stage 4 lung cancer

stage 4 lung cancer

Stage IV is the most advanced stage of lung cancer, and includes any size tumor that has spread beyond local lymph nodes to a distant site outside the chest. If a primary tumor has spread to the opposite lung, it is classified as stage IV as well.

A stage IV lung cancer diagnosis can also describe patients with an abnormal collection of fluid around their lungs or heart. For the lung this is known as malignant pleural effusion, and for the heart, malignant pericardial effusion. Both are common complications among late stage lung cancers.

Because stage IV lung cancer has spread outside the lung, it is considered too widespread to be cured surgically. Although stage IV cancer is almost always incurable, it is still treatable. Several palliative therapies can improve a patient's survival and quality of life by controlling tumor growth and relieving the pain caused by cancer symptoms.
Lung Cancer Staging by Type

There are two primary types of lung cancer that doctors distinguish by the types of cells involved.  Because the two types grow and spread differently, doctors will consider the patient's type and stage of cancer before suggesting any treatments.

symptoms lung cancer

symptoms lung cancer

The most common lung cancer symptoms are:

•     Persistent cough
•     Shortness of breath
•     Chest pain
•     Unexplained weight loss
•     Coughing up blood

If lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:

•     Back or shoulder pain
•     Headaches if the brain is involved
•     Stroke-like symptoms, such as numbness and weakness
•     Generalised weight loss
•     Difficulty swallowing
•     Changes in one’s voice
•     Clubbing (rounding) of fingernails

lung cancer prognosis

lung cancer prognosis

What is the prognosis (outcome) of lung cancer?

The prognosis of lung cancer refers to the chance for cure or prolongation of life (survival) and is dependent upon where the cancer is located, the size of the cancer, the presence of symptoms, the type of lung cancer, and the overall health status of the patient.

SCLC has the most aggressive growth of all lung cancers, with a median survival time of only two to four months after diagnosis when untreated. (That is, by two to four months, half of all patients have died.) However, SCLC is also the type of lung cancer most responsive to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Because SCLC spreads rapidly and is usually disseminated at the time of diagnosis, methods such as surgical removal or localized radiation therapy are less effective in treating this type of lung cancer. When chemotherapy is used alone or in combination with other methods, survival time can be prolonged four- to fivefold; however, of all patients with SCLC, only 5%-10% are still alive five years after diagnosis. Most of those who survive have limited-stage SCLC.

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most important prognostic factor is the stage (extent of spread) of the tumor at the time of diagnosis. Results of standard treatment are generally poor in all but the most smallest of cancers that can be surgically removed. However, in stage I cancers that can be completely removed surgically, five-year survival approaches 75%. Radiation therapy can produce a cure in a small minority of patients with NSCLC and leads to relief of symptoms in most patients. In advanced-stage disease, chemotherapy offers modest improvements in survival although rates of overall survival are poor.

The overall prognosis for lung cancer is poor when compared with some other cancers. Survival rates for lung cancer are generally lower than those for most cancers, with an overall five-year survival rate for lung cancer of about 16% compared to 65% for colon cancer, 89% for breast cancer, and over 99% for prostate cancer

lung cancer statistics

lung cancer statistics

Lung cancer statistics are alarming, especially when viewed in relation to the amount of funding dedicated to lung cancer relative to other cancers. Lung cancer is currently responsible for 29% of cancer deaths in the United States, responsible for more deaths than breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer combined. Even though more women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and more men with prostate cancer, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women

In 2007, the most recent year where statistics on lung cancer are available:

    109,643 men were diagnosed with lung cancer, and 88,329 died
    93,893 women diagnosed with lung cancer, and 70,354 died

Number of Survivors in the U.S.
Roughly 400,000 lung cancer survivors are living in the United States. Sadly, due to the lower survival rate of lung cancer vs. breast and prostate cancers, there are fewer lung cancer survivors than breast and prostate cancer survivors. And this has been cited as one cause for a relative lack of funding and awareness of lung cancer.

