Lung cancer, one of the most common in the world. Here’s how it is diagnosed, what the symptoms and treatments are.
Lung cancer is one of the most common and lethal cancers, and represents a significant threat to public health. This type of tumor develops from lung tissues and is characterized by a variety of symptoms, diagnostic options, and treatment plans. Understanding early signs, diagnostic modalities, and treatment options is critical to improving survival prospects and quality of life for patients with this debilitating disease.
It is important to pay attention to the symptoms and do regular screening to diagnose the disease early – Ilciriaco.it
In fact, lung cancer can manifest itself with a series of symptoms varying in severity and presentation. In his early stages, the tumor may be asymptomatic or exhibit vague symptoms that are often attributed to other conditions. However, some signs that may indicate the presence of lung cancer include: persistent cough, sometimes accompanied by blood in the sputum, shortness of breath or difficulty breathingpersistent chest pain, hoarse voice, weight loss involuntary, chronic fatigue and loss of appetite. So how do you get an accurate diagnosis?
How to diagnose cancer
Accurate diagnosis of lung cancer requires a series of tests and clinical procedures. Initially, the doctor may perform a series of physical exams and blood tests to evaluate the patient’s overall health. However, to confirm the presence of lung cancer and determine its nature, more specific diagnostic approaches are needed. One of them is the chest x-ray which can detect lung abnormalities suggestive of cancer. Or again computed tomography (CT) o magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)techniques that provide detailed images of the lungs and surrounding structures, helping to identify suspicious lesions.
Treatments can be different depending on the type of tumor, the stage and the patient’s condition – Ilciriaco.it
Sometimes the surgeon can also perform a lung biopsy, the gold standard for lung cancer diagnosis. This procedure involves taking samples of lung tissue for pathological analysis. And then there bronchoscopy, which allows specialists to directly examine the airways and take tissue samples for biopsy. In addition to these methodologies, advanced imaging tests such as the PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and the bone scan to evaluate the extent of the disease and the presence of metastases.
Il cigarette smoke it is the main risk factor for the development of lung cancer. Individuals who smoke cigarettes or are exposed to secondhand smoke have a significantly greater risk of developing the disease than nonsmokers. Other risk factors includeoccupational exposure to carcinogenic substances such as asbestos and radon. Primary prevention of lung cancer focuses on adopting a healthy lifestyle and stopping smoking. Programs screening precoce via spiral CT may be considered for high-risk individuals, but are currently not yet widely implemented.
Tumor treatment
Treatment of the disease depends on type of tumor, stage of the disease and general conditions of the patient. Treatment options may include surgery if the tumor is in its early stages and when the disease has not spread to other organs. Surgery aims to remove the tumor and, if necessary, some of the surrounding tissue. Then we have the chemotherapy which involves the use of anticancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. It is often used in combination with surgery or radiation therapy. There radiotherapy instead, it uses high-energy radiation to damage and destroy cancer cells. It can be used as a primary or adjuvant treatment.
Then we have the biological therapy and immunotherapy. These targeted therapies act on specific molecules or mechanisms involved in tumor growth. Immunotherapy has been a recent innovation in the treatment of lung cancer, showing efficacy as both first- and second-line therapy. It is important to underline that lung cancer treatment is multidisciplinary and personalized, with the aim of maximizing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing side effects.
In Italy and throughout the Western world, lung cancer continues to represent one of the main causes of mortality. New diagnoses of lung cancer are on the rise, and despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, it remains a significant clinical challenge. This is why prevention and early diagnosis are essential to reduce the incidence of this disease.
2024-03-03 05:00:54
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