Our time is characterized by a large number of dangerous and incurable diseases. Malignant formation is one of them. The outcome of the disease largely depends on the period of its detection. That's why the sooner you start treatment for lung cancer, the prognoses will be more optimistic.
General about the disease
Bronchogenic carcinoma (lung cancer) is a malignant process accompanied by the growth of mutant cells in the epithelial tissue of the lungs. It is impossible to control it. Even early detection and timely treatment of lung cancer does not guarantee the future. Malignant organ formation is a large group of tumors. They can be located in any area of the lung. Some of them grow instantly, while others take a long time.
The tumor grows, the structure of the bronchi is disturbed. The tissues affected by the disease can no longer function normally. Man does not get oxygen. Before starting to develop, the neoplasm may be in a precancerous stage. Cells function and divide. But after a few cycles of division, a tumor suddenly appears. Moving through the blood and lymph, diseased cells form metastases - secondary foci of cancer.
Bronchogenic carcinoma is a very insidious disease. It proceeds with almost no symptoms. At the initial stage, those signs are found that are characteristic of respiratory diseases.
Causes of pathology
The main causes of the disease include:
- Smoking. Nicotine addiction is the main factor causing the disease. Pulmonary parenchyma becomes weak. She cannot resist bacteria and viruses.
- Genetics. Congenital malformation of the bronchi, pulmonary region. Improper structure makes the body weak. It cannot resist respiratory diseases.
- Inhalation of harmful substances. These include: arsenic, asbestos, chlorine, cadmium and others. At risk are people who work in hazardous industries.
- A prolonged course of respiratory diseases. A protracted disease makes the body weak. He cannot resist and protect himself. In this case, oncology will progress rapidly.
A person who does not smoke, gets sick due to the fact that he does not pay attention to his health, does not visit a doctor on time, and does not respond to negative symptoms that appear.
The cause of the disease in children is a weakened immune system, a completely unformed respiratory system.
Disease classification
The treatment for lung cancer depends on the location of the neoplasm. By this criterion, the following types of tumors can be distinguished:
- Central. Located in the center of the lung. It is formed from the tissues of the large bronchus. The clinical manifestation with this location of the neoplasm is observed early. The tumor grows, blocks the lumen of the bronchus and part of the lung subsides.
- Peripheral. The focus of the disease is in the small bronchi. For this reason, the clinical picture of the disease does not appear for a long time. Diagnosing it is very difficult. It can be unnoticed for five years. Over time, the tumor grows more and more. It extends to the mediastinal organs, pleura and other bronchi.
- Mixed. This species is rare, in about 5% of cases. It is characterized by the appearance of a whitish soft tissue, which can fill not only part of the lung, but also the entire organ. This neoplasm is malignant.
Stages of the disease
Patients show different symptoms of lung cancer. Its treatment depends on the stage of the disease. Having determined this characteristic, you can correctly choose the best way to get rid of the disease. There are several stages of the disease:
- Zero The presence of microscopic neoplasms is observed. They can only be detected in the treatment of another lung disease. It is easy to get rid of the disease, the prognosis is favorable.
- First one. A tumor is diagnosed up to three centimeters. There are no metastases. The treatment of lung cancer at this stage is successful.
- The second one. The neoplasm reaches six centimeters. In one of the lymph nodes that are located next to the lung, there are malignant cells. At this stage, the tumor can be removed and the lung preserved.
- The third. The tumor has grown and switched to an adjacent segment of the lung. Pathology also affected the lymph nodes located next to the organ. Proper treatment will help slow down the development of the disease.
- Fourth. The tumor went beyond the lungs and spread to other organs and parts of the body. The forecast is disappointing.
The first manifestations of the disease
The means of treatment for lung cancer are selected depending on the signs of the disease:
- Cough. At first it is dry, appears at night. People are in no hurry to go to the doctor, hoping that it will go away by itself.
- Hemoptysis. A man goes to the doctor, as blood began to come out from the mouth and nose along with sputum. The reason for this is that the tumor began to affect the vessels.
- Chest pain. This symptom appears when the neoplasm begins to penetrate the pleura. The pains are: sharp, stitching, aching. Amplified under loads.
- Temperature. The long period of time keeps within the limits of 37.3–37.4 ° C. In the future, in the later stages, it increases significantly.
- Dyspnea. This symptom first appears during exertion. The tumor increases, shortness of breath begins to torment even when lying down.
- Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome. The tumor is increasing. The patient appears on the skin pink stripes. Hair grows abundantly, the patient gains weight significantly. The reason for this is that cancer cells produce the hormone ACTH.
Symptoms of the disease
We continue to talk about the signs of the disease:
- Anorexia. It was said above that the patient is gaining weight, but some, on the contrary, are rapidly losing it. The reason for this condition is that the tumor produces antidiuretic hormone.
- Disturbed calcium metabolism. The second and third stage of the disease is characterized by a feeling of lethargy, constant urge to vomit, impaired vision, the development of osteoporosis. Cancer cells secrete substances that interfere with calcium metabolism in the body.
- Squeezing of the superior vena cava. The neck of the patient swells, the shoulders begin to hurt, the saphenous veins swell. In the last stage of lung cancer, difficulty swallowing occurs. All of these symptoms indicate that the disease is progressing.
- Neurological disorders. In the fourth stage of the disease, metastases penetrate the brain. Begin to develop: paralysis, paresis, swelling appears. All this is fatal.
Diagnostics
To use alternative treatment of lung cancer in conjunction with the traditional one, or you have to resort to a more serious method of getting rid of the disease - depends on the diagnosis.
