cancer clinic

Cancer Immunity Clinic

Cancer Immunity Clinic Overcoming Cancer Lung cancer

Overcoming Cancer
Cancer with high death rate“Lung cancer”

01

Causes

cancer usually develops when external factors called carcinogen cause abnormal growth of lung cells. These cancerous cells form a mass called tumor by unlimited proliferating, and the tumor destroys nearby normal lung tissues as grows. Moreover, tumor cells threaten the patient's life by spreading into nearby lymph nodes and other organs.

About 85% of lung cancer cases are developed by smoking. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer 13 times more. A long period of secondhand smoking increases the risk of lung cancer 1.5 times. When exposed to the same degree of smoking, males are 1.5 times more likely to develop lung cancer than females. Smoking is the most dangerous risk factor of the risk factors described below.
radon gas, a radioactive gas produced in the soil, asbestos which is used for insulation, fire prevention, flooring and roofing slates, break lining, etc., uranium, arsenic, vinyl chloride, nickel and chromium-VI compounds, coal products, mustard gas, methyl chloride ether, burning substances of gasoline and diesel, talc dust, etc.

02

암의 특성

  • 01

    Coughing, Blood in sputum

  • 02

    Wheezing sound while breathing

  • 03

    Uncomfortably short breathing

  • 04

    Chest pain

  • 05

    Symptoms of pneumonia such as bad coughing with fever and sputum

  • 06

    Difficulty in swallowing foods

  • 07

    Easily getting hoarse voice

  • 08

    Weigh loss Loss of appetite

  • 09

    Pain in shoulders Pain in inner arms near armpits

  • 10

    When metastasized into bones - acute pain in bones, bone breaking with no reason

03

진단

Type of Cancer Examination Method Advantages of Examinination Disadvantages of Examination
Lung cancer Chest radiography It is the most basic examination, which helps infer next step.
Sputum smear It is not helping a lot.
Chest CT scan Accurate diagnosis is possible.
Low-dose CT scanning is recommended.		 Must be careful for high radiation exposure dose.
There may be problems to make patients undergo unnecessary tests.
Bronchoscopy It is recommended to take this examination at a hospital where the full-time thoracic physician or surgeon is. Biopsy is possible. The cost is high. Patients may feel pain and there may be risks.

04

Types

Category Non small cell lung cancer Small cell lung cancer
Statistics 80% of lung cancer cases the other 20%
Types Squamos cell carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, Large cell carcinoma
Progressions Divided into 4 stages Slow progression Highly rapid progression Spreading into entire body parts in early-stage
Treatment Can be fully recovered by surgery Not operable. Can be treated using chemotherapy or radiotherapy

05

Treatments

  • SurgeryWhen the tumor is resectable in the non small cell lung cancers, surgery is the most effective treatment.

  • ChemotherapyFor the progressed lung cancer, chemotherapy is necessary.Even after the total resection, combining chemotherapy increase cure rate.

  • RadiotherapyWhen it is not operable, cancer cells are destroyed by irradiating tumor lesion with enough radiation. By adjusting the level and range of radiation, recent radiotherapy can irradiate enough while minimizing damage.

06

Prevention

· Must stop smoking. Try to avoid secondhand smoking as well. Smokers' lung cancer risk is 13 times higher than non-smokers, but it dros to 2 times after stop smoking for 15 years. · A year base lung cancer checkup is necessary even after stop smoking. · For long-term smokers, it is recommended to have checkups even when have minor symptoms of coughing, blood-streaked sputum, chest pain. · Have balanced diet containing vegetables, fruits, and meat. · Exercise regularly. · Give your kids smoking prevention education. · Check if insulation materials with asbestos were used in your building or house. If the building or house is old, you should request experts to remove, seal, and collect asbestos.