Lung cancer natural history: Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
The majority of lung cancers present with advanced disease because the symptoms tend to occur later in the course of the disease. The patient experiences non-specific symptoms such as cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, chest pain, dysphonia, dysphagia, fatigue, lack of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue from 3 weeks to 3 months before seeking medical attention. There are a variety of complications associated with lung cancer such as pleural effusion, leg weakness paresthesias, bladder/bladder dysfunction, seizures, hemiplegia, cranial nerve palsies, confusion, personality changes, skeletal pain, and/or pleuritic pain, [[atelectasis]], and/or [[bronchopleural fistula]]. The prognosis of lung cancer is poor if diagnosed during the advanced stages. | |||
==Natural History== | ==Natural History== | ||
*The majority of lung cancers present with advanced disease because the symptoms tend to occur later in the course of the disease | *The majority of lung cancers present with advanced disease because the symptoms tend to occur later in the course of the disease<ref>"The Presentation and Diagnosis of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma." Lunger Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Ed. Alison Leary. Ames: Blackwell, 2012. 15-21. Print.</ref> | ||
*The patient experiences non-specific symptoms such as cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, chest pain, dysphonia, dysphagia, fatigue, lack of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue from 3 weeks to 3 months before seeking medical attention | *The patient experiences non-specific symptoms such as cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, chest pain, dysphonia, dysphagia, fatigue, lack of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue from 3 weeks to 3 months before seeking medical attention | ||
*During the time of symptoms, the tumor cell can double 20 times | *During the time of symptoms, the tumor cell can double 20 times<ref>"The Presentation and Diagnosis of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma." Lunger Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Ed. Alison Leary. Ames: Blackwell, 2012. 15-21. Print.</ref> | ||
*In more advanced disease, the tumor can spread to other other organs such as the spinal cord, brain, and bone | *In more advanced disease, the tumor can spread to other other organs such as the spinal cord, brain, and bone | ||
These patients can develop symptoms such as leg weakness paresthesias, bladder/bladder dysfunction, seizures, hemiplegia, cranial nerve palsies, confusion, personality changes, skeletal pain, and/or pleuritic pain <ref>"The Presentation and Diagnosis of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma." Lunger Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Ed. Alison Leary. Ames: Blackwell, 2012. 15-21. Print.</ref> | |||
*Once the cancer spreads to the other organs, it is most likely fatal | *Once the cancer spreads to the other organs, it is most likely fatal | ||
==Complications== | ==Complications== | ||
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==Prognosis== | ==Prognosis== | ||
The prognosis of | The prognosis of lung cancer is poor and it depends on the following: | ||
* Whether or not the tumor can be removed by surgery | * Whether or not the tumor can be removed by surgery | ||
* The stage of the cancer: the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread outside the | * The stage of the cancer: the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread outside the lung | ||
* The patient’s general health | * The patient’s general health | ||
* Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred | * Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred | ||
Revision as of 17:37, 21 July 2015
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Michael Maddaleni, B.S.; Saarah T. Alkhairy, M.D.
Overview
The majority of lung cancers present with advanced disease because the symptoms tend to occur later in the course of the disease. The patient experiences non-specific symptoms such as cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, chest pain, dysphonia, dysphagia, fatigue, lack of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue from 3 weeks to 3 months before seeking medical attention. There are a variety of complications associated with lung cancer such as pleural effusion, leg weakness paresthesias, bladder/bladder dysfunction, seizures, hemiplegia, cranial nerve palsies, confusion, personality changes, skeletal pain, and/or pleuritic pain, atelectasis, and/or bronchopleural fistula. The prognosis of lung cancer is poor if diagnosed during the advanced stages.
Natural History
- The majority of lung cancers present with advanced disease because the symptoms tend to occur later in the course of the disease[1]
- The patient experiences non-specific symptoms such as cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, chest pain, dysphonia, dysphagia, fatigue, lack of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue from 3 weeks to 3 months before seeking medical attention
- During the time of symptoms, the tumor cell can double 20 times[2]
- In more advanced disease, the tumor can spread to other other organs such as the spinal cord, brain, and bone
These patients can develop symptoms such as leg weakness paresthesias, bladder/bladder dysfunction, seizures, hemiplegia, cranial nerve palsies, confusion, personality changes, skeletal pain, and/or pleuritic pain [3]
- Once the cancer spreads to the other organs, it is most likely fatal
Complications
There are a variety of complications associated with lung cancer that depends upon different factors such as the stage of the cancer.
General Complications
- Breathing difficulties
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
- Occasionally lung cancer can cause bleeding in the airways which results in the patient coughing up blood.
- Pain
- It is possible that lung cancer will cause pain as well, especially if it spreads to the lining of the lung, or other areas of the body, like the bones.
- There are treatments to help combat the pain.
- Pleural effusion
- Lung cancer can cause fluid to build up in the lungs which can cause breathing difficulties.
- There are treatments available to help drain the excess fluid
- Metastasis
- In many cases, lung cancer will spread out to other parts of the body. Some of the more common places lung cancer metastasizes to are the bones, liver, brain, and adrenal glands.
Surgical Complications
- Bronchopleural fistula
- It is when air leaks from a pneumonectomy bronchial stump
- Approximately 2% of patients that undergo a pneumonectomy experience this
- It will most commonly occur approximately 7 to 10 days after surgery
- Intrathoracic bleeding
- In most cases it occurs from bronchial vessels or lung parenchyma
- It may have the symptoms of hypovaelemia
- Usually, it can be treated by transfusion
- Atelectasis
- Sputum retention
Prognosis
The prognosis of lung cancer is poor and it depends on the following:
- Whether or not the tumor can be removed by surgery
- The stage of the cancer: the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread outside the lung
- The patient’s general health
- Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred
References
- ↑ "The Presentation and Diagnosis of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma." Lunger Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Ed. Alison Leary. Ames: Blackwell, 2012. 15-21. Print.
- ↑ "The Presentation and Diagnosis of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma." Lunger Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Ed. Alison Leary. Ames: Blackwell, 2012. 15-21. Print.
- ↑ "The Presentation and Diagnosis of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma." Lunger Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Ed. Alison Leary. Ames: Blackwell, 2012. 15-21. Print.