Diagnostic Tests for Lung Cancer Part II
X-rays, CAT scans and even PET scans can only indicate that there are conditions suspicious of a cancer diagnosis. In order to definitely diagnose lung cancer, a pathologist must confirm the diagnosis by examining a tissue sample and finding cancerous cells in it. The simplest and least expensive tissue test is a sputum analysis (sputum cytography). Unfortunately, it's not the most reliable of tests, and can give both false positive and false negative results. There are a number of other tests that a pathologist can do to confirm or discard a diagnosis of lung cancer.
Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy can be performed on a same-day, outpatient basis. The procedure, carried out by a pulmonologist or a surgeon, involves inserting a thin probe through a tube into the airways. The probe can then be used to visualize the tumor, and to scrape or draw a tissue sample from it. A bronchoscopy can be used if the tumor is in the central portion of the lungs or one of the larger airways. If a tumor is found and a large enough sample of tissue can be extracted, it's usually possible to get an accurate diagnosis.
Fine Needle Aspiration
When the tumor is not accessible using bronchoscopy, fine needle aspiration, also known as a needle biopsy, may be used instead. A fine needle is inserted through the skin and into the lung, and a sample of cells is drawn up to be examined beneath a microscope. That sample will be examined for the presence of cancerous cells.
The error margin for fine needle aspiration is low, but significant as there is a chance that the sample will be taken from an area adjacent to the tumor rather than from the tumor itself.
Thoracentesis
When the cancer involves the lining of the lungs - the pleura - sometimes fluid collects between the lungs and the chest wall. A sample of this fluid may be drawn with a fine needle as in a needle biopsy. Examination of the fluid sample may reveal the presence of cancerous cells.
Mediastinoscopy
Sometimes it's not possible to obtain a sample without major surgery. A mediastinoscopy involves inserting a probe surgically into the cavity between the lungs and removing a tissue sample for biopsy. Thoracotomy is the opening of the chest wall surgically to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Obviously, both carry the risks of major surgery.
Blood Tests
While blood tests aren't used to give a definite diagnosis of lung cancer, they may reveal abnormalities that are often associated with cancer. For instance, if cancer has metastasized to the bones there may be elevated levels of calcium in the blood. Other types of cancer are often accompanied by a rise in certain hormones in the blood.
Once a diagnosis of lung cancer is definite, the options for treatment include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as combinations of the three. The exact treatment recommended will be based on the stage at which the cancer is detected and other factors, including your own wishes.
Lung Cancer - Overview
Lung Cancer is a type of cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. Many lung cancers begin in the bronchi though others can start in other parts of the lungs. Lung cancer also has a tendency to form in the glands below the bronchi.
Lung Cancer - Probabilities
Lung cancer causes up to 30% of all cancer related deaths, and it is the 2nd leading cause of death among both men and women in western society. 85% of all lung cancers are caused by a person's smoking habit or just by breathing in the second-hand smoke of others.
Lung Cancer - Screening
At this moment in time, there is no particularly useful single test that can be considered 100% reliable for the early detection of lung cancer. Unfortunately unless someone is undergoing a health screen for something completely unrelated, lung cancer is very often only discovered in the later stages of the disease when it is often too late to do anything but offer palliative treatment.
Lung Cancer - Symptoms
The most common indicators and symptoms of lung cancer include the following: Fatigue Shortness of breath and wheezing (dyspnoea) A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis Constant chest pain Coughing up blood (bloody sputum) (haemoptysis) Swelling of the neck and face Fever Loss of appetite and Weight loss (anorexia) Hoarse voice
Lung Cancer Treatment Options - Radiation
In many cases of lung cancer, surgery is not an option. This may be because of the advanced stage of the cancer, the location of the tumor or tumors, or because of the overall general health of the patient. In those cases, the oncologist may suggest radiation therapy to treat lung cancer. Even if surgery is an option, the doctor may suggest irradiation either before therapy to shrink the tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Lung Cancer - Trends by Ethnicity, Sex and Race
In the USA and many other western countries, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Lung cancer has been found to be the leading cancer killer among Caucasians, African-Americans, Asians and Hispanic males.