Lung cancer is a general concept that includes various malignant tumors of the respiratory throat - trachea, upper respiratory tract - bronchus, alveolar sac of the lungs - alveoli. They are formed in the epithelial tissue of the inner (mucous) membrane of the respiratory organs.

Features of lung cancer - many forms, courses, a tendency to early resumption of the disease after a course of treatment, the development of distant secondary tumor foci (metastasis). It is the most common cancer in the world. In Russia, among malignant neoplasms, lung cancer is diagnosed most often - in 14% of all cases.
In men, lung cancers are observed much more often than in women. The disease is typical for people of advanced age; among young people under 40 years old, it is diagnosed infrequently. The key causes of oncology are external circumstances: smoking, radiation, household and chemical carcinogens.

Causes of lung cancer

The main part of neoplasm episodes is formed as a result of previous degenerations of bronchial and lung tissue. The appearance of the disease is promoted by:

• chronic obstructive;
• irreversible pathological expansion of the bronchi as a result of purulent inflammation of the bronchial wall;
• replacement of lung tissue with connective tissue - pneumosclerosis;
• occupational diseases of the respiratory system - pneumoconiosis;
• scars on the lung tissue after infection with tuberculosis;
• HIV infection;
• transfer of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of other cancers.

Malignant formations in the respiratory organs provokes smoking. Tobacco smoke contains about 50 carcinogens. Among smokers, the risk of developing cancer is 17.2% in men and 11.6% in women. While the probability of lung cancer among non-smokers is 1.4%. Passive smoking also increases the risk of cancer. If a person quit smoking, then the potential threat persists for another 10-12 years.
Other risk factors:

1. Inhalation of radon is the next cause of illness after nicotine addiction. An increase in the concentration of radon in the air leads to an increase in the risk of developing oncology from 8 to 16% for every 100 becquerels per cubic meter.
2. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
3. Work in the following industries: processing coal into combustible gases, the production of metallic aluminum, the extraction of hematite, the manufacture of metal parts, the production of isopropyl alcohol, the production of rosaniline hydrochloride, the production of synthetic rubbers.
4. Constant interaction with the following substances: mountain flax, talc, beryllium and its alloys, nickel, vinyl chloride, uranium, diesel exhaust gases, mustard gas, arsenic, cadmium and its alloys, commercial grade silicon, tetrachlorobenzoparadioxin, ethers.

Especially dangerous is the combination of such unfavorable factors as work in hazardous industries and nicotine addiction.
Constant inhalation of dust particles in high concentration increases the risk of oncology by 14%. The smaller the particles, the deeper they are able to penetrate into the lung.
Hereditary risk factors - the presence of close relatives (three people) with lung cancer.

Classification of lung cancer

Malignant neoplasms of the lung are classified according to several parameters: the clinical and anatomical orientation of the neoplasm, its structure, the degree of prevalence of the process. A well-defined classification of a tumor in a particular patient will allow you to correctly build therapy tactics, and, accordingly, predict the course of the disease. The diagnostic process in patients with respiratory oncology is multicomponent and expensive.

Clinical and anatomical typology

This variant of the typology involves determining the anatomical location of the tumor and causes the division of neoplasms in the respiratory organs into peripheral and radical (central).

Radical (central) cancer

Central cancer damages large bronchi of the 1st - 4th order: the main, lobar, intermediate and segmental bronchus. These anatomical parts of the lungs are visible when examined through a bronchofibroscope.
According to the direction of growth, the central cancer has three anatomical types:

• around the bronchi - branched cancer;
• deep into the lung tissue - endophytic (exobronchial) cancer;
• into the inner surface of the bronchus - exophytic (endobronchial) cancer;

There is a mixed type of malignancy.

peripheral cancer

Peripheral cancer is formed in the epithelial layer of the small bronchi, located in the lung tissue. It has the following clinical and anatomical types:

• diffuse cancer;
• cancer of the apex of the lung (Penkost);
• abdominal cancer;
• spherical tumor.

Central (radical) cancer is more common. The neoplasm is formed in the upper segments of the bronchi and their branches. Oncology rarely manifests from the epithelium of the alveoli, it is formed from the surface of the mucous membrane of the bronchi and bronchioles.

Morphological typology

Despite the fact that all forms of neoplasm in the lung originate from epithelial cells of the mucous membrane of the airways, but the histological structure (microscopic structure) includes many different variants of this disease. There are two main features of the morphological structure of the oncology of the main respiratory organ: small cell and non-small cell lung cancer.

Small cell form

The most unfavorable form, requiring special treatment tactics. The tumor grows very quickly - in one month the volume of tumor tissue doubles, and at the time of diagnosis in most cases there is a wide spread of it. It develops in 20% of patients.

Non-small cell form

It is diagnosed in about 80% of people. This type includes the most diverse forms of cancer in structure. The most common:

• large cell cancer;
• squamous cell carcinoma;
• adenocarcinoma - glandular cancer;
• dimorphic cancer (mixed, adenosquamous cell);
• bronchioloalveolar carcinoma is a variant of adenocarcinoma.

