Lung Cancer

Lung cancer refers to the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. It is the second and third most common cancer in male and female respectively. Lung cancer is a deadly cancer because the tumour can often grow to an advanced stage or to a large size without causing any symptoms. In addition, tumour cells also have the tendency to spread to the surrounding lymph nodes or through the bloodstream to different organs that are far away from the original tumour.

There are two general types of Lung cancer which includes:

• Non- small cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
• Small cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)

Common symptoms of lung cancer include long standing cough, persistent shortness of breath, blood in the sputum, hoarseness of voice or unexplained weight loss.. It is very important for patients to recognise and to treat lung cancers as soon as possible. Therefore, anyone experiencing such symptoms must seek medical advice as soon as possible.

The main risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. This also include second hand and third hand smoking. Second hand smoking refers to inhaling smoke from someone who is beside you or close to you that who is smoking. Third hand smoking refers to inhalation of smoke from clothing or from a room previously occupied by smokers.

Lung cancer treatment in the 21st century is multidisciplinary, personalised and precise. Rapid scientific and technological advances have resulted in a variety of treatment options for Lung Cancer. These may involve the following or a combination of them:

• Surgery
• Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy
• Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted Therapy
• Immunotherapy

Once the diagnosis is made, the consultation with an oncologist is essential in order to understand the numerous treatment options available in the rapidly advancing field. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us or speak with your lung oncologist.