adenocarcinomas lung

adenocarcinoma lung

Lung cancer usually takes many years to grow. Incidence tends to peaks between the ages of 55 and 65 years.
 The changes in the lung however will start nearly as soon as a body’s in contact with carcinogenic chemicals.
Soon after exposure begins, several abnormal cells may appear from the lining of the bronchi (the primary breathing tubes).
 Gradually as you continue your exposure to these substances, more abnormal cells appear.
 Some will become cancerous and tumour forming.
If you quit smoking however, the risk of lung cancer decreases. 
Year on year, abnormal cells are replaced by normal cells. 
After 10 years, the danger drops to some level that is one-third to one-half of the risk for individuals that still smoke.
 Giving up smoking greatly reduces the risk of developing other smoking-related diseases,
 such as heart disease, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis but there are many more good things about stop smoking.

lung cancer 300x143 Lung Cancer Smoking In Facts-key Facts About Lung Cancer
• Primary carcinoma of the lung is definitely the leading source of cancer deaths men and women.
• It makes up about approximately 32% of cancer deaths in men and 25% in women.
• Current or former smokers make up approximately 90% of patients with lung cancer.
• Men who smoke one pack each day improve their risk ten times compared with non-smokers.
• Men who smoke two packs a day increase their risk more than 25 times compared with non-smokers.
• The more you smoke and the longer you smoke, higher your risk.
• Of the 180,000 people diagnosed in The USA alone each year, 86% will die within 5 years of diagnosis.
• Chemicals and compounds in cigarettes cause it to cancerous and also the cause of other harmful health negative effects of smoking. 

types of lung cancer

types of lung cancer

Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

Up to 50% of non-small cell lung cancers are considered adenocarcinomas. This type of lung cancer is often seen in non-smokers and is the lung cancer type most commonly found in women. Non-small cell lung cancer usually begins in the periphery (outer parts) of the lungs, and it can be present for a long time before it is diagnosed. One form of adenocarcinoma, BAC (bronchioloalveolar carcinoma), appears to be increasing worldwide. BAC is a lung cancer that arises in the small air sacs of the lungs, and it is more likely to affect non-smokers, women, and Asians.

More About Lung Adenocarcinoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Epidermoid Carcinoma)

Thirty percent of non-small cell lung cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. This lung cancer type usually starts in the bronchial tubes in the central part of the lungs and can cause symptoms early on, especially hemoptysis (coughing up blood). Squamous cell carcinoma used to be the most common form of lung cancer, but its incidence appears to have decreased since filtered cigarettes became available and smoke is inhaled more deeply into the lungs (the region where adenocarcinoma begins).

More About Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

Large Cell Carcinoma

Large cell carcinoma is the least common form of non-small cell lung cancer, responsible for about 10% of cases. It is named for the appearance of large round cells when examined under the microscope. Large cell carcinoma often occurs in the outer regions of the lungs and tends to grow rapidly

More About Large Cell Carcinoma

Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancer accounts for 20% of lung cancers, and it is the lung cancer type linked most strongly with smoking. Small cell lung cancer usually grows in the central areas of the lungs, and most people have few symptoms until just before they are diagnosed. This lung cancer type usually grows and spreads very rapidly, with the majority of people having inoperable cancer at the time of diagnosis. Even though most of these cancers cannot be cured by surgery, small cell lung cancer often responds well to chemotherapy and radiation.

More About Small Cell Lung Cancer

Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is not actually a cancer that develops in the lungs, but rather begins in the mesothelium, a membrane that surrounds the lungs. Only about 2,000 cases are diagnosed per year in the United States, but the incidence is increasing worldwide. Most cases of mesothelioma are due to exposure to asbestos on the job.

More About Mesothelioma

Lung Carcinoid Tumors (Bronchial Carcinoids
Carcinoid tumors account for up to 5% of lung cancers, but not all lung carcinoid tumors are malignant (cancerous). In contrast to other lung cancer types, carcinoid tumors are usually found in younger people, often people under the age of 40, and are not related to smoking. Most carcinoid tumors grow fairly slowly and can often be removed with surgery.
Secondary Lung Cancer (Metastatic Cancer to the Lungs)
Cancer that has spread to the lungs from other regions of the body, for example the breast, is called secondary lung cancer. In this example, the cancer begins in breast tissue, not lung tissue, and would be referred to as breast cancer metastatic to the lungs, rather than lung cancer.