Rare forms of lung cancer:

• adenoid cystic cancer - cylindroma;
• typical and atypical carcinoid;
• mucoepidermoid, growing from the cells of the bronchial glands.

The anatomical nature of the various structures of tumors and the characteristic properties of their course are shown in Table 1.
Table 1

A form of lung cancer	Anatomical nature of the tumor	Features of the flow
small cell carcinoma	It originates from the cellular elements of the mucous membrane (Kulchitsky cells) located in the basement membrane of bronchial epithelial cells.	The most malignant tumor. It is characterized by intensive formation of metastases, high metabolic activity.
Squamous cell carcinoma	It is formed from the bronchi of the 2nd - 4th order, but it can also form in the peripheral parts of the bronchial branches.	The most common structural form of the disease is 40-50% of all cases. The cause of the tumor is smoking. Has the ability to spontaneously collapse.
Adenocarcinoma (glandular cancer)	More often it originates from the glandular cells of the epithelium of small bronchi or from scars on the lung tissue in tuberculosis.	Metastasizes to lung tissue. Aggressive type of cancer. Strongly forms new tumors in regional lymph nodes, pleura, bones, in the cerebral hemispheres. It is not provoked by nicotine addiction, women are more likely to get sick.
Large cell cancer	Localized in the upper or lower lobe of the lung.	Having many structural types, the tumor is heterogeneous in its composition. The potential for malignancy is high. But the prognosis is less dangerous than small cell carcinoma.
Glandular squamous cell carcinoma (dimorphic, mixed, adenosquamous cell)	Formed from elements of the epidermis and glandular structures.	Has structural characteristics of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Occurs rarely.
Bronchioalveolar cancer	Peripherally well-defined, minimally penetrating adenocarcinoma.	Has a tendency to spread. Often grows in many separate areas of tissue, does not have clear boundaries and sometimes resembles an accumulation of cellular elements.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (cylindroma)	It originates in the windpipe (90%), growing along its wall, deepening into the submucosal layer for a long time.	Penetrates deeply, but rarely gives metastases and in the later stages. Previously considered a benign neoplasm.
Carcinoid typical (type I)	In 80% of observations, it spreads from the main and share segments. Grows in the inner surface of the body.	It grows slowly, rarely metastasizes. Representatives of both male and female are ill 40-50 years old. A characteristic property of this oncology is the release of biologically active substances, including hormones.
Carcinoid atypical (type II)	More often peripheral.	Every fifth carcinoid is of this type. A fairly aggressive neoplasm, gives metastases in 50% of cases.
Mucoepidermoid cancer	Formed in the bronchi 2-3 orders, occasionally in the trachea.	Grows into the inner surface of the body.

The prognosis for a successful course of the disease in mucoepidermoid cancer, adenoid cystic cancer and carcinoid tumors is better than in other types of respiratory cancer.

The degree of spread of the tumor process

The stage of the disease is determined by the volume of malignancy, its prevalence in the lymph nodes / glands, the presence of other neoplasms in the body (metastases) that are associated with the primary neoplasm in the lungs. The staging process is called TNM (tumor, lymph nodes, metastasis).

General features of the course of lung cancer

The respiratory organs are densely permeated with a network of blood and lymphatic capillaries. This contributes to the widespread spread of cancer cells in all organs. Through the bronchial branches through the lymph, cancer cells reach the intrapulmonary and central lymph nodes, then to the lymph nodes of the space in the middle sections of the chest, cervical and supraclavicular, lymph nodes of the peritoneum and retroperitoneal space. When the tumor moves through the blood, vital organs are damaged: the liver, brain, kidneys, adrenal glands, the opposite lung, and bones.
The neoplasm captures the pulmonary pleura, malignant cells disperse through the lung cavity, penetrate into the diaphragm, the pericardium - the sac in which the heart is located.

Symptoms of lung cancer

There are no pain endings in the lung tissue, so the tumor initially proceeds without signs of organ damage. Diagnosis in many cases is too late. Signs of the disease may appear when cancer cells grow into the bronchus.
The clinic depends on the location, structure of the tumor and the degree of its prevalence. Symptoms are varied, but no sign is specific to lung carcinoma.
All manifestations of the disease are divided into four groups:

1. Primary (local) signs of neoplasm development.
2. Symptoms of damage to neighboring organs.
3. Signs of the formation of distant foci of metastasis.
4. Influence on the body of biologically active compounds of malignant cells.

Local symptoms manifest themselves in radical cancer earlier (with a smaller volume of neoplasm) than in peripheral cancer.

Primary signs of lesions in central cancer

A special feature of central tumors is that they manifest themselves by external signs and are detected on x-ray examination. This is explained by the fact that during development, cancer cells clog the interior of the large bronchus and cause a collapse of the lobe of the lung or insufficient ventilation of the affected lobe of the lung tissue.
The presence of a tumor in the bronchi of the 2nd - 4th order "signals" a number of external symptoms:

• chest pain;
• feeling of lack of air;
• cough;
• coughing up blood;
• increase in body temperature.

