NEW YORK LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer is the third most frequent malignant disease and the first leading cause of cancer death in New York. Statistically about 15,000 people in New York are diagnosed with lung cancer annually and about 10000 men and women in New York die of this disease. Malignant mesothelioma – a rare form of lung cancer is also spreading rapidly among the citizens of New York. Therefore various cancer alliances have come up in New York to fight against lung cancer and cancer care social workers are continuously working towards helping carcinoma patients in improving their quality of life.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

25% of the times lung cancer causes no symptoms at all in early stages but the tumor can be easily detected by means of CT scans and chest X-ray. However as the disease become more vigorous, signs of lung cancer become more prominent, the most general ones being

  • persistent cough
  • coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
  • difficulty in breathing and swallowing
  • wheezing
  • pain in the chest, back, shoulder, or arm
  • repeated lung infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis
  • hoarseness
  • loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue

Lung Cancer Stages

Lung cancer staging is an assessment of the degree of spread of the cancer from its original source. Correct staging is of paramount importance for the prognosis and potential treatment of lung cancer. Oncologists use the TNM staging system to identify the stage of the cancer. These letters stand for:

  • T – indicates the size of the tumor
  • N – describes if lymph nodes are involved
  • M – defines whether metastasis (distant spread) has occurred

Non-small cell lung carcinoma is staged as follows:

  • Stage 0– The cancer has not spread past the inner lining of the lungs; also known as carcinoma in situ
  • Stage 1 – The cancer is localized within the lung and has not spread to any lymph nodes. Stage 1 is divided into stage 1A (tumors 3 cm or less in size), and stage 1B (tumors greater than 3 cm).
  • Stage 2 – The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, or has not spread to lymph nodes but is large.
  • Stage 3A and Stage 3B – The cancer has spread to tissue near the lungs.
  • Stage 4 – The cancer has spread to another part of the body. This can include spread to another lobe of the lung.

Small cell lung carcinoma is classified as limited stage or extensive stage.

Lung Cancer Treatment Options

With the steep growth in the disastrous effect of lung cancer in New York the options available for the treatment of the disease are also increasing. The physicians and researchers in cancer centers of New York are continuously undergoing clinical trials to evaluate new treatments and trying alternative therapies. Some of the treatment options in practice are:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Surgery
  • Clinical Trials
  • Complementary/Alternative Medicine

However, the choice of treatment depends upon the type and stage of your lung cancer and is a decision to be made by both you and your lung cancer doctor.

 

Lung Cancer Pictures/Images

 

In the image below, the right lung appears normal. The left lung is pale in color and is hard to the touch, indicating the presence of lung tumors.