Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the second-most common cancer in the United States. Most lung cancer cases are diagnosed after tumor growth has spread beyond the lungs, making it more difficult to treat. But survival rates should increase as researchers improve diagnostic techniques and treatment options.
The best way to ensure proper treatment is to recognize risk factors and early symptoms. In addition to smoking cigarettes, asbestos exposure is proven to cause both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. Annually, an estimated 4,800 national lung cancer deaths can be linked to exposure to asbestos, the deadly mineral which also causes mesothelioma.
If you have risk factors like prior asbestos exposure or a history of smoking, be aware of symptoms such as chest pain or a chronic cough, especially a cough that produces blood. These may be warning signs that you have lung cancer. To learn more about lung cancer causes, symptoms and treatments, request a free informational packet. We'll send you a personalized packet overnight.
Types of Lung Cancer
The two main types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Either type may be caused by exposure to asbestos, but there are key differences between the two. The type of lung cancer determines how quickly it will spread, which treatment options will work best and how long a patient is likely to live.
Learn more about lung cancer types.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
20%
- Less than 20% of lung cancer cases
- More Aggressive
- Fewer Treatment Options
- Shorter Life Expectancy
6% Live 5 Years or Longer
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
80%
- 80% of lung cancer cases
- Less Aggressive
- More treatment options
- Better prognosis
17% Live 5 Years or Longer
Asbestos Exposure and Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is most commonly associated with smoking, and at least 85 percent of lung cancer diagnoses can be traced to cigarettes. Asbestos exposure, alone or combined with smoking, increases the risk of all types of lung cancer. The combination of asbestos exposure and smoking is especially dangerous. The two factors work with each other and have a synergistic effect, multiplying the likelihood of lung cancer. Other possible contributing factors include exposure to radon gas, exposure to secondhand smoke or a family history of lung cancer.
Learn more about the causes of lung cancer.
Helsinki Criteria
Doctors recognize that it is often difficult to determine all contributing causes of lung cancer. A possible connection to asbestos is often overlooked in smokers, and nonsmokers with lung cancer may not understand why they developed the disease at all. In either case, it can be useful to definitively determine the causes of lung cancer because they may indicate certain microscopic properties of tumor cells. For example, lung cancer caused by smoking, and not asbestos exposure, tends to have more complex tumor cells that can be more difficult to treat.
To help doctors determine if lung cancer is asbestos-related, a group of international specialists created the Helsinki Criteria in 1997. These criteria, which are used worldwide with few modifications, detail the amount of asbestos a lung cancer patient must have in his or her lung tissue for the cancer to be linked to asbestos. The criteria also state that a person's first exposure to asbestos must have been at least 10 years prior to diagnosis.
Learn more about the Helsinki Criteria.
Lung Cancer Latency Period
Lung cancer has a latency period of at least 10 years, meaning the cellular damage from asbestos exposure or smoking slowly manifests itself for a decade or more before the cancer develops or symptoms arise. In a recent study of asbestos-related lung cancer, researchers found an average latency period of about 22 years. Because of the long latency period, most lung cancer diagnoses are made in older or elderly individuals, with the incidence peaking in people 75 to 79 years old. One out of every 250 people in this age group is diagnosed with lung cancer each year.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Common Symptoms of Lung Cancer
- Bone pain
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Development of a cough or changes in a chronic cough
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Weight loss
- Wheezing
Signs of lung cancer may not appear immediately. Most patients notice symptoms only after the cancer has progressed beyond the lungs. Because of this, symptoms are not limited to the lungs and chest. Some symptoms — such as coughing — develop in the chest, while others — like fatigue — affect the entire body.
Learn more about lung cancer symptoms.
Diagnosing Lung Cancer
Doctors generally do not preemptively screen for lung cancer, even in people who have an increased risk. If symptoms appear and doctors suspect lung cancer, they then run a series of tests to confirm or refute the possible diagnosis.
Imaging tests, such as X-rays or CT scans, are generally the first tests. An X-ray may reveal a tumor mass in the lungs, and a CT (computerized tomography) scan can show a more detailed picture. After performing imaging tests, doctors may perform sputum cytology. If the patient is coughing up a type of mucus called sputum, doctors may collect a sample to examine under a microscope. This test may reveal cancer cells. Doctors may also rely on a biopsy to examine abnormal lung cells. During this procedure, the doctor uses a needle to collect a sample from the potentially cancerous area. From this sample, the doctor can determine if cancer is present.
Learn more about diagnosing lung cancer.
Treating Lung Cancer
When developing a treatment regimen for a lung cancer patient, doctors take into account the stage and specific type of lung cancer. Surgical procedures are an option for patients in early stages of lung cancer. Surgery loses efficacy in later stages because it is unable to remove widespread tumor growth. In addition to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are typically considered. Most treatment plans include some combination of surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Learn more about treating lung cancer.
Treating Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer may commonly receive targeted therapy in addition to other treatments like surgery. Targeted therapy drugs specifically attack tumor cells without affecting healthy cells. Some, like cetuximab, inhibit the growth of new cancer cells while others, like bevacizumab, prevent the growth of blood vessels in the tumor, thereby cutting off the tumor's nutrition supply.
Non-small cell lung cancer patients may also receive photodynamic therapy. In this type of treatment, patients first receive a drug called a photosensitizer, which collects within cancer cells and makes them sensitive to light. Then a doctor uses fiber optic tubes to direct light into the lung. This activates the photosensitizer and kills the cancer cells.
Other possible treatments for non-small cell lung cancer include laser therapy, in which doctors aim a laser beam at cancer cells, and electrocautery, in which doctors use an electric current to heat an instrument and then kill cancer cells.
Learn more about treating non-small cell lung cancer.
Treating Small Cell Lung Cancer
As with non-small cell lung cancer, typical treatment for small cell lung cancer includes various combinations of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. Patients may also undergo laser therapy or endoscopic stent placement, which is used to ease breathing. During an endoscopic stent placement, a doctor uses a tube-like instrument called an endoscope to view inside the lungs and airways. He or she then places a stent, a small device which can keep an airway open. This is helpful in patients whose tumor is obstructing an airway and making it difficult to breathe.
Learn more about treating small cell lung cancer.
Lung Cancer Prognosis
Overall, one in 10 lung cancer patients lives a decade or longer, as compared to only 4 percent of mesothelioma patients.Lung cancer has a better prognosis than mesothelioma, the other main cancer caused by asbestos exposure. About 43 percent of lung cancer patients live one year after diagnosis, an improvement from the 1970s when 37 percent lived one year or longer.
As more studies are conducted on lung cancer prevention and treatment, researchers expect to see survival rates continue to improve. In 2010, NCI devoted $282 million to lung cancer research, 5.5 percent of the agency's total budget. This allotment went towards researching causes, prevention, diagnosis techniques and treatments for lung cancer. The budget includes sponsorship for clinical trials which test promising new treatments. To learn more about clinical trials and to search for trials in your area, visit our Clinical Trial page. Or for help finding a lung cancer specialist, complete our Doctor Match request form.
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05/18/2012 -
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Last Modified Thursday, May 17th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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