Most patients (75-90%) cough. The tumor irritates the mucous surface of the bronchial branches. Cough causes concomitant disease superficial bronchitis. At the beginning of the development of the pathology, the cough is unproductive, hacking, then it becomes wet, a purulent-mucous or mucous secretion is released.

Expectoration of sputum with densely colored blood or streaked with blood is observed in 30-50% of patients. The color secret may be similar to raspberry jelly. Such symptoms indicate that the tumor has disintegrated, the inner surface of the bronchi is ulcerated, and there is destructive degeneration in the lungs. Corrosion of the capillaries of the bronchi, vessels of the pulmonary artery can provoke severe bleeding.

Pain in the chest area is a common symptom of pathology. Its cause is the collapse of the lobe of the lung, the displacement of space in the middle sections of the chest cavity, irritation of the parietal serous membrane. The pain can be different in nature and strength:

• slight tingling in the chest;
• acute pain;
• strong aching with the penetration of cancer of the peripheral segments into the chest wall.

Collapse of a part of the lung, displacement of space in the middle sections of the chest cavity, inflammation of the pleura and serous membrane of the heart, impaired blood circulation causes shortness of breath in 30-60% of patients.
Obstructive bronchitis, pneumonia developing in the decline of the lobe of the lung increase the patient's body temperature. This symptom is not characteristic of the peripheral form of pathology.

In the third part of patients with basal cancer, the onset of pathology is acute or subacute: high body temperature, heavy sweat, chills. Less often there is a slight increase in temperature (up to 37 - 37.8 °). Debilitating fever is typical of purulent inflammation in the lungs and manifestations of the onset of purulent pleurisy. Treatment with antibiotics for a short time normalizes body temperature. If a patient has pneumonia twice a year, he must be carefully and in-depth examined. A bronchoscopic examination with the taking of biological material for a biopsy basically confirms or excludes the diagnosis of lung cancer.

In the peribronchial form of cancer, even a large tumor in the large bronchi does not close the internal space of the organ, but spreads around the bronchial wall, so there are no shortness of breath and other signs of the development of pathology.

Signs of damage in peripheral cancer

If a small area of ​​the lung tissue is affected and ceases to function, the lung lobe does not fall, the segment remains airy, and the blockage of the small bronchi does not show any symptoms. The patient does not cough, he does not have shortness of breath and other signs of the development of the pathology characteristic of central cancer. Cancer in the peripheral sections of the bronchi progresses, but for a long time does not make itself felt. This complicates the early detection of the disease.

With further movement of the tumor in the direction of the peripheral parts, it penetrates into the pulmonary pleura, chest wall, spreading throughout the organ. If the tumor moves to the main bronchus, to the root of the lung, it clogs the lumen of the large bronchi and causes symptoms characteristic of central cancer.

Damage to adjacent organs

Symptoms of damage to neighboring organs are caused by both primary neoplasm and secondary tumors - metastases. The defeat of adjacent organs by an initially developed tumor indicates that the oncology has progressed greatly and has reached the last stage.

When the tumor presses on large blood vessels, compression of the superior vena cava occurs. As a result of venous blood stagnation, the face, neck swell, the upper part of the body swells, the subcutaneous veins of the chest and neck expand, and there is a bluish coloration of the skin and mucous membranes. A person is dizzy, he constantly wants to sleep, fainting occurs.

The defeat of the sympathetic nerve nodes located on the sides of the spine form signs of a disorder of the nervous system: the upper eyelid drops, the pupil narrows, the eyeball sinks.
If the tumor affects the nerves of the larynx, the voice becomes hoarse. When the tumor grows into the wall of the digestive tube, it is difficult for a person to swallow, bronchoesophageal fistulas form.

Symptoms of the formation of secondary foci of tumor growth - metastases

Tumor lesions of the lymph nodes are manifested by their compaction, increase in size, change in shape. In 15-25% of patients, lung cancer metastasizes to the supraclavicular lymph nodes.
Cancer cells from the lung move through the blood and affect other organs - the kidneys, liver, brain and spinal cord, bones of the skeleton. Clinically, this is manifested by a violation of the damaged organ. Extrapulmonary symptoms of respiratory cancer can be the root cause for contacting doctors of various specializations: a neurologist, an ophthalmologist, an orthopedist (traumatologist).

Influence on the body of biologically active compounds of the tumor

The tumor produces toxins, biologically active substances. The body reacts to them. This is manifested by non-specific reactions that can begin long before the development of local characteristic symptoms. In the case of lung cancer, non-specific (non-special) symptoms manifest as an initial clinical sign quite often - in 10-15% of patients. However, it is difficult to see an oncological disease behind them, since they all occur in non-oncological pathologies.

