How to check for lung cancer?

Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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How to check for lung cancer, firstly, for lung cancer screening, particularly in people over forty years old, especially smokers, it is recommended to regularly undergo low-dose spiral CT scans of the chest. Secondly, if a tumor is detected, it is suggested to proceed with enhanced CT scans, sputum cytology tests, or PET-CT. If it is confirmed that there is a tumor in the lungs, then a biopsy is needed. The biopsy can be performed under bronchoscopy, or transthoracic lung puncture and biopsy of living tissue can also be done, as well as biopsy of metastatic lesions or cytological examination of pleural effusion to diagnose whether it is lung cancer, the type of lung cancer, and certain immunohistochemical situations.

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Is coughing up blood lung cancer?

Everyone knows that lung cancer can cause coughing up blood, but does coughing up blood necessarily mean one has lung cancer? It should not be interpreted this way. Although lung cancer can cause coughing up blood, there are many reasons for coughing up blood, and it is not only caused by lung cancer. Reasons for coughing up blood can also include bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, lung abscess, and many others. Therefore, if coughing up blood occurs, it doesn't necessarily mean one has lung cancer, and there is no need for excessive worry. If coughing up blood occurs, it is important to visit a hospital in a timely manner, where a doctor can conduct checks like chest X-rays to further investigate the cause.

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Early symptoms of lung cancer

Early-stage lung cancer, especially peripheral lung cancer, often has no symptoms and is mostly found during chest X-rays or CT scans. The clinical symptoms of lung cancer are closely related to the location, size, pathological type of the tumor, whether it compresses or invades adjacent organs, and whether there is metastasis. The symptoms of lung cancer generally include: First, some symptoms of the primary tumor growing locally, including cough, hemoptysis, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. When the tumor grows inside a larger bronchus, it might cause some irritative coughing. Second, as the tumor continues to grow and affects the drainage of the bronchi, it may lead to secondary lung infections, presenting with symptoms such as cough and purulent sputum. Third, there might be bloody sputum streaked with blood or intermittent minor hemoptysis, though significant hemoptysis is very rare.

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What causes lung cancer?

Lung cancer is caused by a variety of factors. Research indicates that lung cancer results from a combination of genetic defects, external and internal environmental factors, and personal factors. Numerous studies have confirmed that long-term and heavy smoking is the most significant carcinogenic factor for lung cancer. There is a positive correlation between the amount and duration of smoking and the incidence of lung cancer. The second factor is related to working in asbestos-related industries, which very much relates to the work environment, and also has a certain relation to smog. Indoor environmental pollution is also a very significant carcinogenic factor for lung cancer. This includes smoke from burning coal indoors, fumes from cooking oils in kitchens, and carcinogenic substances released by indoor decorating materials. Fourthly, internal human factors such as the immune status, metabolic abnormalities, genetic factors, and chronic lung infections are also related. The fifth factor involves irregular diet and rest habits, irritating foods, alcohol consumption, and heavy smoking.

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Symptoms of brain metastasis from lung cancer

Brain metastasis of lung cancer is caused by hematogenous spread of lung cancer to the brain. Brain metastasis typically presents with symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting, including projectile vomiting. The headaches may be severe, and there may be abnormalities in sensory perception and motor function, possibly accompanied by seizures, mental confusion, olfactory disturbances, visual impairments, and other symptoms. The specific symptoms can vary depending on the location of the metastasis in the brain. However, most patients experience headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Individual differences are significant, and it's important to analyze the specific issues and the specific areas of the brain affected.

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Staging of Lung Cancer

The staging of lung cancer is of great clinical significance for the selection of clinical treatment plans and the prediction of prognosis. According to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and the World Health Organization, lung cancer is staged based on the size of the primary tumor (T stage), the condition of tumor lymph node metastasis (N stage), and the presence of distant metastases (M stage). Lung cancer is classified according to these criteria, which are used internationally. Currently, there are UICC staging and AJCC staging, which are two different systems.