If your doctor suspects that you might have lung cancer, he will ask you to undergo an X-ray of the lungs for checking whether the area has any nodule or mass. A CT scan is also often ordered for the same purpose. Lung cancer screening includes another testing procedure called sputum cytology; this test is recommended if the patient is suffering from a persistent cough that is triggering release of sputum. The sputum sample is then checked under the microscope to determine whether it has any cancer cell.

The patient might also need to undergo bronchoscopy. During the bronchoscopy, which is a kind of biopsy the doctor will emerge an illuminated tube into the patient’s lung through his throat. This is done for examining the abnormal areas and also for collecting tissue samples from the lungs. Another biopsy type recommended to lung cancer suspects is mediastinoscopy. During a mediastinoscopy, the doctor will make an incision on the patient’s neck and insert tools through it for collecting tissue samples; the tissues are taken from the back of the breastbone. If the CT scan or X-ray indicates presence of nodules or mass, the doctor might ask the patient to undergo needle biopsy.

Non small cell lung cancer prognosis is mostly done based on the survival rates of the disease. Let us know what does the term ‘survival rates’ mean. For example, let us define the term five year survival rate; five year survival rate means percentage of the patients living for a minimum of 5 years after being diagnosed with the cancer. Survival rate of a cancer is determined based on the response shown by large number of patients suffering from the same disease towards treatments offered to them. However, survival rate can be used only for assuming the outcome of the cancer; it can never be used for predicting the responses of a particular patient towards the treatment. For determining the surviving possibilities of a particular patient the doctor mainly considers two factors: type of the cancer and the stage in which the cancer was diagnosed. The other factors considered for finding out the duration for which a cancer patient can expect to live include the patient’s age, the overall health condition of the patient, genetic changes occurring in cancer cells etc. In spite of considering these facts about a particular patient, determining the exact survival rate of the person is not possible.

The overall survival rate of the disease varies from one stage of the cancer to the other. If we consider non small cell lung cancer, the 5 year survival rate will vary in different stages of the disease. 5 year survival rate for patients in stage IA of non small cell lung cancer is 49%, for patient in stage IB of the disease the rate drops to 45%, the rate for patients in stage IIA and IIB of non small cell lung cancer are respectively 31% and 30%; patients in stage IIIA and IIIB of non small cell lung cancer has respective 5 year survival rate of 14% and 5% and the rate become only 1% for patients in stage IV of the disease.

When in its early stages, lung cancer generally does not cause any serious symptom. The symptoms of lung cancer start appearing as the disease reach its advancers stage. Lung cancer overview offered by medical experts suggests that the common signs of lung cancer include the following conditions:

• Cough that does not subside even after conventional treatment
• Changes in the pattern of ‘smokers cough’ or any other chronic cough
• Breathing difficulties
• Blood in cough (the amount might vary from one patient to the other)
• Hoarseness
• Wheezing
• Chest pain
• Bone pain
• Unexplained weight loss

Lung cancer overview from most medical experts and statistics together suggests that majority of the lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. Cigarette smoke is responsible for causing lung cancer both in active and passive smokers. However, there are several instances where people who have never been exposed to cigarette smoke have developed lung cancer. No study till date has found any particular cause of such lung cancers.

How smoking results in occurrence of lung cancer? Medical experts believe that smoking damages the cells forming the lining of our lungs, which eventually results in cancer. Cigarette smoke is filled with carcinogens or cancer-causing agents; inhalation of this smoke trigger changes in our lung tissues almost immediately. When we first start smoking, our body can keep on repairing the damage successfully. However, repeated exposure to cigarette smoke eventually causes severe damage to the lining of the lungs. Over time, this damage forces the cells forming the lining of our lungs to grow abnormally and we become victims of lung cancer.

Lung cancer can be of two types, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer; this classification of lung cancer is done based on the appearances of the lung cancer cells when checked under a microscope.

Once the diagnosis of lung cancer has been made and the stage of the cancer has been determined these specialists will discuss with you their recommendations and professional opinions based on your individual case as to what will be the most effective lung cancer treatment in your situation. In some cases more than one treatment option may be used for the most successful treatment.

There are several treatment options available for lung cancer including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In some cases clinical trials may even be used. Surgery itself has many different options in regards to treatment and which specific type of surgery is used depends on factors such as how advanced the cancer is and what areas are affected by the cancer or tumors.

When surgery is used as the chosen method of treatment it must then be decided which surgical procedure fits your particular situation and what specifically needs to be removed. A surgical procedure known as a lobectomy is the option that is most commonly used for treatment of lung cancer. This consists of removing an entire section or lobe of the lung. Some other surgical procedures that may be considered depending on your circumstances include mediastinoscopy, thoracoscopy, wedge resection, sleeve resection, segmenectomy and pneumonectomy. Each of these surgical procedures involves different techniques and vary based on different factors and circumstances.

