Lung Cancer

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above persistently and it worries you, you can visit Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore and get an appointment with one of the best pulmonologists in Indore. If you smoke and find it difficult to quit, do not hesitate to ask for help during your hospital visits.

Causes of Lung Cancer

The main cause behind most lung cancers is smoking. However, non-smokers can develop lung cancer too. The more the duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked, the higher the chances of developing lung cancer. After years of smoking, if an individual quits smoking, the risk of developing lung cancer is greatly increased.

Smoking gives rise to lung cancer by destroying the cells lining the inside of the lungs. Cigarette smoke contains cancer-causing substances that, when inhaled, cause changes in the lung tissue almost immediately. At first, the body tries to compensate for the damage by repairing the damaged tissue, but with each repeated exposure, the cells get severely damaged, reaching a point where the body's defence mechanisms fail to compensate for the damage. This eventually gives rise to cancer.

Lung cancers are of many different types. But the commonest ones are— small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
  The commonest type of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer. It accounts for more than 80% of the total cases of lung cancer. The commonest types include squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. On the other hand, sarcomatoid carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma are two less common types of non-small cell lung cancers.
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
  Small cell lung cancers are harder to treat and they also grow more quickly. It is usually discovered as a small lung tumour that is often already spread to other body parts. Specific small cell lung cancers include combined small cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma known as oat cell carcinoma.
• Other types of lung cancers
  Certain other types of malignancies can originate in and around the lungs. These may include sarcomas, lymphomas, and pleural mesotheliomas. These are usually not considered as lung cancers and are treated differently.

The presence of certain risk factors increases the susceptibility to developing lung cancers. Some of these risk factors, such as smoking, are modifiable and can be controlled, while others, like family history, cannot be controlled. Apart from smoking, other common risk factors for lung cancer include:

• Passive smoking
  even if you do not smoke but are exposed to secondhand smoke, your chances of developing lung cancer increase.
• Previous history of radiation therapy
  If you were previously exposed to radiation therapy as a part of treatment for past cancers, your risk of developing lung cancer increases.
• Exposure to radon gas
  Radon is released by the natural degradation of uranium in soil, rocks and water. This toxic gas eventually becomes a part of the air you respire. Exposure to unsafe levels of radon gas is a risk factor for developing lung cancers.
• Occupational exposure
  Workplace exposure to carcinogens like asbestos, arsenic, chromium and nickel increases your susceptibility to developing lung cancer.
• Family history of lung cancer
  If your family member or a blood relative has lung cancer, your chances of having the disease increase.

• Shortness of breath
  If cancer grows big enough to obstruct the main airways, shortness of breath may be experienced. The other reason for shortness of breath in such patients is the inadequate inflation of the lungs secondary to the fluid accumulation around the lungs.
• Haemoptysis
  Due to bleeding in the airways, haemoptysis or coughing up of blood may be experienced.
• Pain
  Severe pain results from advanced cancer spreading to the lining of a lung or a bone. Many pain treatments are available to control pain, so you must share your symptoms with your doctor and get the appropriate help.
• Pleural effusion
  Fluid accumulation may occur in the space surrounding the affected lung, giving rise to symptoms such as shortness of breath. If such a situation arises, the fluid from your chest will be drained out to relieve the discomfort.

Prevention

• Quit smoking
• Avoid exposing yourself to passive smoking
• Get your home checked for radon levels
• Protect yourself against carcinogens and toxic chemicals at work
• Eat a well-balanced diet containing adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables
• Start working out regularly

Screening for Lung Cancers

People at an increased risk of developing lung cancer must undergo annual lung cancer screening by getting low-dose CT scans done. If you think that you belong to the high-risk groups, discuss whether lung screening is appropriate for you.

Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

• Imaging tests
  An X-ray of the lung reveals any abnormal mass or nodule. A CT scan may be done to detect smaller, more conspicuous lesions.
• Sputum cytology
  Observing the coughed-up sputum under the microscope may reveal lung cancer cells if present.
• Biopsy
  For highly suspected cases of malignancy, a sample of the abnormal tissue is collected to be examined under a microscope and confirm the diagnosis. A sample of the surrounding lymph nodes may also be taken to stage cancer and determine other areas of spread. Careful analysis of the sample tissue also helps determine the type of cancer, and that information is used to decide the treatment plan.
• Tests for staging
  Once cancer has been diagnosed, it is very important to stage it and decide the treatment plan. Advanced imaging tests like CT scan, MRI, PET scan, or bone scan may be done for staging.

