Resources of Lung Cancer Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options
Northwestern’s Dr. Patel explains the Lung Cancer symptoms women experience. Help women, share your Lung Cancer story & send this to a friend in need.
The preliminary signs of lung cancer include persistent coughing and chest pain, which are often mistaken for common ailments. Identify early lung cancer symptoms with helpful information from a practicing oncologist in this free video on cancer. Expert: Dr. Kenneth Fink Contact: www.nhhn.org Bio: Dr. Kenneth Fink has been a medical doctor in the field of internal medicine specializing in hematology and oncology for 23 years. Filmmaker: Reel Media LLC
Thelma Gross, 78 years of age. Here she speaks of her 4-week lung cancer treatment at the Issels Treatment Center the day before she went back home.
Her primary tumor has reduced in size and her metastases at the center of her chest (two large tumors near the larynx and trachea) have been reduced to half the size or even more, and the others on the lower part of her chest are gone.
TheIssels Treatment is a comprehensive immunotherapy program that integrates the most effective state-of-the-art technologies, such as advanced cancer vaccines, and other safe and scientifically validated therapies.
Cancer is a disease that forms in the cells of the body. Cancer cells are abnormal cells that reproduce to make more abnormal cells. Abnormal cells do not die when the body does not need them any more as normal cells do. This disease often occurs in the lungs of individuals who smoke; however, individuals who do not smoke may also develop cancer of the lungs.
The lung is an important organ in the body. Lungs allow humans to breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Sometimes lungs develop diseases such as asthma, emphysema and cancer.
Cancer of the lungs often does not have symptoms until the disease has progressed. Symptoms of this disease include: trouble breathing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, a cough that will not go away and a hoarse voice. A person who has symptoms of lung cancer should visit a doctor. Symptoms of lung cancer are also symptoms of other various diseases or illness; therefore, a person with symptoms should visit a doctor.
Many things cause cancer to develop in the lungs. Smoking cigarettes is a very common cause of developing this disease in the lungs. Tobacco smoke causes harm to cells in the lung. Tobacco smoke often causes a person to develop cancer. Individuals who are around tobacco smoke but do not smoke are also at a risk for developing cancer.
Air pollution, radon, asbestos, arsenic and other chemicals also cause cancer of the lungs. Family history also plays a role in developing this disease. A person who has a family history of lung cancer and smokes cigarettes is at an even greater risk for developing this disease. The more risks a person has for developing cancer of the lungs the more likely the person is to develop the disease.
Read more guide to cancer, symptoms & treatment on our website: http://www.thecancertreatment.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Kusardi
There are a number of reasons surgery is performed on the lungs. The most common reason involves cancer. If a mass is identified within the lung tissue, a surgical team will be assigned to remove it. There are a few approaches that can be taken depending on where the mass is located as well as its size. Surgery may also be performed to correct a collapsed lung or to drain fluid that is accumulating nearby.
Today, minimally invasive techniques are used to reduce the likelihood of complications and provide a shorter recovery period for the patient. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of the differences between traditional thoracotomy and minimally invasive lung cancer surgery. While the former is still performed in some circumstances, the latter is becoming increasingly common.
Types Of Surgical Procedures
First, it’s worth reviewing the different operations performed on the lungs. As noted, most surgical procedures are done to cure lung cancer (LC). If the aforementioned mass is small and only found within a tiny portion of tissue, a wedge resection is performed to remove that portion.
In cases where the cancerous cells are detected within a larger portion of tissue, a lobectomy may be done. This is a procedure during which one entire lobe is removed. If it is necessary to remove two adjoining lobes, the procedure is called a bilobectomy.
When the diseased cells have spread throughout the lung, a surgeon will perform a pneumonectomy to remove the entire organ. Its absence will lower the patient’s quality of life, but the patient can live with only one lung.
Minimally Invasive Approaches
Traditionally, lung cancer surgery was performed through an open chest operation (i.e. thoracotomy). A long incision is made into the patient’s side between the ribs. The surgeon then uses a retractor to spread the patient’s ribs in order to provide enough room to work. With the ribs spread apart, the surgeon accesses the site and removes the tumor.
Thoracoscopy can accomplish the same results without the need to make a long incision or spread the ribs. Instead, the surgeon will make several smaller incisions. A thin, tubular instrument called a thoracoscope is outfitted with a video camera and inserted through one of the small incisions. As the surgeon guides the thoracoscope to the affected tissue, the video camera transmits images of the chest cavity back to the surgical team.
Once the site has been identified, other instruments are inserted and guided to the diseased tissue. The portion containing the cancerous cells is cut away and removed.
Differences Between Traditional and Minimally Invasive Surgery
Because thoracotomy is so invasive, patients are exposed to several potential complications. These can include respiratory failure, internal bleeding, pneumonia, and air leaks. Moreover, the patient is forced to cope with intense postoperative pain during recovery.
With minimally invasive lung cancer surgery, the potential for complications is significantly reduced. There is also far less postoperative pain and the recovery period is shortened. It’s not uncommon for patients to be released from the hospital after two or three days following surgery (compared to up to ten days following thoracotomy).
What To Expect After The Operation
After you undergo lung cancer surgery (assuming minimally invasive techniques are used), you will experience some level of tenderness near the incisions. The pain will eventually subside. Within a few days, you will be released to complete your recovery at home. Your doctor will prescribe pain medications to reduce any lingering discomfort. Once you no longer need these medications, you will be able to resume your normal activities. Most patients find they can return to their normal routine after four or five weeks.
Not everyone is a candidate for minimally invasive lung cancer surgery. Your doctor will want to perform a few tests to check whether this form of treatment is appropriate given the staging of the disease and your condition.
Find the right doctor for lung cancer treatments or mitral valve repair. Early diagnosis can lead to successful results.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_L_Perkins
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