Advanced lung cancer signifies about lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body like liver, brain, lymph nodes etc. The lung cancer spread, can either be local or to other parts of the body.
A local lung cancer spread means that the cancer has spread in the lung from where it had started. It would have grown in some other part of the same lung like the airway or would have spread to the chest wall and the lining of the lung.
A lung cancer is termed as advance if there is presence of cancer cells in the fluid surrounding the lungs. This condition is called as pleura effusion. Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body is known as metastasis or secondary cancer. Some of the cancer cells would have moved via bloodstream or the lymphatic system to the other parts of the body and would have started growing there.
Symptoms of advanced lung cancer
Usually the symptoms of lung cancer are not visible until it has spread to the nearby organs or tissues. When lung cancer spread it shows the following symptoms :
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
Bone pain
Seizures
Dizziness
Masses or lumps develop near the skin on other parts of the body (caused by cancer spreading to lymph nodes, or skin)
Feeling weak in the arms and/or legs
These symptoms also indicate other diseases hence it would not always that it shows the presence of advanced lung cancer. However you should see your doctor in case any of these symptoms appear. There are some body parts where the lung cancer is more likely to spread. It is not necessary that all lung cancers spread and if they do it is not necessary that they spread to the same body parts. The most common places where lung cancer can spread include : brain, bones, liver and lymph nodes.
If you notice any lumps in you underarms or your neck then you should inform your doctor. Lymph nodes that are affected by cancer are bigger than the normal size. However lymph nodes also increase in size because of other infections. It is better to consult a doctor.
When cancer spreads into the liver it results in pain in the right side below the ribs. You might fall sick after having a rich diet and at a later stage jaundice can also occur. See your doctor if you observe these symptoms. It is diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound.
If cancer has spread into the bones then the most common symptom is pain. Bones affected by cancer are more likely to fracture than other bones. Any pain that is because of spreading of cancer in the bone reacts well to the treatment. It is diagnosed by after bone scans on x-ray.
When cancer spreads into the brain then it can make you feel confused and drowsy. You can have headache along with sickness. This type of cancer is best treated by radiotherapy given along with steroid tablets. It is diagnosed with MRI or CT scan.
Treating advanced lung cancer
The standard treatment for advanced lung cancer includes chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They can help in shrinking the cancer and hence relieve the symptoms. Chemotherapy can also help in non-recurrence of the cancer and keep the patient well for a longer time.
The best treatment that you can have depends on various factors like :
The area where the cancer has spread
The type of lung cancer
Treatments that you have already undergone
Any other medical complication the you are suffering from
In case the cancer has spread to just one area then it can be treated by radiotherapy but if it has spread to more than one area then chemotherapy is the best option because chemotherapy would treat the whole body whereas radiation therapy acts on a localized area.
In case the cancer has resulted in blockage of the airway then the doctor can recommend any of the following : internal radiotherapy, laser therapy, electrocautery, cryotherapy (treatment using freezing probe) or light treatment. These treatments result in the killing of cancer cells.
It is common that people suffering from lung cancer have fluid collection between the tissues covering the lung, which is called as pleural effusion. This results in complications in breathing. This can be treated by, drawing the fluid, which is called as thoracentesis. If the fluid collects again after being treated then it needs to be removed again, however, if this keeps recurring then the doctor is likely to stop the collection of the fluid which is called as pleurodesis. Such treatments can lead to chest pain so you should make sure that you ask the doctor for some painkillers.
FDA has given approval to Avastin- a drug used in colon cancer chemotherapy for treating advanced lung cancer. This drug can be used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs like paclitaxel and carboplatin. It is usually give by injection and acts by targeting on the growth factor of the cancer cells. They interfere with the blood supply to the tumor by stopping the production of new blood vessels.
Prevention
There are a few things which if avoided can reduce the risk of developing lung cancer like avoiding tobacco, you should include beta-carotene in your diet, add some sort of physical exercises in your daily routine and eat healthy and nutritious food. Though cancer cannot be avoided all together in patients where risk factor cannot be prevented but still following these can reduce the risk.
