90% of lung cancers are due to cigarette smoking. The risk fall slowly after the cessation of smoking. 5% of death due to lung cancer is because of passive smoking. The incidence is higher for urban areas than in rural areas.
Etiology: Age: 40-50.
SEX: males are more prone to lung cancer than women.
PREDISPOSING FACTORS:
1) Cigarette smoking
2) Occupational exposure
3) Atmospheric pollution
4) Lung disease
CELL TYPES
a)Squamous-cell carcinoma
b) Adenocarcinoma
c)Large cell and anaplastic carcinoma
d)Small cell carcinoma
Symptoms
a) Nonspecific symptoms: weakness, loss of weight, tiredness, anorexia and fever
b) Respiratory symptoms like-
1) Cough: affect majority of patients and is often associated with influenza like illness.
Pneumonia distal to the obstruction may be caused by a tumor. Increasing persistence of cough is the most common symptom.
Recurrent pneumonia in the same site or pneumonia which is slow to respond to treatment in smokers is an indicator to bronchial carcinoma.
2) Hemoptysis:It is usually a common symptom, especially in tumors arising in the central bronchi. On the other hand, repeated episode of spitting of scanty blood, or blood streaked sputum in a smoker should raise the suspicion of bronchial carcinoma.
3) Dyspnoea: It is usually associated with increased cough and sputum.
4) Chest pain
METASTATIC SYMPTOMS
A-Intrathoracic organ affected are-
Phrenic nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve, cervical sympathetic, vagus, brachial Plexus and intercostal nerve are affected.
Esophagus:dysphagia
Vessels: superior venacava, azygous vein, thoracic duct and axillary vessels
Erosion of ribs: local pain and bony tenderness
Invasion of heart and pericardium
B-Extrathoracic metastasis:
Intracranial
Bony metastasis
Hepatic metastasis
Supra renal metastasis
SYMPTOMS DUE TO NON METASTATIC/EXTRAPULMONARY MANIFESTATION:
Endocrine and metabolic
Skeletal symptoms
Skin symptoms
Neurological symptoms
Renal symptoms
Muscular symptoms
Vascular symptom
Hematological
Signs
a) Fingerclubbing
b) Palpable supraclavicular nodes
c) Mid inspiratory crackles
d) Wheeze
e) Pleural effusion
Homeopathic treatment-
Good prognosis with homeopathic treatment. Homeopathic medicine can be given along with conventional medications or homeopathic medicines alone.
In terminal stages homeopathic medicines act, act as a good palliative and homeopathic medicine can improve the quality of life.
