lung cancer, usually stage 1 to 3, then the surgeon's scalpel is the treatment of choice. It is only important to take into account all contraindications for surgical intervention.

Prevention

Prevention of lung cancer includes the following recommendations:

• Quitting bad habits, primarily smoking;
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: proper nutrition rich in vitamins and daily physical activity, walks in the fresh air.
• Treat bronchial diseases in a timely manner so that they do not become chronic.
• Ventilation of the premises, daily wet cleaning of the apartment;
• It is necessary to reduce contact with harmful chemicals and heavy metals to a minimum. During work, be sure to use protective equipment: respirators, masks.

If you experience the symptoms described in this article, be sure to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Forecast for life

In the case of untreated lung cancer, 87% of patients die within 2 years of diagnosis.

When using the surgical method, a 30% survival rate of patients within 5 years can be achieved. Early detection of a tumor increases the chances of cure: at stage T1N0M0 it reaches 80%. Combined surgical, radiation and drug treatment can increase the 5-year survival rate by another 40%.

The presence of metastases significantly worsens the prognosis.

Lung cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the world, as well as the most common cause of death among cancer pathologies. The International Agency on Cancer cites data according to which one million cases of lung cancer are registered every year on the planet. At the same time, the statistics for this particular disease are deplorable: six out of ten patients die due to this pathology.

World and Russian statistics on cancer diseases match: 12 percent of Russian patients with cancer pathologies suffer from lung cancer. Among deaths due to malignant tumors, lung cancer in Russia accounts for 15 percent of cases. The situation, according to experts, is close to critical.
It is also necessary to highlight the fact that lung cancer is more of a male pathology. Among all malignant neoplasms in men, lung cancer accounts for every fourth case, while in women only every twelfth.

The reason for such prevalence of lung cancer lies in the prerequisites for its occurrence. The main one is. According to studies, the risk of developing lung cancer in men and women who smoke is 20 times higher than in non-smokers. Cigarette smoke contains more than fifty carcinogenic substances, and one of the effects of nicotine is the suppression of the body's protective functions. Taken together, this “effectiveness” of cigarettes leads to the fact that in a number of countries, nine out of ten cases of lung cancer in men are caused by smoking.

In addition, the environmental situation has a huge impact on the risk of this pathology. The presence of radon, asbestos, and dust particles in the air increases the risk of developing this cancer significantly. These two factors alone indicate that almost everyone is at risk of lung cancer.

Classifications of lung cancer

Modern medicine classifies lung cancer according to many parameters. The most common among them are classifications according to the place of manifestation of the pathology and the stage of development.

Classification of lung cancer by site of manifestation

According to this classification, there are three types of lung cancer:

• central - the main influence of the oncological process occurs on the large bronchi. The malignant neoplasm eventually blocks the lumen of the bronchus, which leads to the collapse of part of the lung;
• peripheral - oncology develops in small peripheral bronchi, and the tumor grows outside the lungs. Because of this, peripheral lung cancer is often called pneumonia-like. This type of pathology is characterized by a long absence of external manifestations - up to five years, which is why its diagnosis occurs in the later stages;
• the mixed type is quite rare - in five percent of cases. Its development is characterized by the formation of soft whitish tissue of a malignant nature, which fills a lobe of the lung, and sometimes the entire organ.

Classification of lung cancer by stage of development

This classification is based on the degree of development of the tumor or tumors. There are mainly four stages of pathology, but there are also more detailed schemes in which the development of lung cancer is divided into six stages:

• Zero stage. The earliest, in most cases asymptomatic form of the disease. Due to its small size, the carcinoma is poorly visible even on fluorography; there is no damage to the lymph nodes.
• First stage. The tumor at this stage of development of the pathology does not exceed three centimeters in size. The pleura and lymph nodes at the first stage are not yet involved in the pathological process. Diagnosis of lung cancer at this stage is considered early and allows for favorable treatment prognosis. However, the disease is diagnosed at this stage in only ten percent of patients.
• Second stage. The diameter of the tumor is in the range of three to five centimeters, metastases are recorded in the bronchial lymph nodes. Obvious symptoms of pathology begin to appear in most patients. A third of lung cancer cases are detected at this stage.
• Stage 3a. The tumor exceeds five centimeters in diameter. The pleura and chest wall are involved in the pathological process. The presence of metastases is recorded in the bronchial and lymph nodes. The manifestation of symptoms of pathology is obvious; more than half of cases of pathology are detected at this stage. The rate of favorable prognosis does not exceed 30 percent.
• Stage 3b. A characteristic difference is the involvement of blood vessels, esophagus, spine and heart in the pathological process. The size of the tumor is not a clear sign.
• Fourth stage. Metastases spread throughout the body. In the vast majority of cases, the prognosis is unfavorable. The chances of remission, not to mention full recovery, are almost zero.