A local lung cancer spread means that the cancer has spread in the lung from where it had started. It would have grown in some other part of the same lung like the airway or would have spread to the chest wall and the lining of the lung.
A lung cancer is termed as advance if there is presence of cancer cells in the fluid surrounding the lungs. This condition is called as pleura effusion. Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body is known as metastasis or secondary cancer. Some of the cancer cells would have moved via bloodstream or the lymphatic system to the other parts of the body and would have started growing there.
Symptoms of advanced lung cancer
Usually the symptoms of lung cancer are not visible until it has spread to the nearby organs or tissues. When lung cancer spread it shows the following symptoms :
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
Bone pain
Seizures
Dizziness
Masses or lumps develop near the skin on other parts of the body (caused by cancer spreading to lymph nodes, or skin)
Feeling weak in the arms and/or legs
These symptoms also indicate other diseases hence it would not always that it shows the presence of advanced lung cancer. However you should see your doctor in case any of these symptoms appear. There are some body parts where the lung cancer is more likely to spread. It is not necessary that all lung cancers spread and if they do it is not necessary that they spread to the same body parts. The most common places where lung cancer can spread include : brain, bones, liver and lymph nodes.
If you notice any lumps in you underarms or your neck then you should inform your doctor. Lymph nodes that are affected by cancer are bigger than the normal size. However lymph nodes also increase in size because of other infections. It is better to consult a doctor.
When cancer spreads into the liver it results in pain in the right side below the ribs. You might fall sick after having a rich diet and at a later stage jaundice can also occur. See your doctor if you observe these symptoms. It is diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound.
If cancer has spread into the bones then the most common symptom is pain. Bones affected by cancer are more likely to fracture than other bones. Any pain that is because of spreading of cancer in the bone reacts well to the treatment. It is diagnosed by after bone scans on x-ray.
When cancer spreads into the brain then it can make you feel confused and drowsy. You can have headache along with sickness. This type of cancer is best treated by radiotherapy given along with steroid tablets. It is diagnosed with MRI or CT scan.
Treating advanced lung cancer
The standard treatment for advanced lung cancer includes chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They can help in shrinking the cancer and hence relieve the symptoms. Chemotherapy can also help in non-recurrence of the cancer and keep the patient well for a longer time.
The best treatment that you can have depends on various factors like :
The area where the cancer has spread
The type of lung cancer
Treatments that you have already undergone
Any other medical complication the you are suffering from
In case the cancer has spread to just one area then it can be treated by radiotherapy but if it has spread to more than one area then chemotherapy is the best option because chemotherapy would treat the whole body whereas radiation therapy acts on a localized area.
In case the cancer has resulted in blockage of the airway then the doctor can recommend any of the following : internal radiotherapy, laser therapy, electrocautery, cryotherapy (treatment using freezing probe) or light treatment. These treatments result in the killing of cancer cells.
It is common that people suffering from lung cancer have fluid collection between the tissues covering the lung, which is called as pleural effusion. This results in complications in breathing. This can be treated by, drawing the fluid, which is called as thoracentesis. If the fluid collects again after being treated then it needs to be removed again, however, if this keeps recurring then the doctor is likely to stop the collection of the fluid which is called as pleurodesis. Such treatments can lead to chest pain so you should make sure that you ask the doctor for some painkillers.
FDA has given approval to Avastin- a drug used in colon cancer chemotherapy for treating advanced lung cancer. This drug can be used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs like paclitaxel and carboplatin. It is usually give by injection and acts by targeting on the growth factor of the cancer cells. They interfere with the blood supply to the tumor by stopping the production of new blood vessels.
Prevention
There are a few things which if avoided can reduce the risk of developing lung cancer like avoiding tobacco, you should include beta-carotene in your diet, add some sort of physical exercises in your daily routine and eat healthy and nutritious food. Though cancer cannot be avoided all together in patients where risk factor cannot be prevented but still following these can reduce the risk.
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