What is the cause of lung cancer?
The most common cause of lung cancer [small cells [SCLC] and non-small cells [NSCLC]] is smoking [SCLC and NSCLC] - including passive [used] smoke. However, other reasons may include:
- Inhalation of harmful fumes [gas such as helium].
- Working environment [asbestos factory, carpet factory, fireworks industry, etc.].
The main cause of lung cancer is that the lungs are one of the organs most exposed to the external environment, more than other organs of the body.
What are the symptoms of stage IV lung cancer?
Early lung cancer symptoms are usually not suitable for most patients; however, because they do become obvious - late symptoms may include the following:
- Pain in the arms, back, buttocks and shoulders [showing the metastasis [diffusion] of the disease].
- Persistent cough [[the smoker's cough] usually absorbs blood - called hemoptysis or hemoptysis].
- Swallowing problems - caused by entering the esophagus [throat and hoarseness].
- Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis.
- Seizures and weakness [usually caused by weight loss].
- Shortness of breath and wheezing [usually a slight burning sensation in the trachea [duct] and chest area.
- Visionary problems and headaches [slight agitation] indicate brain inversion [brain tumors].
- Yellowing of the skin due to liver invasion [jaundice].
What treatment is available for stage IV lung cancer?
Because lung cancer is usually diagnosed until late, the choice is usually limited to trying to prevent more metastases and trying to prolong the prognosis [expected life expectancy].
However, chemotherapy [to prolong the patient's prognosis] is often the treatment of choice - because cancer metastasis has affected too many organs in the body, surgical treatment is of little use [it is impossible to remove so many bodies and patients after survival] .
Other palliative therapies [supplements] can also be considered, such as: radiation therapy and clinical trial therapy [usually a combination of drugs and new therapies]].
What is the prognosis of stage IV lung cancer?
Sadly, to say the least, the prognosis of stage IV lung cancer is poor due to late detection. In most cases, the 5-year survival rate for NSCLC is estimated to be only 10%, and the median survival rate [when 50% of patients are still alive, 50% have passed away] is only about 8 months. This further reduces the 5-year survival rate to SCLC by approximately 5% and has only been treated for a few months.
Although, the influencing factors may include: age, health, treatment options and patient response to the treatment, as well as the specific characteristics of the tumor. In addition, some cancer patients are known to be more likely to live than others [mainly because the body is more susceptible to treatment].
Orignal From: The etiology, symptoms, treatment and prognosis of stage IV lung cancer
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