Synonyms
Lung-Ca, lung carcinoma, bronchial carcinoma, small cell bronchial carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell bronchial carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, pancost tumor, NSCLC : Non small cell lung cancer, SCLC: Small cell lung cancer, oat cell cancerThe histology (tissue examination) is decisive for the choice of therapy.
Non-small cell lung cancer
In this form of cancer, surgery is the most important therapy. However, surgery is not always possible, depending on the patient’s state of health and the stage of the tumor. Therefore, before an operation, the patient’s lung function is tested, e.g. it must be checked what proportion of the total respiratory performance the affected lung has.
This proportion must not be too large, otherwise the supply of oxygen to the body after the operation would be jeopardized (see Respiration). In addition, a so-called anatomical inoperability can exist if the tumor is too advanced. In the presence of metastases, infestation of both lungs or the trachea and the ingrowth of the tumor into other organs such as the heart, an operation can no longer be performed or only in exceptional cases.
This is the case from stage IV onwards; in stage III, this is further subdivided into stage IIIb, where surgery is not possible, except in special cases after previous chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and stage IIIa, where surgery may be possible. If the operability is given, a lobectomy or pneumectomy is performed, i.e. either a lung lobe or an entire lung is removed. (For the anatomy of the lung see here).
During the operation, lymph nodes are also removed to determine whether they are affected by lung cancer. Healing can only be achieved by complete removal of the tumor tissue, the surgery achieves the best effect here. In case of inoperability, radiotherapy or chemotherapy (therapy with cell growth-inhibiting substances) can be performed, but here too, the patient’s state of health may limit the application of the therapy.
Radiation therapy only achieves a cure in about 10% of cases, but in most cases the tumor growth can be delayed. Chemotherapy can improve the prognosis and improve the quality of life, but only about 30% of patients respond to the therapy. A cure is not to be expected.