Bronchial cancer is the most frequently diagnosed lung cancer, and mortality from it is the highest among all cancers. All because the patients report to the doctor too late and at the time of diagnosis, the cancer is so advanced that the patient cannot be completely cured. What are the causes and symptoms of bronchial cancer? What is its treatment? What's the prognosis?

Bronchial canceraccounts for over 90 percent of alllung cancer . At the same time, it is the most common cancer in men and the second most common (after breast cancer) in women. Bronchial cancer affects over a quarter of all cancer patients, and mortality from it accounts for 28%. all deaths from neoplastic causes, which means that bronchial cancer is the most common death.

Bronchial cancer - causes and risk factors

The most common cause of bronchial cancer (80% of cases) is inhaling tobacco smoke for many years. This means that passive smokers are also exposed to it, i.e. those who inhale tobacco smoke, although they do not smoke themselves.

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The second risk factor for the development of bronchial cancer is asbestos (it is worth knowing that its carcinogenic effect is exacerbated by tobacco smoke). Then there are arsenic and chromium compounds, nickel, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, radioactive substances (radon, uranium) and environmental factors.

Genetic factors are also important. It is estimated that the risk of developing bronchial cancer is more than twice as high in people whose parents struggled with the disease.

The anatomical determinants also have an influence on the development of bronchial cancer. Many years of observations of doctors show that bronchial cancer is located in scars, in the walls of cavities and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Bronchial cancer - types of bronchial cancer

  • squamous cell carcinomais the most common type of bronchial carcinoma (55% of cases) and originates from squamous epithelial cells;
  • small cell carcinomais the second most common bronchial carcinoma. It is a cancer with the worst prognosis because often (80% of cases)metastasizes to lymph nodes or distant organs;
  • adenomais derived from glandular cells and accounts for 10-15 percent. bronchial carcinomas. It is the most common form of cancer found in non-smokers;
  • large cell carcinomaoccurs the least frequently, as it affects 5-10 percent. sick;

bronchial cancer - symptoms

Initially, the disease may be asymptomatic. It is only with tumor growth that symptoms suggestive of bronchial neoplasm appear. Most often it iscough , so pay attention to the change in its nature (e.g. change from a dry morning cough to a wet cough with bloody discharge). In addition, there are:

  • shortness of breath and chest pains
  • recurrent pneumonia
  • frequent colds resistant to treatment

In advanced stage of bronchial cancer,hemoptysisappears. The recurrent laryngeal nerve, the phrenic nerve, and pleural effusion, which is often stained with blood, and pulmonary congestion may also be paralyzed at this stage of the disease.

Bronchial cancer - symptoms related to local tumor growth

  • a tumor located at the paraphylmus can cause compression of large vessels, e.g. the superior vena cava, which is manifested by swelling, reddening of the face, neck and shoulder girdle (this is the result of the development of collateral circulation in the venous system of the neck and upper chest);
  • a tumor that compresses the brachial plexus may cause intercostal neuralgia or shoulder pain;
  • so-calledPancoast tumor(a special form of bronchial cancer), which, by infiltrating bone tissue, can damage the 1st rib and 1st thoracic vertebra, and also causeHorner's syndrome( constriction of the pupil, drooping eyelid and collapsed eyeball);
  • small cell carcinoma can be hormonally active (i.e. produce hormones) and cause diseases of the endocrine system: in the case of ectopic ACTH production - symptoms of Cushing's syndrome, parathyroid hormone - hypercalcemia, calcitonin - hypocalcemia, and in the case of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) - syndrome inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH);

Bronchial cancer - symptoms related to metastasis

Bronchial cancer most often metastasizes to nearby lymph nodes, which is usually manifested by their enlargement. However, through the circulatory system, it can also reach:

  • liver - loss of appetite and weight loss, abdominal pain, jaundice;
  • brain - severe headache, especially the one accompanied by nausea, dizziness, visual disturbances or balance disorders;
  • bones - bone pain and fracturespathological;

Bronchial cancer - diagnosis

If bronchial cancer is suspected, the basic examination is a chest X-ray, which shows the size and location of the lesions. More accurate information can be obtained by performing a CT scan or an MRI scan. The doctor may also perform a smear test of the sputum or pleural fluid. However, the final diagnosis is made on the basis of the results of the histopathological examination. In order to collect a sample of cancerous tissue, bronchoscopy, needle biopsy, mediastinoscopy or videothoracoscopy and thoracotomy, i.e. endoscopy and opening of the chest are performed.

Bronchial cancer - treatment and prognosis

Treatment of bronchial cancer depends on the stage of the tumor. In the early (I and II) stages, surgical removal of the lesions is the most effective. The doctor may also decide to have a lobectomy (lobe resection) or removal of the entire lung, as local tumor resections are associated with a high risk of recurrence. The five-year survival of patients after tumor resection at stage I of disease development is 57-67%, in stage II - 39-55%. The exception is small cell carcinoma, the surgical treatment of which is insufficient due to metastatic lesions that are already present at diagnosis. Therefore, patients with small cell carcinoma should receive chemotherapy as soon as possible, as without treatment their average survival time is 12 weeks.

Patients diagnosed with cancer in stage III are divided into those who qualify for surgery and those who cannot undergo lung excision (their survival is low for 5 years). At this stage of the disease, it is recommended to use chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which gives a chance, e.g. to reduce or remove micrometastases.

IV and the latest stage of bronchial cancer have a poor prognosis. At this stage of the disease, palliative treatment is undertaken, i.e. treatment aimed at alleviating the symptoms of the disease.

Category:

Oncology