Adenocarcinoma of the lung (patient information)
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
|
Adenocarcinoma of the lung |
|
Adenocarcinoma of the lung On the Web |
|---|
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Adenocarcinoma of the lung |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Adenocarcinoma of the lung is a common form of lung cancer. Common risk factors include smoking, family history of lung cancer, high levels of air pollution, radiation therapy to the chest, radon gas, asbestos, occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens, and previous lung disease. Adenocarcinoma of the lung affects men and women equally. Patients of all age groups may develop adenocarcinoma of the lung. Adjunctive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and target therapy may be required. The prognosis of adenocarcinoma of the lung varies with the staging of the tumor.
What are the symptoms of Adenocarcinoma of the lung?
Common symptoms of adenocarcinoma of the lung include shortness of breath, blood in the sputum, chronic coughing, chest pain, weight loss, and change of voice.
What causes Adenocarcinoma of the lung?
Adenocarcinoma of the lung may caused by genetic mutations.
Who is at highest risk?
Smokers, patients with family history of lung cancer, high levels of air pollution, history of radiation therapy to the chest, radon gas exposure, asbestos exposure, occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens, and previous lung disease are at highest risk.
Diagnosis
Chest X-Ray and chest CT scan are helpful in the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the lung.
Treatment options
The predominant therapy for adenocarcinoma of the lung is surgical resection. Adjunctive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and target tharapy may be required.
Where to find medical care for Adenocarcinoma of the lung?
Prevention of Adenocarcinoma of the lung
Effective measures for the primary prevention of adenocarcinoma of the lung include smoking cessation, eliminating secondhand smoke, reducing or eliminating exposure to radon, and reducing or eliminating occupational exposure to lung carcinogens.
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
The prognosis of adenocarcinoma of the lung varies with the staging of tumor; Stage IA have the most favorable prognosis. The presence of metastasis is associated with a particularly poor prognosis.
Possible complications
Common complications of adenocarcinoma of the lung include breathing difficulties, pneumonia, fluid in the lungs, spread to other organs, and nerve compression.