Lung Cancer

Cancer begins when cells become abnormal and grow out of control. Lung cancer may start in the lining of the bronchi, the tubes into which the trachea or windpipe divides. It may also begin in other lung areas such as the trachea, bronchioles (small branches of the bronchi), or alveoli (lung air sacs).

The two most common types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer, in which the cancer cells are small and round, and non–small cell lung cancer, in which the cancer cells are larger. Sometimes a cancer has features of both types, and is called mixed small cell/large cell cancer. Non–small cell lung cancer accounts for almost 80% of lung cancers. Small cell lung cancer accounts for about 20% of all lung cancers.

Many people with early lung cancer do not have symptoms. A persistent cough, chest pain, hoarseness, weight loss, and bloody or rust–colored sputum (spit or phlegm) are early signs of the disease that occur in only about 15% of cases. Sometimes a simple x–ray helps in the detection of lung cancer. Then a pathologist may take a tissue sample or biopsy to confirm whether lung cancer is present.

Lung cancer treatments can improve longevity and the quality of life. Options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and photodynamic therapy. The most experimental treatment is photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses light to kill cancerous cells. A special chemical is injected into the bloodstream and absorbed by cells. The cancerous cells absorb more of the chemical than normal cells. Laser light activates the chemical, destroying the cancerous cells.

Studies show an increase in lung cancer among workers exposed to asbestos. The substance is now considered a major cause of lung cancer, second only to tobacco.

Asbestos exposure combined with smoking greatly multiplies the risk of developing lung cancer. If you inhale both these substances, you run a greater risk of disease than if you were exposed to either substance alone. Because the likelihood of contracting lung cancer is dose–dependent, every exposure to these deadly substances increases your disease potential.

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer and were exposed to asbestos in the workplace, please call us for a free consultation.

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Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer