Diagnosis and Treatments of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer diagnosis is made by radiological examinations: X-ray Computed Tomography and especially (or CAT scanner) Chest, and confirmed with a biopsy.
Only 15 to 20% of lung cancers are detected in its early stages because the symptoms are delayed. In many cases the diagnosis is usually incidental, that is, by medical evidence that you had another purpose. When diagnosed with lung cancer, additional tests are performed to evaluate different tumor stage (if the initial or advanced) as well as lung capacity and general condition.
The prognosis and treatment depend on the size and the extent of having cancer (stage), and the histologic type of tumor. The surgery involves removing the lung area containing the tumor (lung lobe) and lymph nodes in the chest and is the treatment of choice in the early stages of the disease. Chemotherapy involves using drugs to kill cancer cells and radiation therapy using high energy X rays. These last two treatments are used in more advanced stages or in patients which can not be performed surgery.
How can detect early stage lung cancer?
An early-stage lung cancer can be diagnosed early by detecting a lung nodule in chest x-ray or a CT scan. Latter being much more sensitive and accurate. Lung nodules can be benign (infections, scars or benign) or represent an early stage lung cancer. The importance of early diagnosis is that surgery in early stages is the only treatment that can cure lung cancer.
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