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Pulmonary Oncology

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with an estimated 160,000 deaths in 2008. Despite new therapies and an improved quality of treatment, the five year survival rate is only at 15 percent. New technology that will enable early detection, which is critical for survival, is improving and will likely contribute to the overall survival rate. Historically, lung cancer diagnosis has involved mainly surgeons and oncologists and not pulmonologists, but has since increased to involve many fields of medicine.

  1. Tobacco Use and Lung Cancer

    • Tobacco use is the most common risk factor for lung cancer. More than 80 percent of lung cancer patients were former or current smokers. Duration and amount of tobacco use corresponds directly with the risk of developing lung cancer. More than 80 percent of lung cancers are thought to result from smoking. The longer a person has been smoking and the more packs per day smoked, the greater the risk. Quitting smoking before the onset of cancer can reduce lung damage as the tissue gradually begins to heal and repair itself. However, an ex-smoker's risk of developing lung cancer can never equal that of a non-smoker.

    Other Risk Factors For Lung Cancer

    • Death from lung cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos is seven times more likely to occur in asbestos workers than in the general population. Cancer that results from asbestos exposure is known as mesothelioma, which is currently incurable. Radon gas, which is radioactive and is produced by the decomposition of uranium is also a known cause of lung cancer. Family history also plays a role in one's chances of developing lung cancer.

    Symptoms of Lung Cancer

    • Symptoms of lung cancer vary depending on where and how widespread the tumor is. Up to 25 percent of lung cancer patients recall no symptoms. When the tumor begins to grow and spread throughout the lung tissue, breathing problems, wheezing, chest pain and coughing up blood may occur. When the cancer invades the nerves, shoulder pain may result. Paralysis of the vocal cords has also been reported.

    Types of Lung Cancer

    • Lung cancers are classified into two general types: small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). The two types of cancer grow and spread in different ways, and therefore require different treatments. SCLC compromises about 20 percent of lung cancers and are the most aggressive of all types of lung cancer. SCLC is strongly related to tobacco use, and occurs in only 1 percent of non-smokers. NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 80 percent of all diagnosis.

    Treatments for Lung Cancer

    • Treatment for lung cancer involves surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of all three. Often, adjuvant or combination therapy is used because individual therapies rarely eradicate the cancer entirely. Surgery is performed first to remove the bulk of tumor. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy usually follow to destroy the remaining tumor mass and to prevent cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body.

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