Symptoms of lung cancer

Having dealt with the main classifications of lung cancer, let’s move on to the signs of this pathology. The main feature of this disease is its fairly frequent asymptomatic course, especially in the early stages. If this oncology does manifest itself, then the symptoms are predominantly nonspecific and without proper clinical examination they can be mistaken for manifestations of other diseases.

Visual symptoms of pathology, if present, are somewhat different in the early and late stages.

Manifestations of lung cancer in early stages

Since lung cancer is a disease of the respiratory system, it manifests itself as problems with respiratory function. First of all, attention should be drawn to a seemingly causeless dry cough of a chronic nature that does not stop for several weeks. In combination with them, the disease often manifests itself as hoarseness of voice, whistling sounds when breathing, and non-systemic pain in the chest. All this is caused by a tumor that has arisen, which, with its volume, puts pressure on the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
In addition, in the initial stages of development, lung cancer can manifest itself as a slight but constant increase in body temperature up to 37.5°, which entails chronic fatigue and causeless weight loss.
The absence of clear specific symptoms of lung cancer in the early stages is due to the fact that there are no pain nerve endings in the human lungs. And the body practically does not react to the development of neoplasms in this area.

As for the symptoms that may still appear at this stage, even one of them is a reason to consult a doctor and have an unscheduled fluorography. It will make it possible to exclude the presence of a cancerous tumor in the lungs, or to detect it at a stage when treatment in the vast majority of cases has a positive effect.

Manifestations of lung cancer in later stages

At the third and fourth stages of development, lung cancer manifests itself with quite clear symptoms:

• Systemic chest pain. Despite the fact that there are no pain nerve endings in the lungs, pain in pathology at these stages is formed in the pleura - the lining of the lungs and the walls of the chest cavity. That is, the cancerous tumor has already touched this area. In addition, the pain may radiate to the shoulder or the outer side of the arm, as the pathology affects the nerve fibers.
• Cough in the later stages of lung cancer changes from a systemic, dry cough that does not cause serious discomfort to a painful one, characterized by attacks and sputum production. Quite often you can see inclusions of blood or pus in it. It is blood in the sputum that is the most dangerous symptom, and with this manifestation, lung cancer of the third and fourth stages is recorded in most cases.
• Quite often, the pathology is manifested by enlarged lymph nodes located in the supraclavicular region. They are among the first to respond to the serious development of lung cancer, although this manifestation is not typical for all cases.
• In addition to the three above symptoms, with this pathology in the later stages, signs of early stage lung cancer also appear: low-grade fever, hoarseness, and a constant feeling of fatigue.

Any of the symptoms of the early and late stages, and even more so a complex of two or more manifestations, is a reason for immediate examination for the presence of malignant neoplasms. Only this approach will allow pathology to be detected as quickly as possible, which will significantly increase the chances of its effective treatment.

Clinical studies for suspected lung cancer

In the material about the manifestations of this oncological pathology, it is impossible not to touch upon the topic of clinical examination for suspected lung cancer. It is prescribed at the slightest probability of the presence of malignant neoplasms and is divided into two stages:

• The preliminary stage is to confirm the diagnosis. First of all, it includes fluorography of the chest in two projections, which allows you to determine the presence of a tumor and its location. This research method is the most popular in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
  In addition to radiography, diagnosis of the disease is carried out using bronchoscopy and transthoracic puncture biopsy. The first method allows you to thoroughly examine the bronchi for the presence of tumors, and the second is used in cases where primary diagnosis is impossible or does not confirm the expected diagnosis. A puncture biopsy consists of examining the contents of the tumor to determine whether it is malignant or benign. After taking material for research from the tumor, it is sent for cytological analysis.
• The diagnostic stage is carried out when the presence of a cancerous tumor in the lungs is confirmed and it is necessary to determine the stage of development of the disease. For these purposes, computed tomography and positron emission tomography are used. In addition to being able to determine the stage and type of cancer, these studies are also used to monitor the tumor during therapy. This allows timely adjustment of treatment tactics depending on the results, which is extremely important when dealing with such a complex pathology.