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

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...

  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 ...

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...

  5 Best Papers Tips, Tricks & Thread Diagnostic delays 3 years from symptom onset may be evaluated > 5 specialists prior to receiving the correct diagnosis vast majority of cardiac amyloidosis transthyretin amyloidosis or light chain amyloidosis “red flag” suspicion for this diagnosis ECG voltage QRS amplitude limb leads (≤0.5 mV), pseudo-infarct pattern & relative voltage QRS (S wave in V1 + Rwave in V5 or V6 ≤15 mm) in the setting of LVH on #EchoFirst AV block Echo concentric LVH, biatrial & small pericardial , apical sparing of LV strain #whyCMR Diffuse, subendocardial LGE. T1 mapping techniques & measurement of extracellular volumes #CVnuc TTR-CA 91% sens & nearly 100% spec in the absence monoclonal gammopathy Majority of false tests LC cardiac amyloidosis, exclusion LC amyloidosis is critical Several types of amyloidosis have been described based on the specific protein comprising the deposited fibrils Uncommon for secondary (AA) amyloidosis to aff...