How to treat dry cough caused by lung cancer?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on October 24, 2024
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Dry cough is a very common symptom in clinical practice, caused by many factors which are also very complex. Some patients might clearly have lung cancer. Due to the presence of lung cancer lesions, patients can experience irritating dry cough as well as symptoms like hemoptysis, chest pain, and chest tightness. It is possible that some patients do not exhibit symptoms of dry cough, perhaps due to other causes. Therefore, for dry cough, we need to identify if it is caused by lung cancer, as it often requires surgical treatment to control the symptoms. Some patients with minor lung cancer who experience dry cough might be able to control it with appropriate medications. However, to effectively control symptoms of dry cough caused by lung cancer, surgical removal is generally necessary and is the ultimate treatment plan.

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Medical Oncology
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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.

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Oncology
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What tests are conducted for lung cancer?

Diagnosis of Lung Cancer: The first method can be through chest X-ray and CT scan; The second is sputum cytology examination; The third involves using a bronchoscopy; The fourth is mediastinoscopy, which allows direct observation of the enlargement of lymph nodes on both sides of the mediastinum; The fifth is to perform PET-CT, which is Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography; The sixth requires a biopsy; it can be done through a transthoracic needle biopsy, or via a bronchoscopic biopsy; The seventh is the biopsy of metastatic lesions, such as subclavian lymph nodes, and lymph node metastases in the neck or axillary areas can be examined; The eighth can involve drawing cancerous pleural effusion; if there is pleural effusion, pleural fluid cytology examination can be performed; The ninth method is thoracotomy exploration; if lung nodules or lung tumors cannot be definitively diagnosed through various other methods, thoracotomy exploration can be performed.

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Oncology
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What is the treatment for lung cancer?

Treatment for lung cancer should be based on the pathological staging, the pathology type, the biological behavior of the lung cancer, and individualization, taking into account the patient's cardiopulmonary function and overall systemic condition to develop a personalized treatment plan. For non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, the treatment approaches differ significantly. Therefore, it is advisable for patients to seek treatment at specialized hospitals, under the guidance of oncology specialists. Generally, treatment options for non-small cell lung cancer include surgical resection, adjunctive chemoradiation, neoadjuvant chemoradiation, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. For small cell lung cancer, a comprehensive treatment plan combining chemoradiation, along with prophylactic cranial irradiation and other aggressive treatments, is recommended. Each individual's situation might differ, so it is important to focus on a personalized comprehensive treatment plan rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

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Will people with lung cancer experience weight loss?

This question should be answered specifically. Some people may initially experience symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue when they start to develop lung cancer. Some people with better physical constitution may not lose weight so easily. However, if a malignant tumor persists in the body for a long time, it will consume the body's nutrients and lead to a state of cachexia, characterized by systemic toxicity symptoms including weight loss, fatigue, fever, and other similar symptoms.

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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.