Lung cancer staging

Each stage of lung cancer comprises different combinations of spread and size that can fall under that category. Suppose, in a stage III cancer, the primary tumour could be smaller than that in stage II cancer. However, other factors categorise it as being more advanced. Following is the general staging for lung cancer:

• Stage 0 (in-situ)
  The cancer is confined to the outer lining of the lung or to the bronchus. It usually has not metastasized to outside of the lungs or to other parts of the lung.
• Stage I
  The malignant cells have not spread outside the lung.
• Stage II
  The tumour is larger in size than stage I and has spread to the nearby lymph nodes or there is the presence of more than one lymph node in the same lung lobe.
• Stage III
  The cancer is larger in size than Stage II, has involved the surrounding lymph nodes or structures or there are multiple tumours in different lobes of the same lung.
• Stage IV
  It is characterised by the spread of the cancer to the other lung, the fluid around the heart, lung, or distant organs.

Limited vs. extensive stage

While stages I through IV are now used by providers for small cell lung cancers, it might also be described as an extensive or limited stage. It depends on whether the area can be treated with a single field of radiation.

Limited stage small cell lung cancer is limited to a single lung and can sometimes spread to lymph nodes located in the chest or above the collar bone on the same side. On the other hand, extensive stage small cell cancer is widespread in one lung or has involved the other lung. It can also involve lymph nodes of other parts of the body or that or the opposite side of the lung.

The treatment plan depends on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, the extent of local spread and distant metastasis, and the patients' overall health.

If you are looking for the best lung cancer treatment hospital in Indore, your search is over. Our cancer team comprises expert professionals who prioritise your physical and mental health during the whole course of the treatment. Before formulating the treatment plan, our doctors will discuss all the treatment options with you and your family, listing the pros and cons of each.

Surgery

Surgery for lung cancer aims to remove the cancerous cells as much as possible. A rim of healthy tissue surrounding the cancerous cells may also be removed. Surgery is considered an option if the cancer is confined to the lungs. Surgical procedures of all kinds are performed by expert and qualified surgeons at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore making it the best lung cancer surgery hospital in Indore. Procedures employed to remove lung cancer include:

• Wedge resection
  A small portion of the lung tissue that contains the cancerous cells is removed along with a rim of healthy tissue.
• Segmental resection
  A larger portion of the lung is removed, but not an entire lobe.
• Lobectomy
  This procedure aims to remove an entire lobe of one lung.
• Pneumonectomy
  Involves removal of the entire lung.

Other treatment options

• Radiation therapy
  This treatment modality uses high-energy rays from sources such as X-rays and protons to destroy cancer cells. For advanced and metastatic lung cancers, radiation therapy may be used to relieve symptoms, such as pain.
• Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy involves the use of chemotherapeutic drugs to destroy cancer cells. These drugs may be introduced intravenously or taken orally. It is often used post-surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. It may also be used for debulking cancers before surgery to make them easier to operate on.
• Stereotactic radiotherapy
  Also called radiosurgery, it is an intense radiation treatment during which many radiation beams are aimed at cancer from many angles. It is completed in a single sitting or a series of a few treatment sessions. It may be an option for patients with small lung cancers who are unfit to undergo surgery. It is also used to treat metastatic brain cancer.
• Targeted drug therapy
  Target drug treatment uses certain specialised drugs to specifically aim at destroying the cancer cells while sparing the normal cells of the body. Targeted therapy is reserved for more advanced lung cancers.
• Immunotherapy
  This therapy works by stimulating the immune system to fight the cancer cells more effectively. Certain cancer cells produce proteins that hide them from the immune system, thus protecting them. Immunotherapy interferes with that process, therefore, destroying the cancer cells.

Palliative care is supportive care that involves a team approach to minimizing the signs and symptoms of cancer. Patients who receive palliative treatment along with curative treatment have better outcomes. It helps improve mood and quality of life and prolong survival. Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore is the top lung cancer hospital in Indore delivering the highest quality curative and palliative treatments for lung cancers.

Hearing a diagnosis of lung cancer is quite difficult. The whole ordeal can be overwhelming and bring with it a flood of emotions. Depending on help from loved ones and support of a group can help you deal with your emotion and look for treatment options. Treatment of a cancer is often the process, and one of its most important parts is taking care of yourself.