In medical practice, there are several groups of symptoms associated with the indirect effect of the tumor on healthy tissues. This is a violation of the functioning of the endocrine system, neurological signs, bone associated with hematopoiesis, skin and others.
The growth of the tumor can provoke the development of complications of the disease: bleeding in the lungs, the formation of broncho- and tracheoesophageal fistulas, pneumonia, accumulation of pus in the pleural region, oxygen starvation associated with compression of the airways, inability to swallow.

Diagnostics

The mandatory diagnostic complex of measures for lung cancer includes:

• X-ray in direct and lateral display of the organs of the chest cavity;
• computed tomography of the organs of the chest cavity and mediastinum - CT scan;
• research by the method of nuclear magnetic resonance - MRI;
• review with a bronchoscope with a bronchial secretion for bacteriological and cytological examination;
• cytological examination of bronchial secretions;
• histological examination.

Fivefold cytology of bronchial secretions reveals tumors in 30-62% of patients with peripheral cancer and in 50-8o% of patients with hilar lung cancer. The availability of this type of diagnostics makes it possible to use it when examining people at risk for respiratory cancer in outpatient clinics and medical institutions.
In assessing the prevalence of pathology, additional diagnostic tools are used.

Treatment

Non-small cell cancer is treated with surgical removal of the tumor. This method can be combined with radiation and chemical effects on the oncological process - combination therapy. The principles of therapy tactics with tumors of this group practically do not differ.

However, in practice, the percentage of patients who undergo surgery is quite low - 20%. The operation is not performed if the pathology has progressed to late stages (in 30-40% of cases), due to the poor general condition of the patient, advanced age, and sometimes because of the unwillingness of the person himself to intervene in the pathological process.
The main method of managing patients with small cell cancer is the effect of drugs (chemotherapy). Treatment, as a rule, is in the nature of alleviating the course of the disease. Surgery is extremely rare. In the natural course of pathology, a person dies within a year from the moment of diagnosis.

Lung cancer is detected late. Therefore, the prognosis of this oncology, unfortunately, is not very encouraging. Among scientists, scientific developments are underway to find methods of therapy to prolong and preserve the quality of life of people with this complex oncological pathology.

- often do not show up. - an oncological process, which is characterized by an implicit course and early occurrence of metastases.
Oncology is widespread, high mortality of patients in the first year of the disease is registered.
To start treatment on time, you need to learn how to recognize the symptoms of the first stage.

find the answer

Is there any problem? Need more information?
Type in the form and press Enter!

What are the first symptoms

Lung cancer for a long time is formed covertly. First, the neoplasm develops in the mucous membrane and glands, then metastases are distributed throughout the body.

At first, manifestations do not cause concern. The symptoms are similar to common inflammation of the respiratory system, so the patient does not suspect the development of a more serious disease.

Early stage lung cancer symptoms include:

• uncharacteristic fatigue;
• Decreased or lack of appetite;
• , often dry and painful. It increases after physical exertion, sleep and hypothermia;
• Weight loss due to non-compliance with the diet;
• Increased fatigue of the body and reduced ability to work;
• sweating;
• Elevated temperature.

Test for smokers

Signs in men

Nature has made the male body more resilient and resistant to the development of diseases. In fact, everything happens differently.

Men do not have the habit of being sensitive to their health, they neglect preventive measures that prevent the development of various diseases, and specific work and an unhealthy lifestyle only exacerbate the situation.

The causes of the development of pathology in men will be:

• Contact with harmful and dangerous substances;
• Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol;
• Living in unfavorable environmentally polluted areas;
• Heredity;
• Contact with asbestos, radon gas.

It is not possible to diagnose lung cancer yourself without a medical education. But knowing the early symptoms and immediately paying attention to them, you can start treatment on time without losing precious time.

Signs and symptoms of lung cancer in men:

• Weakness and increased fatigue;
• Decreased tone;
• Depressive state;
• Hoarse voice and wheezing when breathing;
• Feeling of weakness in the limbs;
• Pain after eating;
• Decreased or absent appetite;
• angina;
• Dizziness;
• Lymph nodes in the armpit will be enlarged;
• Subcutaneous veins in the chest area increase;
• Swelling of the neck and face;
• Shooting sensation in the bones.

Without treatment, the disease progresses, metastases develop.

Take the smoking test

What are the symptoms in women

Women are more prone to developing lung cancer than men. This is due to the genetic exclusivity of the organism. Cancer cells develop rapidly and are noticeable in the first and second stages of oncology. Leakage symptoms vary. The stage and form of the course of cancer have a great influence on the first manifestations.

Symptoms that are easily confused with typical signs of SARS:

• wheezing;
• Rapid weight loss;
• Dyspnea;
• Dry or wet cough with sputum with purulent and bloody particles.

Having taken these signs as a manifestation of a cold, the woman begins treatment with the usual pharmacy medicines or home methods. Such self-treatment aggravates the process.

You need to start sounding the alarm with rapid weight loss with a dense diet.

