A terrible disease, such as cancer, has recently become quite common. Modern medicine is trying to find drugs that can prevent the disease. But, unfortunately, so far, not a single developed method provides a complete 100% guarantee of healing. Often there is squamous lung cancer . According to statistics, more men are affected by such oncology.
Pathology Description
Lung cancer is a very common, malignant neoplasm. The disease combines several forms of the disease.
The following varieties of pathology are distinguished:
- small cell;
- large cell;
- squamous cell carcinoma of the lung;
- adenocarcinoma.
These ailments vary in structure, degree of spread, rate of progression. Of the above types of cancer, in most cases squamous cell lung cancer occurs. So say the doctors. Pathology arises from flat cells of epithelial tissues.
Carcinogens are considered the cause of the occurrence . These are environmental factors and other chemicals that penetrate the human body through the respiratory system. Therefore, among heavy smokers, residents of cities with a polluted atmosphere, people working in hazardous industries, the risk of illness is high.
How does a malignant neoplasm develop? The surface layer of the cells of the bronchial cavity is densely covered with cilia. They help remove sputum while in motion. Fatal substances, getting into the respiratory system, contribute to the destruction of cilia. In their place, flat cells of epithelial tissue grow. Allocations cannot be displayed. As a result, sputum stagnation begins. In addition, mucus also combines with harmful chemicals. This creates a favorable environment for the formation of neoplasms.
Causes and factors provoking the disease
Let's take a closer look at why squamous cell lung cancer occurs.
The main causes of the appearance of malignant neoplasms in the respiratory organs include:
- Permanent non-specific diseases. Inflammatory processes in the bronchi - bronchitis. Diseases caused by tuberculosis microbacteria. The development of oncology can be based on frequent pneumonia.
- Genetic factor. An ailment is considered hereditary if at least three people have been ill in the family.
- Age features. Usually, pathology develops in people after 60 years.
- Diseases of the endocrine system.
- Permanent work in harmful enterprises.
- Smoking. This habit of many people becomes almost the main root cause of lung cancer. It has been proven that a smoker is 30 times more likely to get sick than a person who rejects cigarettes. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, approximately 4,000 harmful substances settle on the mucosa. They are able to kill healthy cells. Passive smoking is also harmful .
- Living in areas contaminated with radioactive substances.
Disease classification
To date, there are several different forms of malignant squamous cell lung cancer.
The following classification is common:
- Squamous keratinizing (differentiated) lung cancer. It is characterized by the formation of keratin cells. This condition is characterized by the formation of so-called oncological pearls. If the disease is diagnosed in the initial stages, then it lends itself well to therapy. At the same time, you should know that this is a rather dangerous kind of disease.
- Squamous non-keratinizing lung cancer (undifferentiated). This form is characterized by the presence of mitosis and cell polymorphism. Some may contain keratin. This type of disease is the most malignant form. It occurs in about 65% of cases. Mostly men over 40 suffer from this form. Pathology is characterized by rapid development. Metastases appear very quickly. They penetrate the lymph nodes of the root of the lungs, affect bone tissue, liver and brain. In connection with such a rapid development, the patient often already has metastases in the diagnosis of the disease.
- Low grade education. Malignant cells with this kind are localized separately. This seriously complicates the examination. High risk of misdiagnosis. Very often suggest the development of adenocarcinoma. Metastases affect the liver, brain and adrenal glands. The confusion of the diagnosis gives disappointing predictions. If an ailment is detected in the early stages, therapy will provide a positive result.
Depending on the anatomical features distinguish:
- Central squamous cell lung cancer. This pathology is observed in almost 2/3 of patients. It is characterized by the defeat of large bronchi. Sometimes it can even affect the trachea.