In addition to the various surgical lung cancer treatment options there are also other options that may be considered in the treatment of lung cancer. These options may include chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Each of these options may be used alone or in combinations based on different circumstances.

In addition to these treatments clinical trials may also be used in some cases of lung cancer. Clinical trials are studies that may consist of new techniques that are not yet widely used enough to be considered official treatment options. These studies generally include treatments that may be considered experimental and have not yet been proven. In some cases clinical trials may only be offered to individuals that have not yet started another course of treatment. In other cases these studies may be used when other treatments have been unsuccessful or ineffective.

Although medical factors are used to determine the most effective course of treatment physicians also try to take each individuals personal preferences into consideration whenever possible.

• It includes individuals that do not have any specific signs of this devastating disease

• It includes the individuals that may be suffering from only a few signs that are most commonly shown in lung cancer

• It includes the patients that seem to be suffering from many different signs of the disease

• It includes the patients that are currently receiving various types of treatment methods for lung cancer

• It includes the patients that are completely free of any signs of symptoms of the disease

The way the lung cancer survival rate is obtained, is by basing gathered information that is used to create these rates on individuals of large groups.

Below is a list of the most common factors and general information that are used. Each of the factors that are used can have a significant influence on the overall numbers that are used for this type of rating system.

• Information such as whether or not the patient is displaying specific symptoms that would include problems with breathing and coughing.

• Information regarding the specific stage of the disease that each patient may be in.

• Helpful information that is obtained regarding the overall general health of the patient.

• Information on the specific type of the disease that the patient may be showing warning signs or symptoms of.

• Information that has been obtained regarding whether or not the patient has just been diagnosed as having this particular type of disease, or if it is a case that the symptoms and warning signs have returned or recurred in the patient.

If you are studying valuable information that a family physician, a specialist, or a surgeon has given you or your family members regarding each of the aspects that can surround a serious disease such as lung cancer, it is extremely important that you understand the information contained in the lung cancer survival rate. This is important so that you will have a better understanding of what the specific values that are given stand for.

For more information regarding lung cancer and various other cancer rates, you will easily be able to find a large amount of information contained on the Internet.

There are of course risk factors that may be known to increase the risk of lung cancer in some individuals that can be avoided. Some of the risk factors that may be effectively avoided thus aiding in lung cancer prevention include factors such as smoking, exposure to asbestos, radon and secondhand smoke and other environmental factors.

Although it has not been determined the exact effect that smoking has on the development of lung cancer it is believed that smoking may increase the risk of developing lung cancer. It is therefore suggested that abstaining from smoking or even quitting smoking may decrease the chances of developing lung cancer. Second hand smoke is considered by many health care officials to be even more dangerous to individuals and should be avoided at all costs. It is suggested that these things combined may greatly decrease the risk of developing lung cancer.

Other environmental factors have been studied and thought to have a direct effect on the risk of lung cancer. Some of these environmental factors may include asbestos and radon. It has been suggested that exposure to asbestos and radon may have a direct impact in the development of lung cancer.

Although lung cancer prevention is considered to be a somewhat controversial subject, researchers are constantly working and testing different theories to determine if certain vitamin and mineral supplements may be used in specific combinations to come up with a more concrete way of preventing lung cancer from developing. If you would like information on these possibilities you can discuss the subject with your health care provider.

At this time the best way to prevent lung cancer is to do your best to avoid any of the potential risk factors that are thought to be associated with the development of lung cancer. The best way to do this is to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes a smoke free atmosphere whenever possible. Limiting possible exposure to the environmental factors of asbestos and radon may also decrease the risk of developing this disease. It has not determined how much these risks may be decreased but lowering the risk in any way will be beneficial in the end.

Lung cancer prognosis depends largely on the stage and advancement of the cancer, how much the cancer has spread or metastasized, how the person responds to treatments and what treatments are available in each particular case. Because every individual responds to certain treatments in different ways a person’s overall prognosis can be greatly affected in the end. A treatment that works well for one individual may be little change in the condition of another person and that same treatment may be completely ineffective in still other people even when all cases consist of the same stage of cancer and same basic conditions.

In cases when lung cancer is detected in early enough stages and the individual is good general health and relatively young that person’s prognosis is usually fairly good that the person will recover and resume a normal life for the remainder of their days. However if a person’s health is not good such as that of an older person or a person in very advanced stage the chances decrease significantly. When lung cancer develops the longer it is left untreated it begins to spread. When this happens it moves through the body and affects many other areas other than just the lungs. The more advanced the cancer becomes the worse the prognosis is going to be because as the cancer progresses and advances the fewer treatment options that may be available.

Although there are several treatment options available for individuals who develop lung cancer these become limited as the cancer advances. In advanced stages of lung cancer some treatments may no longer be available while still others may be completely ineffective. This is why early detection is so important when determining a person’s lung cancer prognosis.

