Lung cancer types

January 20, 2018

Lung cancer types: Bronchogenic carcinomas

Lung cancer types are many and does not discriminate on gender

Lung cancers, are also referred to as bronchogenic carcinomas. Take note that carcinoma is another term for cancer. Lung cancer are broadly classified into two types as we had mention in our introduction blog. The classification include small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). This classification is based upon the microscopic appearance of the tumor cells. These two kinds of lung cancer types can grow, spread, and are treated in different ways, so a distinction between these two types is important.

Lung cancer types: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

SCLC contains about 10%-15% of lung cancers. It is the most aggressive and rapidly growing of all types of cancers. It’s majorly caused by cigarette smoking. SCLCs metastasize rapidly to other parts of the body. And since symptoms doesn’t show early, by the time it’s discovered the cancer has spread extensively.

Lung cancer types: Non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

This is very common, accounting for about 85% of all cases. It has three main types designated by the type of cells found in the tumor.

Adenocarcinomas are the most common type of NSCLC globally. Even though adenocarcinomas are associated with smoking like other lung cancers, this type is also seen in non-smokers especially women. Most adenocarcinomas arise in the outer, or peripheral, areas of the lungs. They also have a tendency to spread to the lymph nodes and beyond. People with this type of lung cancer tend to have a better prognosis than those with other types of lung cancer.
Squamous cell carcinomas were formerly more common than adenocarcinomas; today, they account for about 25% to 30% of all lung cancer cases. Also known as epidermoid carcinomas, squamous cell cancers arise most frequently in the central chest area in the bronchi. This type of lung cancer most often stays within the lung, spreads to lymph nodes, and grows quite large, forming a cavity.
Large cell carcinomas, sometimes referred to as undifferentiated carcinomas, are the least common type of NSCLC. This type of cancer has a high tendency to spread to the lymph nodes and distant sites.

Lung cancer types: Other types of cancers

These types are much less common than NSCLC and SCLC and together comprise only 5%-10% of lung cancers:

Bronchial carcinoids tumors are generally small (3-4 cm or less) when diagnosed and occur most commonly in persons under age 40. Unrelated to cigarette smoking, carcinoid tumors can metastasize, and a small proportion of these tumors secrete hormone-like substances. Carcinoids generally grow and spread more slowly than bronchogenic cancers, and many are detected early enough to be surgically removed.
Cancers of supporting lung tissue such as smooth muscle, blood vessels, or cells involved in the immune response are rare in the lung.

As discussed previously, metastatic cancers from other primary tumors in the body are often found in the lung. Tumors from anywhere in the body may spread to the lungs either through the bloodstream, through the lymphatic system, or directly from nearby organs. Metastatic tumors are most often multiple, scattered throughout the lung and concentrated in the outer areas rather than central areas of the organ.

Lung cancer types: Bronchogenic carcinomas

Lung cancer formation

January 20, 2018

Lung cancer formation: Types of lung cancer

Lung cancer formation. When a member of the family is affected, the whole family is too and a collective support is necessary

It is believed that lung cancer formation starts right in the lungs and then spreads to other parts of the body. This disease starts in the walls of the lungs airways scientifically known as bronchi or bronchioles or in the air sacs known as alveoli. Once present, the lung cancer stages advances to other body parts. A patient can identify lung cancer from certain symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, bloody mucus and wheezing. This disease can be treated using surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. With the help of experts from AWAREmed health and wellness resource center, we will be discussing these progressively. In the meantime, we have over 20 types of lung cancers with the two major ones being non-small cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer formation: Non-small cell lung cancer

Adenocarcinoma is the most common kind of non-small cell lung cancer with up to 40% cases. It affects mostly smokers or those who had quitted smoking. It also top the list of among non-smokers. Women are more vulnerable to this cancer than men. It can spread rapidly to the lymph nodes, bones, or other organs like the liver.

Squamous cell carcinoma. This often starts in the lung’s largest branches, also known as central bronchi. It accounts for about 30% of all lung cancer cases with men being more vulnerable besides smokers. It may form a cavity within the tumor and can cause the patient to cough up some blood. Squamous cell carcinoma can also spread to the lymph nodes, bones, and other organs such as the liver.

Large-cell carcinomas are a group of cancers with large cells that tend to start along the lungs’ outer edges. They’re fewer than adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, making up 10%-15% of lung cancers. This type of tumor can grow faster and often spreads to nearby lymph nodes and distant parts of the body.

