Description

Lung cancers

The lungs are two spongy organs in our chest cavity,
right and left, that allow oxygen to be ingested while breathing in and carbon
dioxide expelled while exhaling.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both
men and women in the United States. Our clinic, located in Beykoz,
Istanbul, is at the service of our people with its fully experienced staff and
bronchoscopy, tomography, mediastinoscopy, pet-ct, fine needle biopsy for all
lung diseases.

People who smoke are at the greatest risk of lung
cancer. Lung cancer risk increases with the duration of smoking and the
number of cigarettes smoked per day. Many years of smokers significantly
reduce the chance of developing lung cancer by quitting smoking.

Symptoms

Lung cancers typically do not cause signs and symptoms in
the earliest stages. Lung cancer signs and symptoms usually occur with the
progression of the disease.

Lung cancer symptoms include:

A new cough that won’t go away

Change in chronic cough or smoker cough

Seeing blood in sputum with cough

Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Grunt

Hoarseness

Unintentionally losing weight

Bone pain

Headache

If you have any persistent and persistent signs or
symptoms that worry you, contact your doctor.

If you smoke and can’t quit, see your doctor. 

Causes of lung cancer.

Smoking is the most important cause of lung
cancer. Smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke (passive smoking)
are at greatest risk for lung cancer. However, lung cancer also occurs in
people who have never smoked and who have never been exposed to cigarette
smoke. In these cases, a clear cause of lung cancer may not be identified.

surgery

During surgery, the surgeon tries to remove lung cancer
and healthy tissue margin.Lung cancer removal procedures include:

Tumor to remove a small portion of the lung
comprising  wedge resection of  healthy tissue margin with

Segmental resection to remove more of the
lung  , but not the entire lobe

Lobectomy to remove an entire lobe of a lung 

To remove the entire lung  pneumonectomy

If you go to surgery, your surgeon can also remove lymph
nodes from your breast to check for signs of cancer.

Surgery may be an option if your cancer is confined to
the lungs. If you have a larger lung cancer, your doctor may recommend
chemotherapy or radiation therapy before surgery to shrink the cancer. If
there is a risk that cancerous cells will be released after surgery or your
cancer may recur, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy
after surgery.

Advanced surgical techniques such as minimally invasive
surgery and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) can reduce the time you
need to spend in the hospital after lung cancer surgery and help you return to
your normal activities sooner. Studies show that people who undergo
minimally invasive lung cancer surgery in hospitals that perform most of these
operations annually tend to experience less pain and fewer
complications. Mayo Clinic surgeons perform more than 900 VAT procedures
each year.

Radiation therapy Radiotherapy uses high-powered energy beams from sources
such as X-rays and protons to kill cancer cells. During radiation therapy,
you lie on your table while a machine moves around you, directing the radiation
to precise points in your body.

For people with locally advanced lung cancer, radiation
may be used before or after surgery. Usually combined with chemotherapy
treatments. If surgery is not an option, combined chemotherapy and radiation
therapy may be your primary treatment.

For those with advanced lung cancer and those that have
spread to other areas of the body, radiation therapy can help relieve symptoms
such as pain.

Compared to standard radiotherapy techniques, newer and
more precisely targeted therapies may be more effective and cause fewer side
effects. Mayo Clinic offers the latest radiation planning and treatment
technologies, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy, volumetric
modulated arc therapy, image-guided radiotherapy, and proton therapy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. One or
more chemotherapy drugs can be given through a vein in your arm (intravenously)
or taken orally. The combination of medications is usually given in a
series of treatments over weeks or months, with breaks that can break so you
can recover.

Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to kill any
remaining cancer cells. It can be used alone or combined with radiation
therapy. Chemotherapy can also be used before surgery to shrink the cancer
and make it easier to remove.

In people with advanced lung cancer, chemotherapy can be
used to relieve pain and other symptoms.

Radiosurgery

Stereotactic body radiotherapy, also known as
radiosurgery, is an intense radiation therapy that targets many radiation beams
from many angles in cancer. Stereotactic body radiotherapy is usually
completed in one or more treatments.

