Lung Cancer
By: Mitch Harbaugh, Michelle Roa, Huba Nasir,
Alexandra Ali, Becca Cohen
Common Statistics
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Lung cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in both men and women
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Accounts for about 27% of all cancer deaths and is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and
women
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2 out of 3 people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 and older, fewer than 2% of cases are found in people
younger than 45
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Possibility that a male will get lung cancer in lifetime is 1 in 13, women= 1 in 16
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Nonsmokers have and 20-30% greater chance of developing lung cancer if they are exposed to secondhand
smoke at home or at work
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Active smoking is responsible for 90% lung cancer cases, 10% other causes like radon
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Has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer, over ⅔ of patients are diagnosed when curative treatment
is not possible
Detection
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Lung cancer is tough to detect.
Sputum cytology is a detection test, where the patient gives a sample of mucus and it is
looked under the microscope for cancerous cells.
Chest X-ray is another form of detection. Doctors search for spots on the lungs
CT scan is a non invasive scan of the body, which can also identify masses on the lungs.
If a nodule is presented on a CT scan, the last form of detection would be a PET scan,
which involves a radioactive substance injected into the body to light up any cancer
cells.
Risk Factors
Tobacco smoking contributes to
90% of cases (means 90% of
cases are preventable)
Risk when around smokers (2nd hand smoke)
Research suggests estrogen helps lung cancer
cells spread (why large # of women who
don’t smoke get lung cancer)
Prevention
How to reduce your risks of lung cancer:
Don’t smoke
Stop smoking
Avoid secondhand smoke
Test your home for radon
radon is a radioactive gas that is tasteless, odorless, colorless
Avoid carcinogens
wear masks to avoid exposure of toxic chemicals
Eat a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables
Excercise
Treatment
4 Basic Treatments:
1.Surgery (if caught early)
2.Radiation Therapy (advanced stage)
3.Chemotherapy
4.Targeted Therapy
http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lung-cancer/treatment-options
Treatment Cont’d...
Surgery
“complete removal of the lung tumor and the nearby lymph nodes in chest”
Radiation
“use of high energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells”
Can even damage normals cells so can’t be used to treat large areas of the body
CT Scans used to lessen the amount of normal lung tissue exposed
Chemotherapy
Drugs are used to destroy cancer cells
Stops the ability of cell to grow and divide
mostly given by IV injection
Not for everyone
Target Therapy
targets cancer’s specific genes and proteins
blocks growth and spread of cancer cells
http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lung-cancer/treatment-options