Lung Cancer Staging, Diagnosis and Treatment

Our lungs are made up of a spongy tissue which is under the ribs. When we breath we inhale oxygen and when we exhale we take out carbon dioxide. That is the primary function of our lungs. Lung cancer which is a cancerous cells, blocks the air that we breath that makes a lung cancer patient have difficulty in breathing.

Lung cancer is one of the most deadly respiratory illness that affects both men and women. It usually starts from a group of malignant cells that spread and destroy the lungs. The common cause of lung cancer is smoking. Exposure to chemicals like radon gas, asbestos, and coal products may also cause cancer in the lungs. Common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing with blood, chest pain, and weight loss.

Lung cancer staging is done during diagnosis and before treatment is done. It is a method of knowing the cancerous cells and its precise location in the body. Lung cancer staging also helps doctors to know the necessary treatment and predict the chances of survival of a patient.

During diagnosis when a certain person is suspected to have cancer, a doctor will immediately conduct a complete physical examination to a patient. This is to know and evaluate if a cancer tumor are benign or malignant. Then a series of test will a be taken to a patient. Series of test includes, Chest X-ray, CT (computed tomography) scan, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), PET scan, Sputum Cytology, and bronchoscopy.

After lung cancer staging and diagnosis, a treatment is done. There actually two types of lung cancer, the non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. These two have different treatment option. In NSCLC or non small cell lung cancer common treatment is surgery. This is because the cancer is contained in a primary tumor, therefore tumor is surgically removed. While SCLC or small cell lung cancer common treatment include radiation and chemotherapy. There are also other alternative treatments in lung cancer and still doctors are searching for a better way to combat this illness.

Truly lung cancer is an illness that hard to survive and treatment are not so sure for each patient reacts differently to a certain treatment. Lung cancer staging, diagnosis and treatment are just some of the useful information that we should all know to avoid cancer. Total awareness about lung cancer is a best preventive tool to stop spreading of this disease.