Pathogenesis

Pathogenesis

 Lung cancer pathogenesis is a complex process that involves several risk factors. For instance, smoking, exposure to toxic air pollution, and drinking water with high arsenic content increase the risk of developing lung cancer (Chen & Wu, 2020). A combination of these factors poses a significant threat to people. Besides, the prevalence level of diseases increases with age. Findings from a qualitative study showed that older adults face a higher risk of developing lung cancer. The risk remains higher among women who smoked at least 100 cigarettes (Chen & Wu, 2020). The findings imply that women exposed to causative factors can develop the condition when compared to men. Such relationships make then pathogenesis a complicated process. Therefore, a combination of different factors cause lung cancer.

Diagnosis

Testing people with a high risk of lung cancer is an effective way to diagnose the problem. Doctors use low dose CT scans to older adults with a high risk of developing the condition (Chen & Wu, 2020). Effective testing processes lead to earlier identification and management of lung cancer. In some instances, doctors may use several testing methods to diagnose this condition. For example, imaging tests, sputum cytology, and biopsy are effective methods of testing for lung cancer condition (Blandin Knight et al., 2017). X-ray imaging is an effective method of identifying abnormal mass or nodule in the lungs. In some instances, examining sputum from a coughing patient under a microscope can reveal cancer cells. A biopsy involves removing body cells and testing them for cancer. Therefore, doctors use different methods to screen patients for the presence of lung cancer.

Prognosis of Lung Cancer

The survival rate of a patient with lung cancer varies depending on the extent of the tumor is affecting other organs. For instance, extensive cancerous cells that spread to other organs lower the rate of survival to approximately 5% (Malhotra, Malvezzi, Negri, La Vecchia, & Boffetta, 2016). The situation implies that lung cancer continues to worsen the health of the patient. Besides, doctors device methods of increasing the period that a patient may survive with the condition. According to Petrek & Yu (2019), lung cancer is among the most harmful health conditions. This statement reveals that the condition worsens the health of a patient. Besides, available means of treatment like chemotherapy and surgery help to relieve pain. Therefore, lung cancer is a lethal disease that reduces the survival rate of a patient.

Lung cancer has a high 5-year survival rate. Recent studies show that 60% of patients with cases of lung cancer can survive for five years after diagnosis (Malhotra, Malvezzi, Negri, La Vecchia, & Boffetta, 2016). Such findings imply that lung cancer patients can survive for another five years with mild symptoms. However, the percentage given is an average value and may not provide the true reflection of the number of years that a patient may survive with the condition. Therefore, the 5-year survival rate for lung cancer patients remains relatively high.

Types of Lung Cancer

The common types of lung cancer include non-small- and small-cell lung cancers. Non-small-cell cancer may appear more substantial than the small-cell, which appears smaller and rounded when they observed the microscope (Gandhi et al., 2018). This statement suggests that the size of the cells is the primary distinguishing factor between the two lung cancer types. Therefore, lung cancer may occur as small-cell or non-small-cell types.

Lab Findings

1. Definition: Lung cancer refers to the development of the growth in the lungs. The condition exists in two forms as non-small-cells and small cell cancer. The size of the cancer cells determines the type of the cells.
2. Etiology: There are a variety of causes that include smoking, exposure to toxic air pollution, and drinking water with high arsenic content. Feeding on poor diets increases the chance of developing the condition.
3. Pathogenesis: Initially, this type of cancer may affect the lungs alone and progress to other parts of the body. Spreading lung cancer can lower the chances of surviving.
4. Manifestation: One of the first complaints is a persisting cough. With time, the patient begins to cough blood or rust-colored sputum and experiences chest pain.
5. Lab findings: lab findings include the presence of cancerous cells in the sputum when observed under the microscope. A biopsy test reveals cancerous cells in the tissues used. In other instances, doctors may use imaging to see swellings on the lungs.
6. Diagnosis: Doctors use chemotherapy to relieve the pain of surgery to remove the growth. These methods vary from one patient to the other depending on the extent of the damage on the lungs.

References

Blandin Knight, S., Crosbie, P. A., Balata, H., Chudziak, J., Hussell, T., & Dive, C. (2017). Progress and prospects of early detection in lung cancer. Open Biology, 7(9), 170070. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.170070

Chen, S., & Wu, S. (2020). Identifying lung cancer risk factors in the elderly using deep neural networks: Quantitative analysis of web-based survey data. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(3), e17695. https://doi.org/10.2196/17695

Gandhi, L., Rodríguez-Abreu, D., Gadgeel, S., Esteban, E., Felip, E., De Angelis, F., … Garassino, M. C. (2018). Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 378(22), 2078–2092. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1801005

Malhotra, J., Malvezzi, M., Negri, E., La Vecchia, C., & Boffetta, P. (2016). Risk factors for lung cancer worldwide. European Respiratory Journal, 48(3), 889–902. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00359-2016

Petrek, H., & Yu, A.-M. (2019). MicroRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer: Gene regulation, impact on cancer cellular processes, and therapeutic potential. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 7(6), e00528. https://doi.org/10.1002/prp2.528

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