Overlooked Abnormal Cell Lung Cancer Has Its Pluses, or Shall I Say Managable Cures
By Jamie Quaranta
My grandfather recently discovered an enormous lump on the right side of his neck and above his collarbone.
He is a retired assembly manager, and he was exposed to radon gas, mustard gas, asbestos, and other notorious carcinogens during his three-decade-long tenure at an aviation manufacturing company in Connecticut.
He went to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist for an adequate prognosis, as well as a thoracic oncologist for a biopsy. Both physicians removed a sample of his lung tissue for medical examination. The resulting diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma, an unusual form of small cell cancer located in the bodys respiratory and tracheal system.
However, when he underwent further testing at the world-renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer in the heart of New York City, his thoracic oncologist there said he was stricken with adenocarcinoma of the lungs, a rare type of large cell lung cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, lung adenocarcinoma is, ironically, the most common form of lung cancer among people over the age of 45, regardless of ones smoking habits or ones own history of working in industrial environments. In a simple twist of fate, BioImmune, Inc., an online health directory, reports that the same illness accounts for only 40 percent of all cases of lung cancer.
I really dont understand why I have lung cancer altogether, my grandfather says. I wasnt really exposed to that many chemicals in the workplace as frequently as my employees believed, nor was I ever considered an addicted smoker.
The good news behind lung adenocarcinoma is that, no matter what dire statistics are provided by health care organizations or universities, it can be treated effectively as long as its detected at an early stage.
Nowadays, primary care physicians are using computed topography (CT) scans to confirm the size and location of any malignant tumor. If cancerous cells prove to be prevalent in the lungs, the CT scan determines if they had spread to the brain or other places in the body. In addition, a tiny needle is inserted into the most suspicious areas of the lungs so that a small sample of removed abnormal tissue is examined in a laboratory for further analysis.
Another diagnostic tool frequently used by cancer specialists in todays health care industry is a PET scan. A three-dimensional picture of the entire body from the knees up to the head lights up to show suspicious areas that test positive for cancer.
Less common practices for treating this form of lung cancer are bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy, according to Dr. Edward J. Benz, Jr., the director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Boston, MA. Both diagnostic tools involve tube-like instruments. However, bronchoscopy is used to obtain a small piece of lung tissue for a biopsy, whereas mediastinoscopy obtains both lung tissue and lymph nodes for the same test.
Its ultimately up to the patient as to what medical procedure he or she feels is necessary, Benz, Jr. says. Still, I believe that a regular biopsy proves more effective than a biopsy used with an unusual-looking tubular device.
Depending on how far the large cancer cells in the lungs have spread, many doctors recommend chemotherapy or radiation, or a combination of both, for a hopefully successful recovery.
Chemotherapy, with or without radiation, can benefit all lung adenocarcinoma patients, said Dr. Harvey A. Weitzman, a thoracic oncologist practicing in Bridgeport, CT. The growth of any cancer cells can be eradicated if this specific form of treatment does what its supposed to do: Decrease coughing, wheezing, and other symptoms while prolonging life at the same time.
To Find Out More About The Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Mentioned in this Enlightening Article, Please Visit the Following Comprehensive Sites for Possible Forms of Treatment:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/LRN/LRN0.asp?dt=15
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/376.cfm
http://www.dana-farber.org/pat/adult/treatment-centers/Default.aspx?disease=Lung
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