Lung cancer, known as bronchial lung cancer, is the third most prevalent cancer and the first among males, accounting for the highest mortality rate of human tumors.
I. Risk factors of lung cancer
1.Smoking: the primary causative factor
2.85% of male lung cancer is related to smoking
3.The younger the age of starting smoking, the greater the risk of lung cancer
3, >30 cigarettes/day, >40 years, and SCLC relationship is obvious
4.Filtered cigarettes are associated with ↑ incidence of adenocarcinoma: deep smoke inhalation
5.Tobacco in the environment: “second-hand smoke”, smoking increases by 10 times, heavy smoking increases by 10-25 times
6.Occupational exposure: asbestos, chromium, nickel, copper, tin, arsenic, uranium, etc.; electric and microwave radiation
7, air pollution: industrially developed, serious air pollution areas; urban residents; urban suburbs than distant suburbs
8, lung lesions: scarring, pneumoconiosis, silicosis, asbestosis
9, diet: poor eating habits
Second, clinical manifestations
Symptoms caused by the primary tumor
1. There is no symptom in the early stage, but with the development of lesion, the following symptoms can be found.
①Cough (45%-75%): the most common
②Coughing sputum
③Hemoptysis (27%-57%): intermittent hemoptysis or blood in sputum
④ Chest tightness, shortness of breath or wheezing: caused by bronchial stenosis
⑤ Recurrent pneumonia in the same lobe of the lung
2.Symptoms caused by tumor metastasis
①Chest pain (1/4-1/2)
② Difficulty in swallowing, choking and coughing
③Respiratory difficulty: intrathoracic metastasis, pleural fluid
④Heartness of voice (2%-18%)
⑤Diaphragmatic paralysis
⑥Superior vena cava obstruction syndrome
⑦Pericardial effusion, arrhythmia
⑧Supra-pulmonary sulcus syndrome
3.Late stage symptoms
①Metastasis to lymph nodes: lymph node enlargement
②Metastasis to brain and CNS: headache, vomiting, and even coma
③Metastasis to bones
④Metastasis to liver
4.Other systemic manifestations
①Weight loss
②Lack of energy
③Anorexia
④ Cachexia
⑤ Fever
Early screening is an important method to detect early lung cancer, and the following conditions should be alerted.
1. Irritating dry cough that lasts for 2-3 weeks and the treatment is ineffective, or the nature of the original cough changes
2. Repeated hemoptysis or chest pain
3. Recurrent pneumonia in the same area
4. Unilateral limited croup, limited emphysema, and pulmonary atelectasis
5, unexplained arthralgia and pestle-like fingers (toes) of the extremities
6, pulmonary tuberculosis after anti-tuberculosis treatment, no change or increase in shadow
7, lung abscess of unknown cause, no toxic symptoms, no large amount of pus sputum
8, hemorrhagic pleural fluid or pleural fluid growing rapidly during the treatment
9, isolated round lesions and unilateral hilar shadow increase
10.Age older than 45 years old, especially smokers, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not, it is better to have an annual physical examination, including chest X-ray and left chest CT examination if necessary.
Treatment of lung cancer
Methods: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biological therapy, Chinese herbal medicine, supportive therapy, its
Early detection and early treatment, stage I lung cancer may be cured by surgery, with a 5-year survival rate of 70-80%, stage IV-V 5-year survival rate <20%, and most of them die within 2 years
Prevention: develop good living habits, quit smoking, stay away from pollution, maintain a happy mood, and have regular medical checkups.