{"id":3069,"date":"2019-01-08T09:23:08","date_gmt":"2019-01-08T09:23:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/?p=3069"},"modified":"2021-08-06T05:41:05","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T05:41:05","slug":"8-key-facts-about-non-small-cell-lung-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/8-key-facts-about-non-small-cell-lung-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Key Facts About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lung cancer forms one of the leading causes of cancer across the world and the United States of America. The most common type of cancer among women is breast cancer and prostate cancer, being the most common type of cancer for men. Lung cancer is categorized into two different types which are respectively specified as small cell cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell cancer (NSCLC). As a whole, Lung Cancer is also the most common cause of death for cancer patients with an average of 80% to 85% of Americans being diagnosed with lung cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the American Cancer Society, in the year 2018, a 234 030 number of adults would have been diagnosed with lung cancer respectively with 121 680 being calculated as male patients, and a 112 350 figure being attributed to female patients. NSCLC differs from SCLC however from being less aggressive.
Below are 8 key facts to further understand it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. There Are Different Types Of Lung Cancer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lung cancer is classified as such as a means to describe the inflation of the lung <\/a>cells at a rate that cannot necessarily be controlled. This growth begins in the cells of the bronchi, which is your air passage, or it simply forms tumors in the lung tissue and spreads. There are a few cancer types along with SCLC and NSCLC which form primarily in the lungs. They can be Mesothelioma, which forms either in the abdomen, lung, heart or chest and is linked to exposure to chemical asbestos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lung Carcinoid Tumors which account for less than 5 percent of cancerous tumors, as well as Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas, Lymphomas, Sarcomas and also Hamartomas. The largest number of cancer patients fall under NSCLC due to the fact that it also encompasses non-smokers whereas SCLC, the second largest leading cause of cancer is usually due to patients who have a cigarette smoking history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. What Causes NSCLC?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While doctors still can\u2019t give exact cancer causes, a few patterns have been noted in past patients. Smoking <\/a>cigarettes may be highly associated with being the leading cause of lung cancer, but NSCLC patients prove it is not the only reason. Non-smokers who consume secondary smoke, especially those living in residence with a smoker have a 24% chance of developing lung cancer due to passive smoking, also dependant on the number of years spent exposed to a smoking partner. Exposure to asbestos fibers also leads to NSCLC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most commonplace of influence would be the workplace which is why; it has either been restricted or banned in the US and a few other countries. Air pollution, as well as gases like radon which is an odorless gas found in many US homes, can lead to cancer. It is important to have your homes tested for the gas. Lastly, family genetics are believed to play a role in diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. NSCLC Tumors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NSCLC has three types of tumors which differ from each other because of the different lung cells they initially form in. These tumors manifest themselves differently. They are grouped together though as they are commonly found in NSCLC patients<\/a>. The first is Adenocarcinoma. This type of tumor forms in the glands which secrete mucus and other substances in your lungs. Although it falls under NSCLC, it is quite common to find in smokers and in other cancers like pancreatic and prostate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second is Squamous cell or also Epidermoid carcinoma. This cancer form begins with thin flat cells lining the airway of the lungs from the inside. This tumor can also spread and even begin different regions in the body including the liver, brain, spine and other bones. The third is the Large Cell Carcinoma. It is relatively faster in how it forms in the body and spreads much faster making it the most difficult to treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Signs And Symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Due to difficulty in detection, an NSCLC patient can go a period of time without realizing cancerous cells are forming in their body. According to the Cancer Treatment <\/a>Centers of America, on average 30% of NSCLC patients discover they have cancer when they are in stage 3, therefore, regular checkups and awareness is important. Symptoms can include anything from unending coughing; chest pains which hurt when laughing, breathing or coughing. The coughing up of blood or mucus makes another symptom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to also be aware of the shortness of breath, as well as flu-like raspy sounds when you breathe and a change in your voice. Constant fatigue and tiredness should also be noted. Cancer can spread to other parts of your body whilst unaware so it is also important to note if there are pains in your bones or a loss of balance accompanied by dizzy spells. The skin and eye may also change to a yellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Statistics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many statistics surrounding NSCLC which are mainly grouped according to age, race, and gender. In the US, a man has a 1 in 17 chance of developing cancer while women are 1 in 15. NSCLC also occurs in your older age groups with the average being about 65-70 and less than 3% diagnosed below the age of 45. At least 7% of men and women in the US will be diagnosed <\/a>with cancer at a point in their lifetime according to the US National Cancer Institute. The lung cancer rate for men has been consistently dropping with women the following suit only in the last decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black men are 20% more likely to develop NSCLC than white men while white women are more likely to develop cancerous cells due to habitual smoking. This is also very important to note that changing these habits can assist in decreasing the likelihood. However, consuming or introducing cancer reducing foods, while smoking is also likely to help limit the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Treatment Options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NSCLC has a variety of treatment methods prescribed to you by your doctor dependant on what stage you have reached and as well as what developments have been picked up in your body upon test results. Your doctor could either recommend surgery<\/a>; radiation or chemotherapy. It is also not rare for a combination of these methods to be used. With surgery, you can expect a heated needle used to freeze the cancer cells or an examination conducted to determine whether it is safe or not to remove all or part of your lung.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surgery is specifically recommended in your early cancer stages. Radiation involves the use of advanced machinery with a high-energy beam directed at cancer from outside your body. It is also used to kill cancers that cannot be removed with surgery. Chemotherapy can be prescribed in the form of pills or an injection to the part closest to the cancer cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Survival Rate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We use a 5-year survival rate to calculate the percentage of people who live at least 5 years from diagnosis. Currently, the survival rate for male patients is estimated at a 15% survival rate while women are at a 21% survival rate. What also makes it easier to gauge a chance at survival, is your cancer stage. There are 6 cancer<\/a> stages beginning from the occult stage where your doctor has difficulty finding the exact position of the cancer cells in your lungs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage 0 they become detectable in your airways. Stage 1 cancer hasn\u2019t spread but there is a small tumor in your lungs. Stage 2, the tumor is larger and cancer moving towards the lymph nodes. Stage 3, cancer has spread into the lymph nodes and areas close by. Stage 4 is your final stage where cancer has spread into the lungs, fluids, and organs in the body which can include your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. New Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

New research is constantly being made to combat NSCLC such as drugs that suppress the epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) in lung cancers. EGFR is the technical name used to describe the spreading of cancer <\/a>cells from the lungs to the rest of the body. Improvements so far have been recorded at a 10-15 percent success with Doctor Amyn Habib, senior author on the research sharing difficulties arise from the fact the cancer cells though seeming to be controlled for a time during research, then manifests itself in another way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A combination of the old treatment, however, and the new research is currently expected to trial into a second human phase in the year 2019. According to the Doctor, the potential success of the combination can increase survival ratings up to 85% and lessen side effects during the treatment. The current interest though is in advanced screening machines which will mean earlier detection and faster prevention for patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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