- Peripheral. It can be squamous cell carcinoma of the left lung or right. This type occurs in 3% of cases. Usually such an ailment proceeds without symptoms. There are no pain endings in the lung tissue. As a result of this, the neoplasm can increase, without making itself felt. Then it affects the bronchi and neighboring organs. Bleeding occurs. It should be noted that the right lung is more susceptible to the disease, due to physiological characteristics.
Atypical forms of cancer are rare enough:
- disseminated;
- mediastinal.
Symptoms of the disease
Squamous cell lung cancer can occur for a long time without any signs. This makes timely diagnosis difficult.
For this ailment, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- Dry, often turning into a wet, prolonged cough. Subsequently, spotting may appear. They indicate a tumor irritation of the endings of the bronchus. Coughing up sputum is accompanied by an unpleasant odor and impurities of pus.
- The appearance of frequent pneumonia and pleurisy.
- When the larynx is affected, hoarseness and hoarseness appear. Sometimes the voice disappears altogether. This symptom is characteristic of keratinizing squamous neoplasm.
- Feeling of lack of air. Atelectasis develops. Shortness of breath occurs as a result of impaired ventilation of the lung.
- Fatigue, decreased performance.
- The fingers become irregular in shape.
- Weight reduction.
- Frequent and strong, giving to the area of the heart, arms, back, pain. The symptom is characteristic in the later stages of the disease.
Pathology stages
The course of the disease is divided by the degree of progression.
There are such pathologies as squamous cell lung cancer, 4 stages:
- The tumor size is not more than 3 cm. There are no metastases.
- The size of the formation is more than 3 cm. The tumor can grow into the pleura. Atelectasis of a certain proportion is observed.
- The neoplasm encompasses neighboring tissues. Atelectasis extends to the entire lung. Metastases affect the lymph nodes.
- A tumor grows in neighboring large organs (heart, blood vessels).
Diagnosis of the disease
Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung is difficult to detect. After all, this pathology has similar symptoms with many diseases of the respiratory system such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, abscesses. This is the main reason that the disease is detected only in the last stages.
If this disease is suspected, the patient is sent for such examinations:
- fluorography;
- radiography;
- x-ray tomography;
- CT
- bronchoscopy;
- tumor markers such as CYFRA, SSC;
- thoracoscopy (in which a biopsy is taken).
Diagnosis of the disease requires a systematic approach. After all, a malignant tumor is able to disguise itself as other diseases.
Disease treatment
Therapy of patients diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer is carried out by several methods:
Of course, only a doctor can choose the right tactics for the fight against oncology. For each case, an individual therapy regimen is prescribed.
The best results are obtained by treatment in which the above methods are combined.
Surgical method
Instrumental or surgical intervention is the most reliable and basic method of treatment. The surgical method provides excellent results if it is undertaken at the 1st stage of progression.
However, the operation has a number of contraindications:
- education hurts your throat
- with renal and liver failure,
- after myocardial infarction.
Chemotherapy
The treatment of squamous cell lung cancer with the help of modern medications increases the chances of recovery by 4 times.
But, unfortunately, not all cancer cells are sensitive to anticancer drugs.
Radiation therapy
A method of treatment using ionizing radiation. Radiation therapy is indicated for patients who cannot be operated on.
This method of treatment is usually carried out at stages 3-4 of the disease. Only 40% of patients are able to prevent further development of the neoplasm. For the best effect, the radiation method is used in combination with chemotherapy.
Forecast
What to expect for a patient diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer?
The prognosis depends on many factors, including:
- progression stage;
- individual characteristics of the body;
- professionalism of doctors;
- drug support.
If the tumor is detected at stages 1 or 2, there are no metastases, or isolated cases in the lymph nodes are observed, and the neoplasm itself does not exceed 3-5 cm, the prognoses are quite different. The survival rate of such patients is 80%.
Significantly worse prognosis for patients with stage 3. The survival rate is reduced to 25%.
With 4 stages of progression, the prognosis is completely disappointing. However, with the help of palliative therapy, the quality of life of the patient can be significantly improved.