Dr Rajesh bollam DM medical oncology and hematology ( Cancer specialist Hyderabad )

Risk factors for lung cancer The biggest risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. That includes cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. Tobacco products contain thousands of toxic substances. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source, cigarette smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer than nonsmokers. The longer you smoke, the greater the chance of developing lung cancer. Quitting smoking can lower that risk. Breathing in secondhand smoke is also a major risk factor. Every year in the United States, about 7,300 people who’ve never smoked die from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke. Exposure to radon, a naturally occurring gas, increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon rises from the ground, entering buildings through small cracks. It’s the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. A simple home test can tell you if the level of radon in your home is hazardous. Your risk of developing lung cancer is higher if yo...

After a physical examination, your doctor will tell you how to prepare for specific tests, such as: Imaging tests : An abnormal mass can be seen on X-ray, MRI, CT, and PET scans. These scans produce more detail and find smaller lesions. Sputum cytology : If you produce phlegm when you cough, microscopic examination can determine if cancer cells are present. A biopsy can determine if tumor cells are cancerous. A tissue sample can be obtained by: Bronchoscopy : While under sedation, a lighted tube is passed down your throat and into your lungs, allowing closer examination. Mediastinoscopy : The doctor makes an incision at the base of the neck. A lighted instrument is inserted and surgical tools are used to take samples from lymph nodes. It’s usually performed in a hospital under general anesthesia. Needle : Using imaging tests as a guide, a needle is inserted through the chest wall and into th...

Once cancer enters the lymph nodes and bloodstream, it can spread anywhere in the body. The outlook is better when treatment begins before cancer spreads outside the lungs. Other factors include age, overall health, and how well you respond to treatment. Because early symptoms can be easily overlooked, lung cancer is usually diagnosed in later stages. Survival rates and other statistics provide a broad picture of what to expect. There are significant individual differences, though. Your doctor is in the best position to discuss your outlook. BOOK APPOINTMENT Current survival statistics don’t tell the whole story. In recent years, new treatments have been approved for stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Some people are surviving much longer than previously seen with traditional treatments. The following are the estimated five-year survival rates for NSCLC by SEER stage: Localized: 60 percent Regional: 33 percent Distant: 6 percent All SE...

Home remedies and homeopathic remedies won’t cure cancer. But certain home remedies may help relieve some of the symptoms associated with lung cancer and side effects of treatment. Ask your doctor if you should take dietary supplements and if so, which ones. Some herbs, plant extracts, and other home remedies can interfere with treatment and endanger your health. Be sure to discuss all complementary therapies with your doctor to make sure they’re safe for you. Options may include: Massage : With a qualified therapist, massage can help relieve pain and anxiety. Some massage therapists are trained to work with people with cancer. Acupuncture : When performed by a trained practitioner, acupuncture may help ease pain, nausea, and vomiting. But it’s not safe if you have low blood counts or take blood thinners. Meditation : Relaxation and reflection can reduce stress and improve overall quality of life in cancer patients. Hypnosis : Helps you relax an...

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world. According to the American Lung Association, there were 2.1 million new cases in 2018, as well as 1.8 million deaths from lung cancer. The most common type is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), accounting for 80 to 85 percent of all cases, according to the Lung Cancer Alliance. Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents about 15 to 20 percent of lung cancers. At the time of diagnosis, 2 out of 3 people with SCLC are already in the extensive stage. Anyone can get lung cancer, but smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke is linked to about 90 percent of lung cancer cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source , cigarette smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to get lung cancer than nonsmokers. In the United States, each year about 7,300 people who never smoked die from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke. Former smokers are still at risk of developing lung c...

  There’s no diet specifically for lung cancer. It is important to get all the nutrients your body needs. If you’re deficient in certain vitamins or minerals, your doctor can advise you which foods can provide them. Otherwise, you’ll need a dietary supplement. Don’t take supplements without talking to your doctor because some can interfere with treatment. Here are a few dietary tips: Eat whenever you have an appetite. If you don’t have a major appetite, try eating smaller meals throughout the day. If you need to gain weight, supplement with low sugar, high-calorie foods and drinks. Use mint and ginger teas to soothe your digestive system. If your stomach is easily upset or you have mouth sores, avoid spices and stick to bland food. If constipation is a problem, add more high-fiber foods. As you progress through treatment, your tolerance to certain foods may change. So can your side effects and nutritional needs. It’s worth discussing nu...

