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by Vir K. Nanda, MD, Board Certified in
Internal Medicine/Oncology
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer. It is the
leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women.
Most lung cancers are found when one is being looked at
for other medical problems. Smoking is the main cause
of lung cancer. Because more women have started smoking,
the rate of lung cancer has risen over the last 40 years.
Older people are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Smoking is a major risk factor and the longer someone
has smoked, the higher the risk of developing lung cancer.
Living with someone who smokes, or being around other
people who smoke, also increases the risk of lung cancer.
Environmental pollution and exposure to toxins such as
asbestos also increases the risk. |
A person who is at a higher risk of developing
a lung cancer may be screened with a chesk x-ray and/or
a CAT scan of the chest to detect the cancer at an early
stage, but many times the lung cancer is detected at a
later stage of the disease. In individuals who have persistent
coughing or coughing up blood, feeling short of breath
and wheezing, hoarseness of the voice, or persistent pneumonia,
pain in the chest, arms or the shoulder, or swelling in
the neck or face, may be an indication of a developing
lung cancer. If a patient has these symptoms, and they
are persistent, they should be evaluated for possibility
of a lung cancer.
In evaluating somebody for a lung cancer, a chest x-ray
or a CAT scan of the chest could lead to useful information.
Once a mass is found in the lung, that could be evaluated
with a bronchoscope, which is a test to look at the tubes
in the lungs, or the bronchi. A patient may also be evaluated
by a PET scan to evaluate the extent of the lung cancer
before he or she is put through surgery. Other tests which
may include blood tests, bone scans and biopsies, may
be helpful in determining the extent of the disease.
If a cancer is detected at an early stage and all the
tests show no spread of the disease elsewhere, a patient
may be treated with surgery to remove all of the cancer.
Usually after surgery for in Stage I, II or III, a patient
may need to go through chemotherapy in order to help cut
down the risk of the cancer coming back. In some patients
with Stage III, after surgery both chemotherapy and radiation
therapy may need to be used. In patients whereby the cancer
has spread out and the patient has Stage IV, usually the
surgery will not be of much benefit. In Stage IV patients,
treatment with chemotherapy and sometimes radiation therapy
is used.
There is a lot of research being done with different chemotherapies
in the treatment of lung cancer. The latest drug that
has been approved for treatment of refractory lung cancer
is called Iressa, which is taken orally. It may be helpful
in reducing the severity of the symptoms from lung cancer.
Once the cancer has spread out, the cancer is not curable.
The best treatment strategy is to try to cut down the
risk by not smoking or by quitting smoking. Even if a
patient has developed lung cancer and is smoking, quitting
at that stage will still help deal with the lung cancer
and will allow the treatment to work better. Patients
who continue to smoke and who are going through chemoradiation
therapy are at a much higher risk of developing infections
and other complications.
If you have any questions relating to the warning signs,
symptoms, investigations, or some of the recent developments
in the treatment of lung cancer, my office staff or myself
wil be more than willing to help guide you. You may feel
free to call our office at (760) 242-4673.
Dr. Nanda is board certified in internal medicine and
oncology and has also completed a Fellowship in Hemotology.
He and his caring and experienced staff have been serving
the High Desert since 1985.
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Office Location: 18523 Corwin Road, Suite C, Apple Valley
(760) 242-4673
Dr. Nanda is board certified in internal medicine and
oncology and has also completed a Fellowship in Hemotology.
He and his caring and experienced staff have been serving
the High Desert since 1985.
His office is located at: 18523 Corwin Road, Suite C,
Apple Valley (760) 242-4673 |