To put it right, you need to do a lot of research:
- Chest x-ray. This is the most common method. It helps to detect the focus of the disease, to distinguish the neoplasm from other diseases.
- CT scan. The shadow of the tumor node is determined, signs of tumor penetration into the tissues are determined.
- Magnetic resonance imaging - reveals the location of the formation and the presence of metastases.
- Sputum cytology. Helps find cancer cells. For analysis, mucus is taken.
- Bronchoscopy Thanks to this method, you can see the walls of the bronchi and take tissues for analysis.
- Mediastinoscopy. Bronchi, lymph nodes are examined. For this procedure, an incision is made above the sternum. A probe is introduced through it.
- Pleurocentesis. A puncture of the pleural cavity is done to pump out the fluid. The analysis helps to understand its nature.
- Biopsy. The procedure is performed using a bronchoscope, a puncture needle or during surgery.
Surgical intervention
After the diagnosis should begin to get rid of the disease. The following treatments for lung cancer are available:
- surgical intervention;
- chemotherapy;
- radiation therapy.
Having prescribed the operation, the doctor must decide on one of the options for surgical intervention. The choice depends on: the size of the formation and its location in the lung.
A thoracotomy is performed (opening the chest), the formation is removed by one of the following methods:
- Lobectomy - one pulmonary lobe is removed.
- Pulmonectomy - the entire lung is removed. In the future, a healthy organ transplant will be performed.
- Wedge resection - part of the damaged pulmonary system is removed.
This method is divided into palliative and conditionally radical. After conditionally radical treatment, the patient is prescribed radiation and chemotherapy.
The palliative method prolongs the life of a person with an incurable form of lung cancer. During the operation, dangerous lesions are removed.
Chemotherapy
Some types of cancer grow very quickly. It is impossible to get rid of the disease only with a scalpel. In this case, chemotherapy is an effective treatment for lung cancer. This method consists in using toxins and poisons to kill harmful cells. Toxins are introduced into the human body in the form of tablets or droppers. The procedure is repeated as the cancer cells divide.
Chemotherapy has several types. Experts have made such a separation based on the drugs used. Schemes are indicated in Latin letters. Patients are easier to navigate by color.
- Red is the most toxic course. Antacyclins are used. The use of this drug causes a decrease in the number of neutrophils, which leads to a decrease in the protective properties of the body.
- White. Used drugs: "Taxol" and "Taxotel."
- Yellow. Used products that have a yellow color. They are more easily tolerated by the body than red ones.
- Blue. Apply "Mitomycin" and "Mitoxantrone."
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) is the use of high energy radiation. This is currently the most effective treatment for lung cancer. This method is used not only to alleviate the pain and symptoms that caused the tumor, but also to completely get rid of the disease.
Irradiation prevents the growth of malignant cells. Kills them by interfering in the structure of their DNA. Healthy tissues suffer slightly.
The main types of radiotherapy:
- Outdoor (remote). The energy source is at a distance from the patient. The rays are directed to the estimated location of the neoplasm.
- Inner. The source is in contact with the tumor.
- Systemic radiotherapy. The whole body is irradiated. Commonly used if blood cancer is suspected.
This method is used:
- Before surgery. The chance of removing the cancer completely increases.
- During surgery. A radiation source is brought to the tumor.
- After surgery. Reduces the number of relapses, but increases the burden on healthy cells.
Traditional medicine, general recommendations
Treatment of lung cancer with folk remedies inhibits the growth of neoplasms, has a detrimental effect on the affected cells and promotes the growth of healthy ones. Getting rid of the disease in this way is usually carried out at home. Before you begin treatment, listen to the following recommendations that will prevent the development of cancer.
- strengthen immunity;
- give up bad habits: alcohol, smoking;
- if the cause of the disease is harmful production, change jobs.
Traditional medicine will help only in the early stages of the development of the disease. With stage 4 lung cancer, alternative treatment is already powerless. The funds that came from the people mainly help to stop the growth of the tumor.
For the treatment of the disease, decoctions and infusions made from the following ingredients are used: honey, propolis, burdock, garlic, cetraria, angelica, marshmallow, plantain, soda, celandine and other herbs.
Treatment with folk remedies
Let's talk about the treatment of lung cancer with folk remedies, the most effective of them: treatment with propolis, hemlock and others.
Propolis suppresses cancer cells. Helps to grow healthy healthy, restores the body as a whole.
- Pure propolis. Every day, five times a day sixty minutes before a meal, seven grams of this remedy should be eaten. It must be thoroughly chewed.
- Propolis Oil 15%. One kilogram of unsalted butter is taken. Put it in an enameled pan and bring to a boil. Then it is removed from the fire and one hundred and sixty grams of ground refined propolis is added to it. Stir until a homogeneous mass and until completely cooled. It is taken five times a day in a tablespoon before meals. When taken for each tablespoon, another half tablespoon of milk or boiling water is taken.
Hemlock infusion. Pour two glasses of vodka into a three-liter jar. Finely chop the shoots of the plant and fill them with a third of the capacity. In a bank of hemlock, you need to stir occasionally. After cutting the required amount of plant, fill the jar to the top with vodka. Cork the mixture tightly and refrigerate for two weeks. Shake the tincture every day.
It is taken as follows: add a drop of infusion to a glass of water, drink it before meals. On the second day - two drops and so on. Every day, increase the dose until you reach forty drops. Then you begin to reduce the dose every day by one drop, until you reach one. This will be the first round. Such circles will require at least two.
Conclusion
Oncology is not a sentence if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage. During this period, even the treatment of lung cancer with folk remedies can help. Although this disease is severe and fleeting, do not lose heart. Survival in the first stage is 50%, and in the second - 30%.