Lung Cancer Symptoms and Treatment by Stages

Lung Cancer

Every year around 200,0000 people suffer from this disease. Every 1 person per 14 people is in danger of suffering from this cancer. However, around 30% of patients are diagnosed at the initial stages of lung cancer and thus are treated at early lung cancer phases. Early diagnosis is very important in the case of this disease, as after early diagnosis 9 out of 10 people survive for more than 5-years while late diagnosis greatly decreases the lifespan of patients and only 1 out 5 people survive if diagnosed at late-stage lung cancer. For timely diagnosis procedures like sputum cytology and thoracoscopy are carried out, while for confirmation of diagnosis biopsies are done and imaging tests are performed for accurate staging.

• ( Read more about survival rates of lung cancer in our article: How long can you live with lung cancer? )

There are mainly two kinds of lung cancers :

• Small-cell (SCLC)
• Non small-cell (NSCLC )

Stages of lung cancers

• SCLC

How small cell cancer proceeds? It is found in individuals who smoke and proceed very rapidly. It is more uncommon and represents only 10% to 15% of cases. There are 2 primary phases:  1)Limited In this phase cancer is in a limited area and has not metastasized, part of the lung and some lymphatic nodules are affected while other organs are safe. All initial phases till small cell lung cancer stage 2 are included in the limited phase. 2)Extensive This phase includes small cell lung cancer stage 3 and all onwards ones. In this specific phase, cancer metastasizes to other body regions and distinct lymphatic nodules.

• NSCLC

There are 6 phases and some are subdivided. 1)Occult stage  Diseased cells are present in the cough Mucus of the patient even though the disease isn’t detectable in diagnostics outputs or biopsy. 2)Lung cancer degree 0 The tumor is negligible and is within the lungs. 3)Stage 1 lung cancer In the first stage of lung cancer, the disease is still inside the organ. However, it grows a few mm in length. The stage is further categorized into 1A and 1B. 4)Stage 2 lung cancer Cancer has metastasized to the adjacent lymphatic nodules. The stage is categorized into 2A and 2B. 5)Stage 3 lung cancer Cancerous growth has reached remote lymph organs of distinct zones in the body. Substages are 3A, 3B and 3C.  6)Stage 4 It is the last stage of lung cancer. Cancer has metastasized to different organs. Substages are 4A and 4B.

Lung cancer symptoms by stage

Stage 1 lung cancer symptoms Initial stage lung cancer symptoms are barely noticeable and the majority do not experience any at all however few early signs of lung cancer are:

• Persistent cough
• Blood in cough
• Slight fever
• Breathlessness
• Lung infection
• weight loss

Stage 2 lung cancer symptoms As cancer has metastasized to lymphatic nodules these are some signs that patients may experience :

• Chest pain
• Enlarged lymphatic nodules
• Horner syndrome is in which eye nerves, facial nerves are damaged and eyelids are affected.

Stage 3 lung cancer symptoms At the 3c phase, superior vena cava syndrome occurs, in which the face, neck, arms, and legs might swell, followed by dizziness.  Stage 4 lung cancer symptoms Lung cancer last stage symptoms can be dreadful, painful, and leads to other diseases. These are:

• Bone pain
• Yellow fever
• Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
• Cushing syndrome
• Nervous system disorders
• Hypercalcemia
• Blood clotting

Treatment of cancer

Whether lung cancer is treated at an early stage? How to cure lung cancer in the early stages? To solve queries like these we have explained treatment methodologies and procedures below.

Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer by stage

• Grade 1

This cancer is usually identified at grade 1, and surgical resection is the most preferable option. Procedures like wedge resection are done and only the affected part of the lungs along with some extra tissues are resected to be on the safe side. At this stage no further treatment is required, however, some doctors may use chemo and radiotherapy to diminish the number and size of a tumor prior to the operation.

• Grade 2

In grade 2, lymphatic nodules are affected thus along with surgical resection of tumors some of these are also eliminated. Surgical removal techniques used at this stage include segmental resection or lobectomy in which a segment of the lobe or complete lobe of the lung is removed respectively. At this phase, chemotherapy is used frequently to reduce the number of cancer cells. Moreover, radiation therapy is mostly utilized after operation to make sure all the remaining (if any) cells are destroyed and recurrence of cancer is prevented.

