Lung Cancer Tumors
Lung cancer tumors develop when cells of the lung begin to divide uncontrollably. The cells multiply quickly, and without treatment tumors can continue to grow and spread to other parts of the body. Even at the smallest detectable stage, lung cancer tumors can be made up of as many as 1 billion cancerous cells.
More than 95 percent of all tumors that originate in the lungs are malignant (cancerous). Benign lung tumors are not cancerous, but rather a form of abnormal cell growth that cannot spread throughout the body. Unlike benign tumors, malignant tumors are aggressive and tend to spread to other organs. Tumors that originate in the lung are known as primary lung cancer tumors, and tumors that have spread to the lung from another organ are called metastatic tumors.
If you are diagnosed with lung cancer and think it could be as a result of asbestos exposure, consider seeking an opinion from a qualified asbestos specialist. Our Doctor Match Program is designed to match lung cancer patients with doctors close to them geographically or with top specialists around the country. Fill out this form to get more information about the Doctor Match Program or to enroll in it.
Types of Lung Cancer Tumors
Lung cancer tumors can be classified as small cell or non-small cell. Approximately 85 to 90 percent of lung cancer tumors are of the non-small cell variety, a type that grows and spreads at a much slower rate than small cell tumors. Each of these tumor types typically affects a specific location:
- Adenocarcinoma tumors develop in the cells that line the alveoli.
- Squamous cell carcinoma tumors begin in the thin, flat cells of the lungs.
- Large cell carcinoma tumors begin in large cells of the lungs.
- Small cell lung cancer/oat-cell cancer tumors begin in the bronchi.
Learn more about lung cancer tumor types.
How Do Lung Cancer Tumors Form?
Lung cancer tumors develop when carcinogens cause healthy cells to become cancerous. In asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestos fibers become trapped in the lungs and cause scarring and inflammation. Trapped fibers can alter the DNA and growth patterns of healthy cells, causing them to become cancerous and form tumors. These tumors can be detected once they reach approximately a quarter-inch in size.
Lung cancer tumors are most commonly caused by smoking, but also can develop from exposure to carcinogens like asbestos. If inhaled, asbestos fibers can accumulate and cause tumors to form in the tubes or tissue of the lungs. These lung cancer tumors differ from malignant pleural mesothelioma, another asbestos-related cancer that grows in the lining of the lungs.
Once a tumor forms, it develops its own blood vessels through a process called angiogenesis. Angiogenesis supports lung cancer tumors as they continue to grow. This process also promotes metastasis, in which cancerous cells invade nearby lymph vessels or blood vessels and travel to other parts of the body.
Once the cells arrive in a new location, they invade the capillaries and are deposited into the surrounding tissue. Here, they continue to multiply until they accumulate and form a secondary tumor. Primary lung cancer is most likely to form new metastatic tumors in the liver, bones or the adrenal glands.
Treatment of Lung Cancer Tumors
Fast Fact:
Between 30 and 40 percent of lung cancer patients will develop metastatic lung cancer tumors in their bones.Because lung cancer spreads quickly – and in many cases the cancer has already metastasized by the time of diagnosis – treatment for cancerous tumors of the lung should begin as soon as possible. For patients in good overall health whose tumors have not yet spread, visible tumors can be removed through surgery. Patients with metastatic lung cancer may also be considered for surgery, but once it is determined that the cancer has spread, surgery is typically palliative and plays a less-significant role in treating the tumors.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can also be used to shrink and kill tumors. Often, one or both of these treatments are combined to kill any cancerous cells left behind after removal of the visible tumor. Lung cancer patients who do not undergo surgery often rely on chemotherapy and radiation therapy to control tumors.
During chemotherapy, tumors are killed with drugs such as Cisplatin or Carboplatin, which are either injected into the bloodstream or taken orally. During radiation, high-energy rays are directed at the tumor. These treatments can reduce the current size of tumors or prevent the tumors from growing any larger.
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Last Modified Friday, April 27th, 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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