This article deals with the secondary lung cancer symptoms and its different types and stages.
The lungs
The lungs are a pair of organs in the chest that are in charge of breathing. When one breathes in, the air passes from the nose through the trachea and into one of the two bronchi (airways) which enter into the lungs. the airways are divided into two smaller tubes and tiny sacs that are present at the end. the oxygen is taken from the air that is passed into the bloodstream. the pleura protect the lungs which is a protective lining that consists of two membranes.
The cancer
The cancer may start in the lung or it can spread there from a primary location elsewhere in the body. If a cancer spreads to the lungs from other part of the body then it is called secondary or metastatic lung cancer.
Some of the cancer cells may break away from the primary location and travels through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system to other parts of the body. however, any type of cancer can spread to the lungs and the most common types to cancer are the large bowel, breast, bladder, testicle, stomach, esophagus, and kidney.
Secondary Lung Cancer Symptoms
- Sputum-coughing up blood-stained phlegm
- A cough that does not clear up
- Pain in the chest.
- Breathlessness
Many of these symptoms have similarities with primary lung cancer. They commonly occur due to other health conditions such as a chest infection. A doctor may guess a secondary lung cancer if there has been a previous diagnosis of cancer and one has some of these symptoms.
Diagnosis
A number of tests may be performed to diagnose the secondary lung cancer which includes:
Chest x-ray: This may be taken to detect the size and position of the tumors.
CT (computerized tomography) scan: it is a series of x-rays that creates a three-dimensional image of the inside of the body. the patient is given a drink or injection of a dye which permits particular areas to be seen more clearly on the computer screen. the patient will be asked not to eat or drink for at least four hours before the scan.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan: This test uses magnet instead of x-rays to make a detailed picture of areas of the body. Some patients are given an injection of dye into a vein in the arm that helps the scanner to show up the images more clearly.
PET scan: This uses low-dose radioactive sugar to assess the activity of cells in different parts of the body. A radioactive substance is injected into the vein and a scanning is done after a couple of hours of time.
Biopsy: Sometimes the doctors may recommend carrying out a biopsy. A needle is inserted thorough the mouth or nose to remove a small piece of tissue. the sample is then examined under a microscope.
The cancer may also cause fluid to gather in the space between the pleura. This is called as a pleural effusion. If this happens, it is possible to remove some of the fluid and examine it for cancer cells.
When the cancer cells are studied, the doctors can tell that whether it is a secondary lung cancer or not. for example, if a stomach cancer has spread to the lungs, the cancerous cells would appear similar to the stomach cells rather than the lung cells.
The treatment
Chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are the four treatment options available for the secondary lung cancer. it is depend upon the patient’s health, the type of the primary cancer. Sometimes a combination of the treatments is used to cure the disorder.
The secondary lung cancer is curable if it is diagnosed early. A doctor’s advice has to be taken if any of the secondary cancer symptoms persist.