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Lung cancer

Lung cancer
Lung cancer

Introduction

Worldwide lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Approximately 85 %– 90% of lung cancer cases are caused by cigarette smoking. There are 2 main types of lung cancer; Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). These 2 types have different prognosis and management approach.

Non-small cell lung Cancer

Accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases

Management:

Surgery (pneumonectomy or lobectomy) is curative for stage I and some stage II disease.

Signs and Symptoms

Diagnostic criteria

• Chronic chest symptoms in a smoker
• Haemoptysis
• May present with superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO) syndrome
• cough in patient exposed to asbestos
• Findings of chest symptoms, weight loss, poor karnofsky performance scale (KPS)

Investigation

• FBC, LFTs, urea, creatinine
• CXR PA & lateral views or CT scan of thorax and abdomen
• Abdominal USS
• Bronchoscopy and Biopsy for histopathology
• Cytology of sputum or bronchial aspirate examination
Staging: TNM

Treatment

  • Pharmacological

    Several active chemotherapy drugs like carboplatine, cisplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, Capecitabine and targeted therapy (bevacizumab) are available; to administered as single or in combination for adjuvant, unresectable or recurrent and metastatic disease.

    Below is an example of the commonly used combination regimen.

    • Carboplatin IV AUC 6 Day1 +Paclitaxel IV 175 mg/m2 Day 1 every 3 weeks for 6 cycles
    Radiotherapy

    With advanced radiotherapy machine and treatment technic, RT may be given for neo– adjuvant or adjuvant to surgery. Palliative Radiotherapy is frequently used in metastatic disease to bone, spinal cord compression,brain, liver and in case of superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO), atelectasis, obstructive pneumonitis and fungating masses. Dose of 30GY/10fr/2weeks gives good symptom relief.
  • Non-pharmacological

Prevention

Updated on,

5 Novemba 2020 11:44:34

References

1.STG

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