• Grade 3

In lung cancer, stage 3 treatment procedures like pneumonectomy are utilized to surgically remove the complete lung that is affected followed by chemo and radiation therapy just like stage 2. Other therapeutic techniques like immuno and targeted therapy are utilized for better treatment results, these therapies reduce side effects of chemotherapy, improves the defense system, and provide precise destruction of diseased cells respectively. With these modern techniques even stage 3 lung cancer can be cured now, 2 out 5 people at stage 3 have a chance of getting completely recovered.

• Grade 4 

As this is the most advanced phase, surgical techniques are not viable. lung cancer stage 4 treatment options incorporate mostly chemo and radiation therapies. The latter is more effective while some other advanced procedures like immuno and targeted therapies are utilized for better administration of this stage.

Treatment of small cell lung cancer by stage

• Limited stage

If this type of cancer is diagnosed at an initial phase by luck then procedures like surgery is the best treatment option. Procedures like wedge resection, lobectomy and pneumonectomy are done according to the degree of spread. Other procedures like chemotherapy and radiotherapies are also done before and after the surgery to shrink the tumor and to prevent recurrence respectively.

• Extensive stage 

At this stage, operation is not an option as due to cancer metastases there are no curative results of surgery. Treatment procedures like chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy are used to provide symptomatic relief and to manage the already spread disease.

Best hospital for Lung cancer treatment

We hope the information above is helpful, for further assistance we have a list of some go-to hospitals that offer a range of advanced diagnostic procedures, therapeutic strategies, and utmost care to the patients coming from abroad. Along with modern technology, all the facilities are available at these medical centers.

KOC university hospital (Turkey)

The oncology and general surgery department of the hospital is well equipped and has modern diagnostic and therapeutic systems like PET-CT, MRI devices, Cyberknife, and computer-assisted robots. Patients with NCLC are treated with robotic-assisted lobectomy with high success rates. The hospital has 40 chemotherapy units. The survival rate of early-stage patients who are treated at the hospital is around 90%. The oncology division has a comprehensive care program in which countless benefits and facilities are offered to the patients. Dr. Nulifer Kilic is a famous radiologist of the hospital who treats cancer patients with procedures like x-ray radiotherapy.

Essen university hospital (Germany)

It is one of the top clinics in Germany, it is famous for treating lung cancer patients at advanced stages. The hospital is equipped with modern equipment like linear accelerators, truebeam, cyberknife which are utilized in the radiation treatment of patients. The success rate of this therapy at the clinics is over 80%. Other therapeutic options like immuno, chemo, and targeted therapies are available at the clinic. Moreover, the surgery department is also well equipped and successful methodologies are performed by the most talented doctors of the clinic. The hospital has modern research centers where new methodologies are being tested for improving the treatment of cancer and for achieving high success rates.

Quirón Salud hospital Barcelona (Spain)

The hospital is famous for offering advanced and state-of-the-art technology. Devices and modern systems which are mostly not available in many hospitals like cyberknife, surgical robots are available here. Plus a new methodology known as PIPAC is used during chemotherapy for better results and fewer side effects. Early phases of lung cancers are detected and staged properly with the use of ultramodern diagnostic equipment like PET CT and MRI. Many successful surgeries such as wedge resection, lobectomies, and pneumonectomies are performed at the surgery division of the hospital.

Ichilov Hospital (Israel)

The hospital uses a multidisciplinary approach to treat various disorders including cancers. Along with modern diagnostic and imaging procedures, curative therapeutic options are also available at the hospital. Not only surgeries but other therapies like chemo, radio, targeted and immuno therapies are utilized to treat all different phases and degrees of lung cancers, with fair success rates. Other modern procedures being offered at the hospital include high intensity focused ultrasound and Novalis truebeam stx which are utilized in early, accurate diagnosis and treatment by radiotherapy of lung cancer. Few other hospitals that can be your choice are:

• Asan hospital(south Korea)
• Motol hospital(Czech Republic)
• Fortis hospital (India)
• Munich university hospital Ludwig Maximillian ( Germany)
• Wiener privatklinik ( Austria )
• Memorial hospital ( Turkey )

Cost of lung cancer treatment in different countries

	Turkey	Germany	Israel
PET-CT	$700	$1500	$1500
Biopsy	$1500	$2700	$2000
Chemotherapy	$2000	$2600	$2000
Radiation treatment	$4000	$9000	$7000
Immunotherapy	$2500	$3000	$3000
Targeted therapy	$7,000	$11,000	$10,000
Surgery	$12000	$18,000	$15,000

If you want any treatment procedure or free consultation, leave an application and we will help you in arranging treatment abroad.

• Sources of statistics

www.cancer.net

www.wcrf.org