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$Unique_ID{BRK03555}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Cancer, Lung}
$Subject{Cancer Lung Bronchogenic Carcinoma Cancer of the Lung Carcinoma of
the Lung Occupational Lung Cancer Pulmonary Neoplasms Squamous Cell Epidermoid
Carcinoma Adenocarcinoma of the Lung Alveolar Cell Bronchoalveolar
Carcinomas Undifferentiated Small Cell Oat Cell Carcinoma Undifferentiated
Anaplastic Large Cell Carcinoma Benign Tumors}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1990, 1991 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
804:
Cancer, Lung
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Lung Cancer) is not
the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Bronchogenic Carcinoma
Cancer of the Lung
Carcinoma of the Lung
Occupational Lung Cancer
Pulmonary Neoplasms
Disorder Subdivisions:
Squamous Cell (or Epidermoid) Carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma of the Lung (Including Alveolar Cell and
Bronchoalveolar Carcinomas)
Undifferentiated Small Cell (or Oat Cell) Carcinoma
Undifferentiated (Anaplastic) Large Cell Carcinoma
Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Benign Tumors of the Lung
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Lung Cancer is the most common form of cancer among both men and women in the
United States. Those most at risk are smokers, especially heavy smokers.
Cancer is a disease in which malignant cell development occurs, causing
destruction of healthy cells. Major symptoms of lung cancer may include
persistent coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood from
the lungs (hemoptysis), or weight loss. Ninety-five percent of lung cancers
are caused by four main types: squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, small (or
oat) cell, and large cell lung cancer.
Symptoms
A common symptom of lung cancer is a persisting cough. Other symptoms may
include chest pain, difficulty breathing (dyspnea), shortness of breath,
wheezing, coughing up blood from the lungs (hemoptysis), or weight loss.
Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), hoarseness, weakness, fever, spinal
cord or bone pain, or swelling of the head, neck, or breast are other
possible symptoms.
Squamous cell carcinoma generally develops in the central area of the
lung and is the only type of lung cancer that can be detected in a
precancerous stage. Squamous cell is the most treatable of the four main
types of lung cancer; it does not travel as fast as the other three types and
responds well to treatment.
In adenocarcinoma of the lung, tumors tend to form in glands lining the
smaller bronchi (tubes that conduct air to and from the lungs).
Small cell, or oat cell carcinoma is very aggressive and travels quickly;
chemotherapy especially benefits these patients. The name "oat cell" refers
to the shape of the cells which resemble oat grains.
Large cell lung carcinoma is the rarest form of lung cancer and may
actually be a different type of squamous cell carcinoma and/or
adenocarcinoma. Generally, this type is very similar to adenocarcinoma in
both symptoms and treatment.
Lambert-Eaton Syndrome (LES) may occur in two-thirds of patients having
malignant tumors, especially patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung.
In some patients, LES occurs up to three years before a tumor is detected.
LES is a neuromuscular disorder that may be an autoimmune disease. Major
symptoms include muscle weakness and fatigue especially of the pelvic and
thigh muscles. Other symptoms may include dryness of the mouth, impotence,
pain in the thighs, and a pricking, tingling or creeping sensation on the
skin (paresthesias) around the affected areas. (For more information on this
disorder, choose "LES" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Many lung cancer patients also have heart or lung problems which may be
linked to age, smoking, or both.
Causes
Like most forms of cancer, the exact cause of lung cancer is not known.
Those most at risk are cigarette smokers, especially heavy smokers. Smoking
is linked to lung cancer in 85% of patients. Other cancer-causing agents
(carcinogens) linked with lung cancer are arsenic, asbestos, beryllium,
cadmium, chloromethyl ether, chromates, coal tars, coke-oven emissions, iron
oxide, isopropyl oil, metallic iron, mustard gas, nickel, radon gas and
uranium. Job-related exposure to these carcinogens, such as a miner exposed
to uranium, increases the risk of developing lung cancer. If a person
exposed to these carcinogens is a smoker as well, the risk of lung cancer is
even higher.
Affected Population
Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer among both men and women in the
United States. Those most at risk are smokers, especially heavy smokers.
Lung cancer is usually discovered in people aged 45 and over. The average
age at the time of diagnosis, especially in men, is 70-74. In women,
adenocarcinomas may occur earlier (age 50-59) than in men.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorder can be similar to those of lung cancer.
Comparison may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Benign (noncancerous) tumors of the lung may resemble malignant tumors.
Testing is necessary for a correct diagnosis.
Therapies: Standard
Testing for lung cancer includes chest x-ray, bronchoscopy, and/or biopsy.
Treatment of lung cancer varies from patient to patient. It is important to
determine which type of lung cancer a person has and how far the disease has
spread since these factors determine the appropriate treatment program.
First, physicians determine what "stage" the disease is in. The stage
depends on the number and location of malignant sites, and if the cancer has
traveled.
Treatment of lung cancer may include surgery, radiotherapy and/or
chemotherapy. Radiotherapy (radiation therapy) destroys cancer cells,
shrinks enlarged lymph nodes, and aids in prevention of further cancer.
Chemotherapy involves the use of anticancer drugs. There are several drug
regimens now in use. The drug combinations of cyclophosphamide,
methotrexate, and lomustine (CCNU), or cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and
vincristine, or the drug combination of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and
etoposide (VP-16) may be prescribed. All these drugs may produce adverse
side effects and must be carefully monitored by a specialist physician
(oncologist).
Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
Therapies: Investigational
The drug Ricin (blocked) conjugated murine monoclonal antibody (N901) has
been approved by the FDA for testing in the treatment of Small Cell Lung
Cancer. The drug is manufactured by Immunogen, Inc., Cambridge, MA.
The National Cancer Institute conducts clinical trials on new drugs being
tested for lung cancer and other forms of cancer. To learn about locations
of these investigations, contact the Cancer Information Service listed in the
Resources section of this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
March 1991. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Lung Cancer, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
American Cancer Society
1599 Clifton Rd., NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 320-3333
NIH/National Cancer Institute
9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg. 31, Rm. 1A2A
Bethesda, MD 20892
1-800-4-CANCER
The National Cancer Institute has developed PDQ (Physician Data Query), a
computerized database designed to give the public, cancer patients and
families, and health professionals quick and easy access to many types of
information vital to patients with this and many other types of cancer. To
gain access to this service, call:
Cancer Information Service (CIS)
1-800-4-CANCER
In Washington, DC and suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, 636-5700
In Alaska, 1-800-638-6070
In Oahu, Hawaii, (808) 524-1234 (Neighbor islands call collect)
References
CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th Ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H.
Smith, Jr., Editors; W.B. Saunders Co., 1988. Pp. 457-463, 2364.
THE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS COMPLETE HOME
MEDICAL GUIDE: Donald F. Tapley, M.D., et al., eds; Crown Publishers, Inc.,
1985. Pp. 404.
INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown
and Co., 1987. Pp. 627-630.
WORLD BOOK MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA: Erich E. Brueschke, M.D., et al., eds;
World Book, Inc., 1988. Pp. 148-149.