Lung cancer is cancer that originates in the, amassing a tumor that grows and destroys and spreads to the surrounding tissues. When cancer initiates in the lungs, it is known as primary lung cancer. The lungs are an essential part of the respiratory system and help you breathe. The lungs are divided into small regions, all of which may be affected by cancer.

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in North America. According to the National Cancer Foundation, lung cancer is among the top 4 diagnosed cancers with the highest rate of death in both American women and men. In the year 2018, there will be more than 150,000 lives claimed to lung cancer. Lung cancer is also by all means preventable. Smoke from tobacco increases the chances for damages to lung tissue after exposure. Cancer takes several years to develop and if prevented in the early stages can even be treated with the help of the right diagnostic screening tools and treatments.

If you are experiencing any of the mentioned symptoms and think that you may have lung cancer, consult a doctor immediately. You may be asked to undergo the following tests to identify the cancerous cells so the proper treatment course may be recommended:

1. Imaging tests

An X-ray of the lungs helps reveal the presence of any nodule or mass that should not be there. CT scan helps find the lesions that are otherwise undetectable in the lungs.

2. Sputum cytology

If you are producing sputum at a high rate, looking at it under the microscope can also help find the answers.

3. Biopsy

A tissue sample of the affected cells is removed and examined. A biopsy can also be done through bronchoscopy where the doctor considers the lungs through a tube that is lighted.

Lung cancer treatment options

When it comes to lung cancer, there are several treatment options that are available. It depends on the stage, type of cancer and the condition of the patient. Your doctor is the best person to educate you on the best option for you:

1. Radiation therapy

This is a therapy where energy beams that are high powered are used to kill the cancer cells. Those in the advanced stages of lung cancer may require radiation before surgery as well. There are even techniques where the side effects caused by radiation have been reduced.

2. Chemotherapy

This is a treatment where drugs injected orally or through the vein are used to kill the cancerous cells. A combination of drugs is given as a part of the treatment over a few months or weeks. It is done after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may still be present.

3. Radiotherapy or radiation

This is an intense radiation process that aims the beams at angles that have cancer. It is an option for those who can’t go for surgery.

4. Immunotherapy

Cancer attacks your immune system, making your body too weak to fight back. This is a therapy where the body prevents the immune system from attacking the cancer cells and is reserved for those in the advanced stages of cancer.

5. Surgery

Surgery for lung cancer is done in an effort to remove the cancerous tissues in the lungs. Surgery is an option if cancer has not spread beyond the lungs. In cases where cancer has spread, the doctor may recommend radiation or chemotherapy. Here are some of the surgical procedures that are done:

• Segmental resection
• Wedge resection
• Lobectomy
• Pneumonectomy

When it comes to lung cancer, even the non-surgical approach has a high cancer of cure.  The effectiveness of lung cancer treatment depends on the stage of cancer, In the advanced stages, the rate of cures is lower. The best course of action for a person diagnosed with the condition can be given by an oncologist.