Primary signs and symptoms of early lung cancer in women:

• The cough becomes more and more painful;
• The nerves in the ligamentous apparatus are pinched and the voice becomes hoarse;
• Respiratory functions are disturbed;
• Lymph nodes in the chest are noticeably enlarged;
• The chest pain gets worse;
• The skin acquires an unhealthy yellowish tint;
• Feeling of pain in the bones, the possibility of a fracture even with mild bruises and blows.
• Secondary signs, uncharacteristic of a cold, should alert:
• Chills;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Decreased vitality;
• General depletion of the body;
• Cardiopalmus;
• Shortness of breath with minimal physical exertion.

These symptoms are dangerous and ignoring them leads to death.

Why peripheral lung cancer and early metastases appear and how to recognize it

The tumor is formed from the bronchi and bronchioles. Pathology is dangerous because it is detected when the formation grows into large bronchi and pleura. Peripheral cancer is discovered by chance or after the onset of symptoms already at an advanced stage.

Causes of pathology:

1. The main reason for the development of pathology is smoking. It does not matter whether the person will smoke himself, or is a passive smoker.
2. Work in hazardous chemical industries and dusty areas. Inhalation of chemical vapors and dust leads to a failure of the blood supply to the lungs.
3. Bad ecology. Living in megacities leads to the forced inhalation of a large number of substances of harmful origin found in the atmosphere by residents. On this basis, pathology can occur even in a person leading a healthy lifestyle.
4. Hereditary predisposition.
5. Chronic inflammation in the lungs and bronchi.

Features of peripheral lung cancer:

• Dyspnea;
• Growth of lymph nodes;
• Department of sputum;
• persistent cough;
• Pain in the chest.

How breathing can detect early stage lung cancer

The altered nature of breathing is the main symptom that allows you to determine the development of pathology.

In the initial phases of the disease, symptoms are characteristic:

• Hoarse voice for no apparent reason;
• Dry cough, painful and not passing for a long time, it intensifies after sleep and physical exertion;
• Severe shortness of breath with minimal physical exertion;
• Pain in the sternum, increasing with coughing, radiating to the neck and shoulder blade;
• Expectoration of sputum with blood and pus;
• Respiratory failure.

How to detect small cell lung cancer

Small cell carcinoma is a malignant tumor with an aggressive course. Metastases arise and spread already in the early stages. Pathology quickly flows into a severe form.

Symptoms of multicellular cancer:

• Cough;
• poor appetite;
• General weakness and malaise;
• Epilepsy attacks;
• Dyspnea;
• Hoarseness and changes in the timbre of the voice;
• bone pain;
• Weight reduction.
• To confirm the diagnosis, a serious examination is required:
• chest x-ray;
• Skeletal scintigraphy;
• Clinical blood test;
• Liver analysis;
• Sputum analysis;
• tissue biopsy;
• Pleurocentesis;
• Positron emission tomography;

What are the main stages of the development of the disease

To determine the stage of cancer means to understand how much the neoplasm has spread in the body. This is necessary for the correct prescription of treatment and predicting the development of the disease. The size of the formation, the depth of penetration into the organs, the development of metastases are taken into account.

Lung cancer has 4 stages of development:

1. 1. First stage.

The most favorable in terms of prognosis and prescribed treatment. The tumor formation is small, about 3 centimeters. Infection of the lymphatic system has not yet occurred, metastases have not begun to develop. The first stage is difficult to diagnose, on average it is found in sixteen percent of patients. This is due to the small volume of neoplasm and symptoms characteristic of a cold.

1. 1. Second stage.

In the second stage, the symptoms resemble a cold, only in a more advanced form, the disease can be recognized by breathing. The size of the tumor already exceeds 5 centimeters. Metastases develop in the lymph nodes.

1. 1. Third stage.

At this stage, cases of death of patients are frequent. With early signs, there was no proper attention to the body, the disease turned into a neglected form, the lack of treatment at the first stage made itself felt. The tumor grows to seven or more centimeters, the lymph nodes are affected, the tumor affects the pleura, trachea and chest. Metastases are found in large numbers.

1. 1. Fourth stage

The tumor is widespread in almost all organs. The promotion of malignant cells is uncontrollable, metastases affect human organs. New foci of malignant nature are emerging. Metastases are formed in the pancreas, bones, liver, brain.
Treatment in the fourth stage is powerless, does not give visible results. Recovery is not predicted, doctors are trying to reduce pain and alleviate the suffering of the patient.

What is the diagnosis of pathology

Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat later. In the situation with lung cancer, this is partly true, since the disease can also develop due to poor heredity.

You need to lead a healthy lifestyle, stop smoking. Even passive smoking will cause the development of tumor formation.

Once a year, you should be screened for lung cancer. To a greater extent, this applies to people who smoke. The examination takes place by conducting. According to it, the doctor notices changes and prescribes a study to make a diagnosis.

Diagnostics includes:

1. 1. Chest x-ray.

A common method, the structure of the lungs is studied. Darkened areas in the sternum, movement of organs, swollen lymph nodes are diagnosed. Suspicious blackouts may signal other diseases, so additional diagnostics in the form of CT may be required.

