How is lung cancer diagnosed?

Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 19, 2024
00:00
00:00

Lung cancer is one of the malignant tumors and falls under respiratory system diseases. The gold standard for the diagnosis of malignant tumors is biopsy. Thus, lung cancer is no exception; it requires a biopsy and immunohistochemistry to determine the type of cancer and its pathological type. So how is the biopsy obtained? We can use a bronchoscope to directly observe the tumor and collect small tissue samples for pathological examination. Additionally, there is the thoracic wall lung puncture biopsy, where tissue from the tumor can be sampled using a fine needle. These samples are observed under a microscope to differentiate the pathological types and to further confirm the diagnosis.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
58sec home-news-image

Is coughing severe in the early stages of lung cancer?

Patients with lung cancer in the early stages may experience severe coughing, mild coughing, or no coughing symptoms at all. Many early-stage lung cancer patients have lesions located near the periphery of the lungs that do not involve the airways or other significant structures, typically resulting in no clinical symptoms. By the time clinical symptoms appear, the patient may already be in the middle or late stages of lung cancer. Additionally, it is important to note that some patients with early-stage lung cancer may also experience coughing, which can range from severe to mild, and may include coughing up blood. Such symptoms are often seen in early-stage central lung cancer, which frequently presents with cough and blood in the sputum. Therefore, older patients with a long history of smoking who suddenly develop a cough or start coughing up blood should be highly vigilant and likely need to undergo chest CT scans, bronchoscopy, and other related examinations for evaluation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
49sec home-news-image

What should I do if lung cancer causes coughing up blood?

Lung cancer refers to a condition where, due to genetic mutations in human cells, cells grow disorderly or wildly, forming a solid mass-like lesion primarily known as lung cancer. Due to the uneven growth of lung cancer, local necrosis can occur, leading to bleeding, making coughing up blood a very common clinical manifestation in lung cancer. The severity of coughing up blood is classified into mild, moderate, and severe. Generally, if a single instance of coughing up blood is less than five milliliters, it can be managed with Yunnan Baiyao. However, if the amount exceeds 100 milliliters, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly to prevent life-threatening risks from massive hemoptysis. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
55sec home-news-image

How long can one live with lung cancer?

The survival period of malignant tumors is a topic of great concern to everyone. The question of how long one can live with lung cancer is very difficult to answer. It should be based on the patient's physical condition and the pathological staging. However, these judgments are only based on a predictive basis and do not determine how long the patient can live. If the patient does not relapse after surgery, is sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and shows no signs of recurrence or resistance, then their five-year survival rate is naturally higher. If the patient experiences recurrence and metastasis after surgery, then the five-year survival rate is naturally lower. Therefore, the question of how long a person can live with a malignant tumor cannot be answered generically.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Zhong Dong
Medical Oncology
1min 5sec home-news-image

Causes of Lung Cancer

The most common cause of lung cancer is smoking, but many people who have never smoked also develop lung cancer. One possible reason could be related to kitchen fumes. Chinese cooking habits often involve high-temperature frying and stir-frying. After frying in hot oil, the higher the temperature, the more harmful substances are in the fumes, which over time could lead to lung cancer. Some patients develop lung cancer due to air pollution; secondhand smoke is also a significant cause. For example, if a husband smokes, the likelihood of his wife developing lung cancer is more than 200% higher than in the general population, indicating that smoking harms not only the smoker but also their nearest and dearest family members. Additionally, there are other potential causes including psychosomatic factors such as chronic insomnia, depression, decreased immunity, genetic factors, and more.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
1min 13sec home-news-image

Dietary therapy for lung cancer

In the diet of lung cancer patients, Western medicine does not have the concept of "trigger foods" like Chinese medicine does. According to Western medicine, there are no specific dietary restrictions; the focus is on maintaining a balanced diet as usual, incorporating meat, proteins, vegetables, and fruits to ensure nutritional balance. Generally, lung cancer patients may experience coughing symptoms, so it is advisable to consume a light diet avoiding oily fried foods. Extremely spicy foods can provoke irritative coughing and worsen it, so they should be avoided, along with barbecued and pickled foods, and junk food. Other than that, the diet should be similar to a normal balanced diet. For patients undergoing chemotherapy, a high-protein diet is recommended, preferably consisting of steamed or stewed dishes. These can be combined with traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as Astragalus, American ginseng, and Dong quai, which are known to boost energy and enhance resistance, thus aiding in dietary therapy to strengthen the patient's immunity.