What You Need to Know About Stage 1 Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is known as one of the most deadly condition. Almost everyone is aware that smoking is the most common reason for this condition. However, people should also be aware that this is not exclusive to active smokers as even secondhand smokers can experience the condition. The nicotine contained in cigarettes is toxic and this can cause the development cells in an abnormal way.

Excessive exposures to carcinogenic materials, pollutants and harmful radiation and excessive consumption of alcohol can trigger the abnormal growth of cells within the lungs. There are two different types of lung cancer, SCLC or small cell lung carcinoma and NSCLC or non-small cell lung carcinoma. In the initial cancer stage, the abnormal growth of cells into tumor can only be found within the lungs. During this stage of the condition, the tumor is still benign and has not invaded nearby tissues and lymph nodes.

Symptoms of Stage I Lung Cancer

Early diagnosis of the symptoms of lung cancer calls for immediate treatment that may result to higher survival rate. Some of the initials symptoms of this condition include the following:

· Persistent or chronic cough, which is also known as "smoker's cough"

· Difficulty breathing due to the constriction of the air passages

· Pain and discomfort within the region of the chest

· Shallow breathing with wheezing sounds

· Blood traces in the sputum or hemoptysis

· Recurring infections within the lungs like pneumonia and bronchitis

· Changes in the voice or throat hoarseness

· Sudden weight loss

· Generalized body weakness and fatigue with body pains

Prognosis of Stage I Lung Cancer

Initial phase or stage 1 lung cancer is often easy to treat, especially if the diagnosis is carried out earlier. Various diagnostic testing include MRI scan, CT scan, X-ray test, and biopsy of the tissues within the lungs. After going through these testing, treatment procedures will then be administered and this will include radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The prognosis of the condition is determined by the patient's age and overall health condition, the severity of the symptoms and the stage of cancer.

The life expectancy is good and this is due to the timely diagnosis and immediate treatment. The survival rate, on the other hand, is also higher since the condition was detected at an early stage. Take note that immediate diagnosis and administration of treatment can help stop the cancer from spreading and alleviate the symptoms brought by the condition. Unfortunately, this is not the same for stage IV cancer conditions.

Stage IV cancer of the lung is considered as untreatable due to the fact that metastases has already occurred. That means the cancer cells have already gone beyond the lungs and it has already affected various parts of the body. That is the reason why you have to be very familiar with the symptoms. In case you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, the first thing that you have to do is to consult your physician for proper diagnosis and for the immediate treatment of the condition.

According to lung cancer statistics, this condition has already surpassed the total number of sufferers afflicted with prostate and breast cancers. To prevent the condition or acquire early diagnosis, make sure that you are aware of the early signs of lung cancer.

What Are the Survival Rates For Stage 4 Lung Cancer?

There are many different aspects to consider when estimating the life expectancy of a Stage 4 lung cancer patient. Lung cancer is usually broken down into four main stages:

Stage 1 - The cancer is small and localized in only one area of the lung.

Stages 2 and 3 - The cancer is larger and may have grown into the surrounding tissues, where cancer cells may be found in the lymph nodes.

Stage 4 - The cancer has spread outside the lung to another part of the body (secondary or metastatic cancer).

When Stage 4 of the disease has been reached, the cancer is no longer contained within the lung, and has spread to one or more parts of the body, either through the bloodstream, or the lymph system (a collection of vessels that carry fluid and immune system cells).

Stage 4 of the disease is therefore the most dangerous and life threatening stage for a patient. Because lung cancer usually takes many years slowly growing in the body before it is diagnosed, Stage 4 of the disease is the most commonly found in a patient.

The survival rate (the life expectancy of a Stage 4 patient) can vary from patient to patient, making it difficult to give an exact figure. These different variables can be broken down into the following:

No. 1 The particular type of lung cancer, and its exact location. Stage 4 lung cancer consists of several different types of cancer, and includes those that have not just spread to one other part of the body, but those that have also spread to various parts.

No. 2 The sex of a patient is an important factor, as a woman has a higher survival rate through each stage of the disease than a man does.

No. 3 The condition of the patient (health wise) has a large bearing on the life expectancy of a patient. A healthy patient has a greater life expectancy due to being able to withstand better the different stages of treatment.

No. 4 A younger patient is likely to survive longer than an older patient, as the bodies organs are usually more responsive to treatment, and are usually in a better condition.

No. 5 The ability to respond to different treatments such as Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Stereotatic Body Radiosurgery, or even Surgery, is another factor to consider.

No. 6 A patient who suffers from other conditions, such as emphysema (damaged air spaces within the lungs), may also have a lower Stage 4 life expectancy.

No. 7 Complications during the various treatments of a patient will help decide how long a patient may or may not live, after all the treatments are finished.

After taking all of these factors into account, the average survival rate for a lung cancer patient could be considered to be five years or less, from the time of diagnosis.

Philip Albert Edmonds-Hunt is from the County of Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom. He has travelled most of Europe, and he has lived in Spain on more than one occasion. Philip has also travelled much of the USA and now lives and works as a Freelance Writer and English Teacher in Mexico. He is the owner of "The Oxford Quill," a small but reliable business offering a range of services such as, "Professional Article Writing, Proofreading, and Website Design." If you are interested in reading more about how to treat lung cancer, check out: https://sites.google.com/site/theoxfordquill/how-to-treat-lung-cancer-caused-by-melanoma