With the aging of population, urbanization of rural areas, accelerated industrial development process in cities and towns, as well as factors such as people’s smoking, pollution and destruction of living environment and poor lifestyle, the high incidence and mortality rate of lung cancer has become a major global concern. 1.2 million new cases of lung cancer and 1.1 million deaths were reported worldwide in 2000. In the past half century, the incidence and mortality of lung cancer have increased dramatically worldwide, and nowadays, lung cancer has become the most popular and common lung disease and the first among various cancers in men in most countries and regions, including China.
Because of the insidious early symptoms, most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. The high mortality rate of lung cancer is related to a combination of factors such as patients not being detected in time at the time of consultation and not choosing the right treatment during the subsequent treatment. Approximately 80% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, losing the best opportunity for surgical and multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment. If treated at an early stage, the survival rate of lung cancer patients can reach 70% over 5 years; at an advanced stage, the patient’s life can only be measured in months.
Lung shadows are the lamellar or mass shadows found in X-ray chest film, chest CT and other imaging examinations. Once a lung shadow is detected, the first reaction of many people is “lung cancer”, and many people even talk about “shadow”. However, lung shadow is not equal to lung cancer. Generally speaking, besides lung cancer, other diseases that may manifest as “lung shadows” include infectious lung diseases, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, pulmonary aspergillosis, bronchiectasis and other co-infections.
Other non-infectious diseases, such as benign tumors and vasculitis, can also manifest as lung shadows on imaging. Therefore, if lung shadows are found, there is no need to blindly fall into lung cancer panic, nor should we easily think that it is inflammation or benign tumor and delay the treatment. Patients should go to a regular hospital for scientific examination in a timely manner and then be judged by an experienced doctor.
In addition to X-ray chest film and CT chest, further tumor markers, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), sputum exfoliation cells, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, etc. can be done according to specific conditions, and CT-guided lung aspiration biopsy is also feasible if necessary. Among them, low-dose CT scan can timely and accurately detect early small nodules in the lung, which is important for early detection of lung cancer.
Knowing the main symptoms of lung cancer can increase vigilance.
Its main symptoms include the following aspects: local symptoms.
①Cough, mostly irritating cough;
②Sputum with blood in it;
③ Chest tightness and chest pain, generally with light symptoms and vague localization. When the cancer tumor invades the pleura and chest wall, the pain increases, and the pain localization is clearer than before;
④Shortness of breath, which can be caused by pneumonia, atelectasis, malignant pleural effusion and diffuse alveolar lesions due to obstruction of small bronchi by cancer tumors.
Systemic symptoms.
① Fever, caused by obstructive pneumonia or cancerous toxin;
②Late stage patients are wasted and can have more obvious cachexia.
Extrapulmonary symptoms.
Some patients have paraneoplastic syndrome, the
①Cushing’s syndrome;
②Ectopic gonadotropin secretion;
(iii) hypoglycemia;
④ hypercalcemia;
⑤ neuromuscular manifestations.
External metastatic symptoms.
① malignant pleural effusion ;
②Lymph node metastasis and bone, liver and brain metastasis symptoms;
③superior vena cava compression syndrome.
The following three groups of people are at high risk of lung cancer and should undergo regular medical checkups, pay attention to active prevention, and not take it lightly if lung shadows are found.
① Long-term smokers, those who have smoked for more than 20 years, those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day, and their passive smoking family members;
②People over 40 years old;
③People who have a family history of heredity. These three groups of people should preferably include a CT scan of the lungs as a mandatory test during their normal physical examination in order to detect small lung nodules in a timely and accurate manner. If common symptoms of lung cancer such as chest pain, unexplained blood in sputum, weight loss and weight loss occur, prompt medical consultation is required.