Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Accounting for about 80% to 85% of lung cancers, it does not tend to grow as fast as another type of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer.
The first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer depends on the stage.
Treatment for stage 0 non-small cell lung cancer includes:
- Surgery to remove the tumor
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
- Laser therapy
- Brachytherapy (internal radiation)
Treatment for stage I non-small cell lung cancer includes:
- Surgical removal of the lobe of the lung that has the tumor (lobectomy) or removal of a smaller piece of the lung (sleeve resection, segmentectomy, or wedge resection)
- Adjuvant chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Treatment for stage II non-small cell lung cancer includes:
- Surgery (lobectomy or sleeve resection) or removal of the entire lung (pneumonectomy)
- Lymph node removal
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
Treatment for stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer includes:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy with pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
Treatment for stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer includes:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy with durvalumab (Imfinzi) or pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
- Taking part in clinical trials
Stage IV non-small cell lung cancers are widespread and very hard to treat and cure. Any of the above modalities may be used to help patients live longer, but they will be unlikely to cure the disease at this stage.
What Are Symptoms & Signs of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?
In the early stages, non-small cell lung cancer may not have symptoms. When symptoms of NSCLC occur, they may include:
- Persistent cough
- Chest pain that may be worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing
- Coughing up blood
- Shortness of breath
- Breathing problems
- Hoarseness
- Fatigue
- Wheezing
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weakness
- Respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that don’t go away or keep coming back
If lung cancer spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:
- Headache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Bone pain
- Weakness or numbness of extremities
- Dizziness
- Problems with balance
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Seizures
What Causes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?
The main cause of all lung cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), is smoking. Smoking is responsible for about 80% of all lung cancer deaths, as well as a number of deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke.
Smokers exposed to radon and asbestos are at higher risk.
In non-smokers, causes of non-small cell lung cancer include:
- Secondhand smoke
- Workplace exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust, or other chemicals
- Exposure to radon
- Air pollution
- Genetic changes
- Previous radiation therapy to the lungs
- Personal or family history of lung cancer
- Arsenic in drinking water (may be found in parts of Southeast Asia and South America)
How Is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosed?
Symptoms of lung cancer frequently do not appear until the cancer is advanced. For this reason, The American Cancer Society has lung cancer screening guidelines for people with a higher risk of getting lung cancer, such as smokers.
The American Cancer Society recommends people who are 55 to 74 years old, are in fairly good health, are current smokers or who have quit in the past 15 years, and have smoked a certain number of cigarettes per day should receive regular lung cancer screenings. A test called a low-dose CAT scan or CT scan (LDCT) is typically used.
If lung cancer is suspected, imaging tests may be used to diagnose it, such as:
- Chest X-ray
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
- Bone scan
Lab tests used to diagnose non-small cell lung cancer include:
- Sputum cytology
- Thoracentesis
- Tissue biopsy
- Bronchoscopy masses
- Endobronchial ultrasound
- Endoscopic esophageal ultrasound
- Mediastinoscopy and mediastinotomy
- Thoracoscopy
- Lung function tests
- Molecular tests for gene changes
- Tests for certain proteins on tumor cells
- Blood tests
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Blood chemistry
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http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2007813-overview
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer.html