Lung cancer formation: Small cell lung cancer

This is the most destructive form of lung cancer. It begins from the lungs’ large, central bronchi. It affects mostly the smokers and spreads rapidly to other parts of the body like the liver, brain and bones even before showing symptoms. Secondhand tobacco smoke is also a cause. People who live with someone who smokes are 20% to 30% more likely to get lung cancer than those who live in a smoke-free home.

Finally, some other chemicals are risky too. Like for instance, people who work with asbestos or are exposed to uranium dust or the radioactive gas radon are more likely to get lung cancer, especially if they are smoking cigarette. Lung tissue that was scarred by a disease or infection like tuberculosis or scleroderma, becomes at risk for tumors in that tissue. Hypothetically, some researchers think that diet may also influence your risk. But that’s not clear yet.

Lung cancer formation: Types of lung cancer

Breast cancer coping plans

January 20, 2018

Breast cancer coping plans: Regional recurrence and metastatic cancer

Breast cancer coping plans that are essential for a more comfortable feeling

Finding out that you have breast cancer can be very frustrating. But after enduring all the treatment process, it can be upsetting to be told that the cancer has resurfaced. We appreciate that dealing with the initial diagnosis wasn’t easy. It was traumatizing and agonizing. That is why as experts from AWAREmed health and wellness resource center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD, we are concerned and want to be the shoulder you can lean on. Therefore, we want to make suggestions to you to follow and if you have any further concern, you can always call us to have a one on one with you. In the meantime, you can consider the following:

Information is power, seek to know more about recurrent breast cancer before making a decisions about your care. Your doctor will be very helpful. Ask about your treatment options and prognosis. Good knowledge will help you be more confident in making treatment decisions.
Be close to friends and family. This is the time you need a lot of love around you. Friends and family will provide the practical support you’ll need, such as helping take care of your house if you’re in the hospital. And they can serve as emotional support when you feel overwhelmed by cancer.
Identify a connection to a motivating spirit beyond yourself. Having a strong faith or a sense of something greater than yourself is essential and will helps you be more hopeful with cancer treatment you take.

Breast cancer coping plans: Getting ready for your appointment

With cancer, any signs or symptoms should sound a warning. Take timely action by scheduling an appointment with your primary care doctor or family doctor for professional advice. In readiness for the appointment, you can share with your doctor about new symptoms, any other health problems from your first diagnosis and if you’re seeing a new doctor, carry all your medical records with you to the new doctor. You may also request a family member to accompany you to the doctor’s office to help you remember all you need to know. The following are some of the questions you may ask:

What’s my prognosis?
What treatments are available to me at this stage, and which do you recommend?
What kinds of tests do I need and how should I prepare for it?
What is the hormone receptor status of the cancer recurrence?
Is there any side effects can I expect from treatment?
Is my cancer recurring?
Do I have any alternatives to the approach that you’re suggesting?
Are there any clinical trials open to me?
Are some other possible causes for my symptoms?

Finally, with all these, your doctor is also likely to ask you a number of questions. Such questions are helpful in giving his/her professional view about your condition. The doctor’s questions may include:

How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?
Has there been a change in the symptoms over time?
Do these symptoms feel different from when you were first diagnosed with cancer?
How do you feel overall?
Have you had any unexpected weight loss? Have you lost your appetite?
Are you experiencing any pain?

Breast cancer coping plans: Regional recurrence and metastatic cancer

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Regional recurrence cure

January 20, 2018

Regional recurrence cure: Breast cancer diagnosis

Regional recurrence cure for a more comfortable life

Like with other treatments of other types of cancer, in most cases, the regional recurrence cure may involve the use of surgery, radiation therapy and drug treatments. For a better understanding of a regional breast cancer recurrence treatment procedures, let’s discuss each briefly.

Surgery. When the cancer cells has been identified, surgery is the best for this treatment. The surgeon operates the patient to remove the tumor. In the process, he/she may also remove the lymph nodes under arm if they’re still present.

Radiation therapy. Occasionally radiation therapy may be used after surgery. However, where surgery isn’t the suitable procedure, radiation therapy may be used as the main treatment for a regional breast cancer recurrence.

Drug treatments. Chemotherapy, targeted therapy or hormone therapy and may be recommended as the main treatment or may follow surgery or radiation.

Regional recurrence cure: Metastatic breast cancer

This disease has a variety of treatment options. The ideal option will depend on the stage of the cancer. A series of treatment options may be applied where the patient fails to respond positively. It is important to appreciate that the main objective of treatment here is not to cure the disease. This is a life prolonging treatment as it only relieves the patient from symptoms caused by cancer. The focus here is to help the patient live as comfortable and for as long as possible. Treatments may include:

Hormone therapy. For those patients whose cancer is hormone receptor positive, hormone therapy will be essential. This treatment approach has minimal side effects in relation to chemotherapy. This makes it to be the first treatment used for metastatic breast cancer.