If you even suspect you may be experiencing any of the symptoms associated with lung cancer or any other unusual symptoms it is imperative that you seek the advice and counsel of your health care provider. The earlier this cancer is detected the better the chances for successful treatment.

There are many times that a patient will end up suffering from anxiety due to the large amount of information that they are given in regards to the wide variety of testing that they will have to endure, as well as numerous treatment options that will be explained to them. Once all of the information that has been given to them sinks in, numerous patients end up suffering from anxiety, and the large number of symptoms that are most commonly related to the mental health condition that is commonly known as depression. There are several different symptoms and warning signs of this condition, and some of the most common symptoms that numerous lung cancer patients suffer from are included below.

• Problems with sleeping

• Nervousness

• A difference in the individual’s diet, such as sleeping too much or sleeping too little

• Mood changes

• Frustration

• The constant feeling of being tired

• Bouts of tearfulness and crying

• A decreased interest in activities that at one time brought them pleasure

One of the other effects of lung cancer that can often result is the occurrence of PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder. This specific type of disorder often occurs in individuals that have faced extremely traumatic circumstances, and the side effects that are commonly associated with this type of condition can be quite severe, and such an event as learning that you have been diagnosed by your physician as having  lung cancer also falls into this category.

While learning that you have lung cancer will affect different people in different people it is almost certain that it will affect every individual in one way or another. After all this is a very serious illness that in many cases can result in death. Although these effects can be devastating there are support groups that may help relieve the anxieties and other effects of lung cancer diagnosis that may be recommended by your health care professional. In extreme cases there may be other measures that can be taken to help alleviate these symptoms. The best course of action is to discuss your feelings and concerns with your doctor to determine the best possible way of dealing with these feelings and to determine if there may be additional factors to consider. In some cases your doctor may consider it necessary to prescribe a mild anti depressant or other type of medication to help the issue.

In many cases the symptoms of lung cancer are not present in the early stages of the disease because the cancer is limited to only a small area of the lung and affects no other areas of the body. As the cancer progresses or grows it can spread or grow beyond the area of the lungs and this is usually when symptoms begin to show themselves letting a person know that there is a problem.

When symptoms do show themselves they may do so in several ways. Some of these signs may include coughing, difficulty breathing, fatigue, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss and hair loss. Although all of these symptoms can be contributed to other diseases they should still be checked because they all represent some kind of abnormality within the body. Even if this does not represent lung cancer it may be some other serious condition that left untreated will continue to get worse until it becomes so severe that treatment may become more difficult.

It is an important fact to remember that symptoms of lung cancer or any other illness or disease are your body’s way of telling you there is a potential problem. It is important that when these symptoms do occur you pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you as this will only help improve the chances of receiving a good prognosis for the cancer. This will also make any treatments that may be available to you for lung cancer more effective. Remember that the longer you wait to have this cancer diagnosed the more your chances of treatment being effective are decreased. One reason for this is because after diagnosis there are still many other steps that must be considered before treatment may actually begin. After diagnosis it will be necessary to have certain tests conducted in order to determine how advanced the cancer has become. This process is called staging the disease. After the stage has been determined the information will be used to determine which treatment will be the most effective in each person’s individual case.

Stage 1

Stage 1 indicates that the cancer is limited to the lungs and has not yet spread to other areas of the body. This stage is further divided into two sublevels. In the beginning of this stage the tumor is often still quite small however by the end of this stage the tumors in some cases may be large enough to cause the partial collapse of the affected lung.

Stage 2

This is the second of the lung cancer stages and this stage is also further divided into sublevels. At the beginning of this stage the cancer is still relatively small but has begun to spread to other areas such as nearby lymph nodes. By the end of this stage one of two things have occurred. The tumor has grown in size and has spread to either the lymph nodes or tissue surrounding the lungs however it is not usually found in both areas.

Stage 3

This is the last stage of lung cancer that has sublevels. The beginning of this stage usually indicates that the cancer may have spread to more distant lymph nodes located on the same side of the body as the lung that is affected by cancer. In some cases the cancer may still be within the nearby lymph nodes however in these cases it is also present in tissues surrounding the lungs as well. By the end of this stage several things may have happened including the spread to lymph nodes on the other side of the body or higher than the collarbone. Fluid with cancer cells present may have built up around the lungs and the cancer may have spread to other areas of the chest such as the heart. There may also be several tumors present at this point.

Stage 4

Stage 4 is the most advanced of the lung cancer stages and generally means that the cancer has spread to affect more of the lung as well as moved beyond the lung to other parts of the body including the stomach or liver.

Once lung cancer is diagnosed and the stage has been determined your health care provider will present treatment options specific to your individual circumstances. Factors that will be used to determine which treatment options will be offered and which ones will be considered most effective. These factors will include information such as how advanced the cancer is, how old the individual is, how far the cancer has spread and the general health of the individual concerned. After this information is gathered it will be used to determine which treatment will be the most effective.