1. 1. CT scan.

The study gives a complete picture, allowing you to analyze in detail the dubious areas of the lungs. Allows detection of small tumors.

1. 1. Bronchoscopy.

The study consists in conducting a biopsy of the tumor. A bronchoscope, which is a flexible tube with a video camera, is inserted into the airways. It becomes possible to examine the bronchi from the inside.

1. 1. Needle biopsy.

If the tumor is located in small bronchi, it is impossible to get into the affected area with a bronchoscope. A biopsy through the skin will help.

Prevent the development of these diseases. It includes quitting smoking, passive smoking, avoiding alcohol. You need to lead a mobile lifestyle, eat right and monitor your weight. Timely treatment of the respiratory system will prevent the development of infectious lesions.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, living in favorable areas of the country, and taking preventive measures help to minimize the detection of lung cancer. If pathology is detected at an early stage, it increases the chances of survival up to 80%. The prognosis for its early diagnosis is favorable.

4.7 / 5 ( 42 votes)

Oncological diseases of the respiratory system are among the most common. They are most commonly seen in people over the age of 50. Pathological processes develop in the lungs in the peripheral sections, on the right, on the left, in the center. The symptoms of its development depend on the location and stage of the disease.

The prognosis of survival also depends on the form of neoplasm progression. At the first alarming symptoms, you should consult a doctor so that the disease does not spread further.

• Show all

  Symptoms and stages of development of pathology

  There are 2 forms of the disease: peripheral and central. Peripheral lung cancer does not have pronounced symptoms, they begin to appear only at the last stage. The central form involves damage to the lungs in places with a concentration of nerve endings, which is expressed in the appearance of the first signs:

  • cough;
  • chest pain;
  • breathing difficulties;
  • hemoptysis.

  Symptoms of a malignant tumor appear depending on the phase of its development. The process of progression of pathology takes place in 3 stages:

  1. 1. Biological- some time elapses between the onset of the tumor and the appearance of the first signs.
  2. 2. Asymptomatic course of the disease- there are no external symptoms, pathological changes are visible only on an x-ray.
  3. 3. Clinical- characterized by the appearance of obvious signs of pathology.

  

  lung cancer picture

  External symptoms of the disease are absent in the first and second stages. Even when the pathology develops to such an extent that it becomes visible on an x-ray (pictured), a person does not feel any special changes in the state of health, there is no increase in temperature, despite the fact that the process has already started. Doctors explain this as follows: there are no nerve nodes in the organs of the respiratory system. Painful sensations occur only with a neglected form of pathology. That is why the diagnosis of the disease at an early stage is almost impossible.

  

  First signs

  At the second and third stages of the development of oncology, the first signs appear. They can be mistaken for manifestations of chronic pulmonary diseases.

  Nonspecific symptoms of lung cancer in adults include:

  • weight loss
  • lethargy;
  • loss of appetite;
  • decrease in working capacity;
  • pallor of the skin.

  As the cancer develops, symptoms become similar to those of bronchitis, pneumonia, and the common cold. The disease proceeds with a temperature of up to 37-38 degrees. The patient becomes restless, hyperthermia lasts for a long time. A person begins to take antipyretic drugs or traditional medicine. The fever recedes for a couple of days, and then comes back again.

  The patient begins to feel a decrease in vitality, feels tired. All work and labor affairs are carried out through force. It is not excluded the occurrence of depression, loss of interest in the outside world and favorite activities. To all this is added apathy, lethargy.

  Characteristic signs of pathology begin to develop at the last stage. The progression of the disease is evidenced by extrapulmonary symptoms that occur due to metastasis. These manifestations include:

  • back pain;
  • kidney disease;
  • digestive tract disorders.

  

  Cough as a sign of cancer

  This symptom can disturb the patient extremely rarely, but then it intensifies and becomes paroxysmal. Cough with lung cancer is:

  • short, frequent;
  • strong, rolling attacks, bringing the patient to fainting;
  • dry, and when a person coughs, there is no relief.

  Cough with a peripheral form of pathology may not be observed. If it is present and does not pass for more than a month, the cause is lung cancer.

  

  Excretion of blood and sputum

  If sputum is secreted when coughing, then this may be a sign of the pathology in question. This is mucus that accumulates in the last stage of the disease in an amount up to 1/5 liter per day. Allocations in the advanced stage of oncology are similar to a purulent-mucous mixture of bright red color with a jelly-like consistency.

  There may be wheezing in hemoptysis and lungs. Blood may be splattered or appear as pink foam. Cough, characterized by the release of blood, is often referred to as an infectious disease, such as tuberculosis. But it is a symptom of cancer.

  To determine the exact cause of coughing up blood, a procedure called bronchoscopy is prescribed. If the diagnosis is confirmed, then a similar symptom does not leave the patient throughout life.

  In the advanced stage of the disease, pulmonary bleeding is not excluded. A cancer patient will spit out blood that fills the entire mouth. In this case, urgent medical attention is required.