Chemotherapy. Where the patient cancer is hormone receptor negative or if hormone therapy is no longer working, chemotherapy may be recommended.

Targeted therapy. If your cancer cells have certain characteristics that make them vulnerable to targeted therapy, this medication may be recommended.

Bone-building drugs. This becomes applicable where the cancer has spread to the bones. It helps in reducing the risk of broken bones and also reduces bone pain.

Other treatments. Radiation therapy and surgery may be used in certain situations to control signs and symptoms of advanced breast cancer.

Regional recurrence cure: Alternative medicine

As we look into this, it is important to note that this is not a replacement of the mainstream breast cancer treatment. In fact alternative medicine treatments doesn’t cure breast cancer. Nevertheless, complementary and alternative medicine therapies are essential in helping patients cope with side effects of treatment when combined with the doctor’s care. Like for instance, most cancer patients are distressed which brings about sadness and worries. In such condition, sleep and feeding or even concentration becomes difficult. This is where the complementary and alternative treatments come in. according to doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center, the following alternative treatments can be very helpful:

Yoga
Relaxation exercises
Music therapy
Meditation
Exercise
Dance or movement therapy
Art therapy

At AWAREmed health center, this is what we do best. If you are struggling with such pain, we would like to help you the best way we can. Give us a call today and let us be part of your healing success.

Regional recurrence cure: Breast cancer diagnosis

Recurrent breast cancers

January 19, 2018

Recurrent breast cancers causes: The remnants of cancer cells

Recurrent breast cancers causes will becomes evident when cells that were part of the patient’s original breast cancer break away from the original tumor

Recurrent breast cancers causes will becomes evident when cells that were part of the patient’s original breast cancer break away from the original tumor and hide nearby in the breast or in another part of the body. By and by, these cells multiplies again. All the treatment procedures like chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy you underwent during the first breast cancer diagnosis was intended to kill all cancer cells that may have remained after surgery. However, sometimes these treatments aren’t able to kill all of the cancer cells leaving some remnants. This is because there are certain cancer cells which can remain dormant over the years without causing harm. These dormant cells can be triggered gets activated causing them to grow rapidly spreading to other parts of the body. Why this happens, is yet to be established scientifically.

Recurrent breast cancer causes: Risk factors

For breast cancer survivors, factors that increase the risk of a recurrence include:

Lymph node involvement. Finding cancer in nearby lymph nodes at the time of your original diagnosis increases your risk of the cancer coming back. Women with many affected lymph nodes have a higher risk.

Larger tumor size. Women with larger tumors have a greater risk of recurrent breast cancer.

Positive or close tumor margins. During breast cancer surgery, the surgeon removes the cancer along with a small portion of the normal tissue surrounding it. A pathologist then examines the edges of the tissue looking for cancer cells. When the borders are free of cancer from the examination result, then we have a negative margin. However, if there are some cancer cells, it is a positive margin. In this case the risk of breast cancer recurrence is increased.

Lack of radiation treatment following lumpectomy. Most female patients who choose lumpectomy for breast cancer undergo breast radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. Those who don’t undergo the radiation therapy have an increased risk of local breast cancer recurrence.

Younger age. Women below age 35 at the time of their original breast cancer diagnosis, face a higher risk of recurrent breast cancer.

Inflammatory breast cancer. Women with inflammatory breast cancer have a higher risk of local recurrence.

Cancer cells with certain characteristics. If the breast cancer wasn’t responsive to hormone therapy or treatments directed at the HER2 gene (triple negative breast cancer), you may have an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Recurrent breast cancer causes: Prevention

Treatments that have been linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence include:

Targeted therapy. For women whose cancer makes extra HER2 protein, the drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) can decrease the chance of the cancer recurring.
Radiation therapy. Women who’ve had a breast-sparing operation to treat their breast cancer and those who had a large tumor or inflammatory breast cancer have a lower chance of the cancer recurring if they’re treated with radiation therapy.
Maintaining a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight may help decrease the risk of recurrent breast cancer.
Hormone therapy. Women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer may reduce their risk of recurrent breast cancer by taking hormone therapy after their initial treatment.
Regular exercise may reduce your risk of breast cancer recurrence.
For women with breast cancer who have an increased risk of cancer recurrence, chemotherapy has been shown to decrease the chance that cancer will recur, and those who receive chemotherapy live longer.

Category Archives: Chemotherapy treatment procedure