  Not all smokers get lung cancer, and not everyone who has lung cancer is a smoker. But there’s no doubt that smoking is the biggest risk factor, causing 9 out of 10 Trusted Source  lung cancers. In addition to cigarettes, cigar and pipe smoking are also linked to lung cancer. The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the bigger your chance of developing lung cancer. You don’t have to be a smoker to be affected. Breathing in other people’s smoke increases the risk of lung cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC) Trusted Source , secondhand smoke is responsible for about 7,300 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. Tobacco products contain more than 7,000 chemicals, and at least 70 are known to cause cancer. When you inhale tobacco smoke, this mixture of chemicals is delivered directly to your lungs, where it immediately starts causing damage. The lungs can usually repair damage at first, but the continued ...

  What causes lung cancer? Anyone can get lung cancer, but 90 percent of lung cancer cases are the result of smoking. From the moment you inhale smoke into your lungs, it starts damaging your lung tissue. The lungs can repair the damage, but continued exposure to smoke makes it increasingly difficult for the lungs to keep up the repair. Once cells are damaged, they begin to behave abnormally, increasing the likelihood of developing lung cancer. Small-cell lung cancer is almost always associated with heavy smoking. When you stop smoking, you lower your risk of lung cancer over time. Exposure to radon, a naturally existing radioactive gas, is the second leading cause, according to the American Lung Association. Radon enters buildings through small cracks in the foundation. Smokers who are also exposed to radon have a very high risk of lung cancer. Breathing in other hazardous substances, especially over a long period of time, can also cause lung cancer. A t...

Are there different types of lung cancer? Lung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs. The most common type is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC makes up about 80 to 85 percent of all cases. Thirty percent of these cases start in the cells that form the lining of the body’s cavities and surfaces. This type usually forms in the outer part of the lungs (adenocarcinomas). Another 30 percent of cases begin in cells that line the passages of the respiratory tract (squamous cell carcinoma). A rare subset of adenocarcinoma begins in the tiny air sacs in the lungs (alveoli). It’s called adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). This type isn’t aggressive and may not invade surrounding tissue or need immediate treatment. Faster-growing types of NSCLC include large-cell carcinoma and large-cell neuroendocrine tumors. BOOK APPOINTMENT Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents about 15 to 20 percent of lung cancers. SCLC grows and spreads faster than NSCLC. T...

What Is Lung Cancer? Lung cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the lungs. Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. To learn more about how cancers start and spread, see  What Is Cancer? Normal structure and function of the lungs Your lungs are 2 sponge-like organs in your chest. Your right lung has 3 sections, called  lobes . Your left lung has 2 lobes. The left lung is smaller because the heart takes up more room on that side of the body. When you breathe in, air enters through your mouth or nose and goes into your lungs through the  trachea  (windpipe). The trachea divides into tubes called  bronchi , which enter the lungs and divide into smaller bronchi. These divide to form smaller branches called  bronchioles . At the end of the bronchioles are tiny air sacs known as  alveoli . The alveoli absorb oxygen into your blood from the inhaled air and remove carbon dioxide from the blood when you exhale. Takin...

  Stages The staging of cancer describes how far it has spread through the body and how severe it is. Staging helps healthcare professionals and individuals decide on a suitable course of treatment. The most basic form of staging is as follows: localized, wherein the cancer is within a limited area regional, wherein the cancer has spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes distant, wherein the cancer has spread to other parts of the body Similar to this is the TNM staging system. Healthcare professionals assess the tumor for size and spread, whether or not it affects the lymph nodes, and whether or not it has spread elsewhere. There are also specific ways of staging non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. Learn more about the stages of lung cancer here. Stages of non-small cell lung cancer Healthcare professionals typically use tumor size and spread to describe the stages of non-small cell lung cancer, as follows: O...

Screening Undergoing regular screening may be a good idea for people with a high risk of developing lung cancer. Screening is with a low-dose CT scan. The American Lung Association recommend screening if a person meets all the following criteria: is aged 55–80 years has a history of heavy smoking (30 pack years, which is one pack per day for 30 years or two packs per day for 15 years) currently smokes or has quit smoking within the past 15 years Insurance will often cover this screening if a person is aged 55–80 years and has private health insurance or is aged 55–77 years, has Medicare, and meets all the other criteria. However, people should check with their insurance company before signing up for lung cancer screening. BOOK APPOINTMENT Diagnosis If a person has any symptoms that could indicate lung cancer or if screening shows something unusual, a healthcare professional will likely recommend some diagnostic tests. Imaging tes...