  Pain in oncology

  Pain in cancerous tumors does not always occur at the site of their appearance. When the intercostal nerves are involved in the process, the discomfort manifests itself especially strongly, and is not eliminated by painkillers. Pain is of three types:

  • shingles;
  • stabbing;
  • cutting.

  Metastases in cancer occur in the pre-mortem period. Unhealthy cells are carried throughout the body through the blood, so a person feels pain in the following places:

  • lower limbs;
  • back
  • hands;
  • digestive organs;
  • shoulders.

  When pain occurs, changes occur in the appearance of a person: the face becomes gray, yellowing of the proteins and skin is observed. Large areas of swelling may occur, and the neck and face look swollen. Pigmented spots appear in the chest area, which hurt when touched.

Lung tumor - combines several categories of neoplasms, namely malignant and benign. It is noteworthy that the former affect people over forty, and the latter are formed in people under 35 years of age. The reasons for the formation of tumors in both cases are almost the same. Most often, long-term addiction to bad habits, work in hazardous production and exposure to the body act as provocateurs.

The danger of the disease lies in the fact that with any variant of the course of a lung tumor, symptoms that are already nonspecific in nature may be absent for a long time. The main clinical manifestations are considered to be malaise and weakness, fever, mild chest discomfort and persistent wet cough. In general, lung ailments have non-specific symptoms.

It is possible to differentiate malignant and benign neoplasms of the lungs only with the help of instrumental diagnostic procedures, the first place among which is biopsy.

Treatment of all types of neoplasms is carried out only surgically, which consists not only in excising the tumor, but also in partial or complete removal of the affected lung.

The International Classification of Diseases of the Tenth Revision allocates separate values ​​for tumors. Thus, formations of a malignant course have the ICD-10 code - C34, and benign - D36.

Etiology

The formation of malignant neoplasms is provoked by improper cell differentiation and pathological tissue growth, which occurs at the gene level. However, among the most likely predisposing factors that a lung tumor appears, there are:

• long-term addiction to nicotine - this includes both active and passive smoking. Such a source provokes the development of the disease in men in 90%, and in females in 70% of cases. It is noteworthy that passive smokers have a higher likelihood of developing a tumor of a malignant course;
• specific working conditions, namely the constant contact of a person with chemical and toxic substances. The most dangerous for humans are asbestos and nickel, arsenic and chromium, as well as radioactive dust;
• constant exposure of the human body to radon radiation;
• diagnosed benign lung tumors - this is due to the fact that some of them, in the absence of therapy, are prone to transformation into cancers;
• the course of inflammatory or suppurative processes directly in the lungs or in the bronchi;
• scarring of lung tissue;
• genetic predisposition.

It is the above reasons that contribute to DNA damage and the activation of cellular oncogenes.

The provocateurs of the formation of benign lung tumors are currently not known for certain, however, experts from the field of pulmonology suggest that this may be affected by:

• burdened heredity;
• gene mutations;
• pathological influence of various viruses;
• influence of chemical and radioactive substances;
• addiction to bad habits, in particular, to smoking;
• contact with contaminated soil, water or air, with formaldehyde, ultraviolet radiation, benzanthracene, radioactive isotopes and vinyl chloride being most often considered provocateurs;
• decreased local or general immunity;
• constant influence of stressful situations;
• irrational nutrition;
• drug addiction.

From the foregoing, it follows that absolutely every person is predisposed to the appearance of a tumor.

Classification

Specialists from the field of pulmonology usually distinguish several types of malignant neoplasms, but the leading place among them is occupied by cancer, diagnosed in every 3 people who have a tumor in this area. In addition, the following are also considered malignant:

• - originates in the lymphatic system. Often, such a formation is the result of metastasis of a similar tumor from the breast or colon, kidneys or rectum, stomach or cervix, testicle or thyroid gland, skeletal system or prostate, and skin;
• - includes intraalveolar or peribronchial connective tissue. It is most often localized in the left lung and is typical for males;
• malignant carcinoid - has the ability to form distant metastases, for example, to the liver or kidneys, brain or skin, adrenal glands or pancreas;
• squamous cell carcinoma;
• pleural mesothelioma - histologically consists of epithelial tissues that line the pleural cavity. Very often diffuse in nature;
• oat cell carcinoma - characterized by the presence of metastases in the initial stages of the progression of the disease.

In addition, a malignant tumor of the lung is:

• highly differentiated;
• medium differentiated;
• poorly differentiated;
• undifferentiated.

It goes through several stages of progression:

• initial - the tumor does not exceed 3 centimeters in size, affects only one segment of this organ and does not metastasize;
• moderate - the formation reaches 6 centimeters and gives single metastases to regional lymph nodes;
• severe - a neoplasm in volume of more than 6 centimeters, extends to the neighboring lobe of the lung and bronchi;
• complicated - cancer gives extensive and distant metastases.

Classification of benign tumors according to the type of tissues that make up their composition:

• epithelial;
• neuroectodermal;
• mesodermal;
• germinal.

Benign lung tumors also include:

• adenoma is a glandular formation, which in turn is divided into carcinoids and carcinomas, cylindromas and adenoids. It should be noted that in 10% of cases malignancy is observed;
• hamartoma or - an embryonic tumor that includes the constituent parts of the germinal tissue. These are the most frequently diagnosed formations in this category;
• or fibroepithelioma - consists of a connective tissue stroma and has a large number of papillary outgrowths;
• - in volume does not exceed 3 centimeters, but can grow to gigantic sizes. It occurs in 7% of cases and is not prone to malignancy;
• - This is a fatty tumor, which is extremely rarely localized in the lungs;
• leiomyoma - a rare formation that includes smooth muscle fibers and looks like a polyp;
• a group of vascular tumors - this should include hemangioendothelioma, hemangiopericytoma, capillary and cavernous, as well. The first 2 types are conditionally benign lung tumors, since they are prone to degeneration into cancer;
• or dermoid - acts as an embryonic tumor or cyst. The frequency of occurrence reaches 2%;
• neurinoma or shvannomu;
• chemodectoma;
• tuberculoma;
• fibrous histiocytoma;
• plasmacytoma.

The last 3 varieties are considered the most rare.

In addition, a benign lung tumor, according to the focus, is divided into:

• central;
• peripheral;
• segmental;
• home;
• share.

Classification in the direction of growth implies the existence of the following formations:

• endobronchial - in such a situation, the tumor grows deep into the lumen of the bronchus;
• extrabronchtal - growth is directed outward;
• intramural - germination occurs in the thickness of the lung.

In addition, neoplasms of any variant of the course can be single and multiple.

Symptoms

Several factors influence the severity of clinical signs:

• localization of education;
• tumor size;
• nature of germination;
• the presence of concomitant diseases;
• the number and extent of metastases.

Signs of malignant tumors are nonspecific and are presented:

• causeless weakness;
• fast fatigue;
• periodic increase in temperature;
• general malaise;
• symptoms , and ;
• hemoptysis;
• persistent cough with mucus or purulent sputum;
• shortness of breath that occurs at rest;
• soreness of varying severity in the chest area;
• a sharp decrease in body weight.

A benign lung tumor has the following symptoms:

• cough with the release of a small amount of sputum with impurities of blood or pus;
• whistling and noise during breathing;
• decrease in working capacity;
• dyspnea;
• persistent increase in temperature indicators;
• asthma attacks;
• tides to the upper half of the body;
• disorder of the act of defecation;
• mental disorders.

It is noteworthy that most often there are no signs of benign formations at all, which is why the disease is a diagnostic surprise. As for malignant neoplasms of the lung, symptoms are expressed only if the tumor grows to a gigantic size, extensive metastases, and occurs in the later stages.

Diagnostics

It is possible to make a correct diagnosis only with the help of a wide range of instrumental examinations, which are necessarily preceded by manipulations carried out directly by the attending physician. They should include:

• study of the medical history - to identify ailments leading to the occurrence of a particular tumor;
• familiarization with the life history of a person - to clarify the working conditions, living and lifestyle;
• listening to the patient with a phonendoscope;
• a detailed survey of the patient - to compile a complete clinical picture of the course of the disease and determine the severity of symptoms.

Among the instrumental procedures it is worth highlighting:

• survey radiography of the left and right lung;
• CT and MRI;
• pleural puncture;
• endoscopic biopsy;
• bronchoscopy;
• thoracoscopy;
• Ultrasound and PET;
• angiopulmonography.

In addition, the following laboratory tests are required:

• general and biochemical blood test;
• tests for tumor markers;
• microscopic examination of sputum;
• histological analysis of the biopsy;
• cytological study of effusion.

Treatment

Absolutely all malignant and benign lung tumors (regardless of the likelihood of malignancy) undergo surgical excision.

As a medical intervention, one of the following operations can be selected:

• circular, marginal or fenestrated resection;
• lobectomy;
• bilobectomy;
• pneumonectomy;
• husking;
• complete or partial excision of the lung;
• thoracotomy.

Operable treatment can be carried out by open or endoscopic way. To reduce the risk of complications or remission after the intervention, patients undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

Possible Complications

If you ignore the symptoms and do not treat the disease, then there is a high risk of developing complications, namely:

• pulmonary bleeding;
• abscess pneumonia;
• syndrome of compression of blood vessels and internal organs;
• malignancy.

Prevention and prognosis

Reducing the likelihood of the formation of any neoplasms in the body contribute to:

• complete rejection of all bad habits;
• proper and balanced nutrition;
• avoidance of physical and emotional overstrain;
• use of personal protective equipment when working with toxic and poisonous substances;
• prevention of irradiation of the body;
• timely diagnosis and treatment of pathologies that can lead to the formation of tumors.

Also, do not forget about the regular preventive examination in a medical institution, which must be done at least 2 times a year.