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Lung Cancer Treatment Specialist In Delhi
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Around 2.21 million lung cancer cases were reported in 2020, meaning lung cancer is more prevalent than many other types of cancer and just behind the number of breast cancer cases. A WHO report also states that it took the most lives compared to other types in 2020, resulting in around 1.8 million deaths worldwide.
Although cancer is fatal, there are always new treatment options that one may even access after visiting a lung cancer doctor in Delhi NCR. Therefore, for better insight, let’s delve you into the specifics of lung cancer and the several outcomes that accompany such a diagnosis.
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer begins in the lungs before metastasizing to infect the rest of the body. Most lung cancers start in the bronchi or the lower region of the windpipe and deep inside the lungs like the alveoli.
Lung cancer usually exhibits itself in two types. These include:
Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
Also known as oat cell cancer, this type accounts for 10% to 15% of all lung cancer cases. This cancer is significantly more potent than the non-small cell cancer type. Therefore, upon receiving this diagnosis, a patient will have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy under the guidance of a lung cancer treatment specialist in Delhi or other regions.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
When it comes to this type of lung cancer, the prognosis is usually more positive after treatment. It is also more common, comprising 80% of all lung cancer cases.
Main Causes Of Lung Cancer
The main causes for lung cancer include:
Smoking
Lung cancer is common in individuals who smoke and those exposed to smoke. It is because of the carcinogens present within cigarettes, bidis, or other forms of tobacco.
Radiation exposure
If the subject has undergone previous bouts of radiation therapy, especially in the chest region, there is an increased chance of developing cancer.
Exposure to radon gas
Radon created after uranium breaks down can make its way into the air, water, and soil and even accumulate in homes and buildings. If one comes in contact with it, they can get lung cancer.
Prevalence in family history
Individuals with a long history of lung cancer are more likely to develop lung cancer than other people.
Prognosis of Lung Cancer
The stages in cancer are used to determine how long the patient has been living with it. The lung cancer survival rates by age show that young men and women can survive 5 years or longer with lung cancer. The net survival rate for men ranges from 42% in the younger demographic. However, it is only 6% for 80-99-year-olds. Depending on the present stage, doctors can determine the best course of action regarding treatment and survival rates.
The stages are determined after finding out the following characteristics of cancer:
- The cancer is said to be present within a particular area: Localized.
- The cancer is spreading to tissues or lymph nodes close by: Regional
- Cancer has spread to almost all the parts of the body: Distant
The different stages in lung cancer which is exclusive to the NSCLC type are:
Stage 1
In this stage, a tumor or cancerous growth is present within the lungs and is measured to be around 4 cm or less. It is localized. The survival rate in this stage for NSCLC is around 70% to 92% for the next five years or more after undergoing chemotherapy.
Stage 2
The cancerous growth, in this case, is around 7 cm or less and is said to be regional as it spreads to nearby tissue. The survival rate for the next 5 years or more is around 53% to 60%.
Stage 3
Cancer, at this stage, is spreading more rapidly to far-off places within the body. Reports will now find it in lymph nodes and other parts of the lung and surrounding areas. Around 1 in 3 people can live for five years or longer when diagnosed with stage 3 cancer.
Stage 4
The individuals that reach this stage face a very bleak prognosis. Cancer has now metastasized and is spread to all body parts like the bones or the brain. The life expectancy that patients in this stage have is around 6.3 to 11.4 months.
The above staging procedure is only for NSCLC type cancers. For patients with SCLC type, there are two stages. These include:
- Limiteds:
In this stage, the cancer is still relatively recent and found on one side of the chest. It may present in one lung and is spreading to the lymph nodes on one side. Subjects can undergo radiation therapy with the help of a lung cancer doctor in Delhi NCR and control the growth of cancer.
- Extensive stage:
During this stage, cancer has spread to both lungs and probably into the lymph nodes as well. There are chances that it has spread to the bone marrow as well.
The diagnosis of lung cancer can be a shocking discovery but does not always mean the end. After this discovery, the best course of action involves getting in touch with the best oncologist in Delhi NCR like Dr. PK Das, to determine how to fight this cancer.
lung cancer FAQs
- Adenocarcinoma:
One of the more common subtypes usually occurs in patients that were or are smokers. However, it has also been reported in individuals that do not smoke. Adenocarcinoma occurs in epithelial cells that secrete mucus. Therefore, the gland cells present within the lungs have the potential to develop adenocarcinoma.
- Undifferentiated carcinoma:
This cancer is found in cells that are primitive or newly formed. They may not be similar to the tissue from which they originated. In most cases, this form of carcinoma tends to be malignant, and the possibility of relapse is high, as seen in SCLC.
- Squamous cell carcinoma:
The topmost layer of the bronchi connected with the lungs is lined with squamous cells. These cells are flat and are susceptible to becoming cancerous upon exposure to carcinogenic substances like cigarette smoke.
In addition to this, a few other types are much rarer compared to the three mentioned above.
Lung cancer can be inconspicuous in the first few stages. Therefore, it is unlikely that one will experience many symptoms during this time. However, as the cancer advances, one will experience the following symptoms more vigorously:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Sore throat causing hoarseness
- Loss of weight
- Headaches
- Perennial coughing
- Pain in bones
One must visit a lung doctor in Delhi NCR or the nearest cancer hospital if they experience one or more of these symptoms. The symptoms tend to increase both in number as well as severity as cancer progresses.
If one notices symptoms and is looking to diagnose them, they can consider visiting one of the best oncologists in Delhi NCR, Dr. PK Das. Here, individuals can carry out several tests to ensure whether or not they have cancer while also receiving advice on how to move forward with treatments and a definitive prognosis.
There are imaging tests that are commonly carried out to find out if the subject has cancer. These tests include computer tomography (CT scans), PET scans, Chest X-ray, and an MRI scan.
However, in addition to this, other diagnosing options specifically for lung cancer include:
- Thoracentesis:
This test is usually conducted in the later stages of cancer after fluid is collected around the lungs. This accumulation of fluid can take place if there is heart failure or an infection. Therefore, the fluid taken out from the lining of the lungs is taken to the lab to check for cancer cells.
- Biopsy:
Doctors carry out this procedure to get a small sample from a mass that they may have found in the body. The sample is then analyzed for any cancer cells.
- Bronchoscopy:
It involves sending a device known as a bronchoscope into the patient’s airway to check for any tumours.
- Sputum cytology:
The mucus that the patient may cough up from the lungs is taken to the lab to check for cancer cells. It is a confirmatory test to understand whether the person has NSCLC types like squamous cell lung cancers. However, if it is other types of cancer, doctors will advise carrying out imaging tests.
You may feel acute pain in your chest and lower back if you have lung cancer.
The three subtypes of cancer include adenocarcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, and, finally, squamous cell lung cancer.
In most cases, patients with stage 1 cancer can be cured completely or restrict cancer from growing any longer.