General Information About Lung Cancer
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a cancer that begins in the spongy tissues inside the lungs that provide oxygen to the body, or in the cells on the surface of the bronchi that carry air, where cells divide uncontrollably to form a tumor.
SMOKING and the use of tobacco products are the direct cause of 80-90% of cases. For non-smokers, exposure to asbestos, radon gas, genetic predisposition, and heavy air pollution carry risks.
There are no pain nerves inside the lungs. Therefore, as the tumor grows, it usually causes no pain. Symptoms begin when the tumor blocks the windpipe: a persistent cough lasting more than 3 weeks, blood in the sputum, pain radiating to the back when breathing, and unexplained severe weight loss.
Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC): Seen almost exclusively in smokers, it enters the bloodstream very quickly and metastasizes. It responds very rapidly to chemotherapy.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Grows more slowly, and in the early stages, the chance of a full cure with Surgery is very high.
Smokers over the age of 50 should have a Low-Dose Chest CT (LDCT) scan once a year. When a suspicious mass is seen, the lung is accessed with a tube having a camera at its end (Bronchoscopy) to find the mass and take a Biopsy.
In the early stage, the lung lobe with the tumor is completely removed via Minimally Invasive Surgery. If the tumor has a specific genetic target, a Smart Drug (Targeted Pill) taken once a day is given. Additionally, Immunotherapy treatments, which trigger the patient's own immune system to attack the cancer, prolong survival by years even in advanced-stage patients.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