Radiosurgery may be an option for people with minor lung
cancers who don’t have surgery. It can also be used to treat lung cancer
that has spread to other parts of the body, including the brain.

Targeted drug therapy

Targeted drug treatments focus on specific abnormalities
found in cancer cells by blocking these abnormalities, and targeted drug
therapies can cause cancer cells to die.

Most are reserved for people with advanced or recurrent
cancer, but many targeted therapy drugs are used in the treatment of lung
cancer.

Some targeted therapies only work in people whose cancer
cells have certain genetic mutations. Cancer cells can be tested in a lab
to see if these drugs will help you.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight
cancer. Your body’s disease-fighting immune system may not attack your
cancer because cancer cells produce proteins that blunt immune system
cells. Immunotherapy works by interfering with this process.

Immunotherapy treatments are often reserved for people
with advanced lung cancer.

Mayo Clinic researchers made an important discovery that
led to immunotherapy treatments called immune checkpoint inhibitors that
revolutionized the care for people with metastatic lung cancer.

Palliative care

People with lung cancer often experience cancer signs and
symptoms as well as side effects of treatment. Supportive care, also known
as palliative care, is a medical specialty that involves working with a doctor
to minimize your signs and symptoms.

Your doctor may recommend that you meet with a palliative
care team immediately after diagnosis to ensure you are comfortable during and
after your cancer treatment.

In one study, people who started supportive care
immediately after diagnosis and developed non-small cell lung cancer lived
longer than those who continued treatments such as chemotherapy and
radiation. Those who received supportive care reported a better mood and
quality of life. On average, they survived almost three more months
compared to those who received standard care.

Alternative medicine

Complementary and alternative lung cancer treatments
cannot cure your cancer. However, complementary and alternative therapies
can often be combined with your doctor’s care to help relieve signs and
symptoms.

The American College of Chest Physicians recommends that
people with lung cancer may find comfort in:

Acupuncture. During an acupuncture session, a
trained practitioner places small needles at sensitive points on your
body. Acupuncture can relieve pain and alleviate cancer treatment side
effects such as nausea and vomiting, but there is no evidence that acupuncture
has any effect on your cancer.

Hypnosis. Hypnosis is usually done by a therapist
who guides you through relaxation exercises and asks you to think about
gratifying and positive thoughts. Hypnosis can reduce anxiety, nausea, and
pain in people with cancer.

Massage. During the massage, the massage therapist
uses his or her hands to apply pressure to your skin and muscles. Massage
can help relieve anxiety and pain in people with cancer. Some massage
therapists are specially trained to work with people with cancer.

Meditation. Meditation is a time of quiet reflection
where you focus on something like an idea, image, or sound. Meditation can
reduce stress and improve quality of life in people with cancer.

Yoga. Yoga combines deep breathing and meditation
with stretching. Yoga can help people with cancer sleep better.

Coping and support

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Over time,
you will find ways to cope with the boredom and uncertainty of
cancer. Until then, you can help with:

Learn enough about lung cancer to make decisions about
your care. Consult your doctor about lung cancer, including your treatment
options and, if desired, your prognosis. As you learn more about lung
cancer, you can be confident in making treatment decisions.

Keep your friends and family close. Strengthening
your close relationships will help you deal with lung cancer. Your friends
and family can provide the practical support you need; for example,
looking at your home while you are in hospital. And they can receive
emotional support when you are unwell with cancer.

Find someone to talk to. Find a good listener
willing to listen to talk about your hopes and fears. This could be a
friend or family member. For the counselor, medical social worker, clergy,
or cancer support group, concern and understanding can also be helpful.

Ask your doctor about support groups in your
area. Or check local and national cancer organizations such as the
National Cancer Institute or the American Cancer Society.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have signs and symptoms that worry you, start by
seeing your family doctor. If your doctor suspects you have lung cancer,
you will likely be referred to a specialist. Specialists for people with
lung cancer may include:

Doctors specializing in cancer treatment (oncologists)

Doctors who diagnose and treat lung diseases (pulmonologists)

Doctors using radiation to treat cancer (radiation oncologists)

Surgeons in the lung (thoracic surgeons)

Doctors who treat the signs and symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment (palliative care specialists)