The facts about lung cancer

Need another reason to quit smoking? Learn more about this devastating disease
Jan. 3, 2011 | By: Alison Dunn

In 2009, an estimated 23,400 Canadians were diagnosed with lung cancer and 20,500 died of it. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women.

For women, that risk is even greater. The Canadian Cancer Society says lung cancer death rates continue to climb among women while decreasing among men, and estimates that one in 16 women is expected to develop lung cancer during her lifetime and one in 18 is expected to die of it.

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer starts in the cells of the lungs. The lungs are in the chest, one on each side of the heart. The right lung has three main parts, called lobes. The left lung is a bit smaller and has two lobes. The lungs are cushioned and protected by a thin covering called the pleura. The pleura has two layers of tissue: one layer covers the lungs and the other lines the inside wall of the chest. There is a small amount of fluid (pleural fluid) between the two layers of the pleura.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, there are two main types of lung cancer:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. It grows more slowly than small cell lung cancer.
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) grows quickly and often spreads to distant parts of the body.

Because each type of lung cancer behaves quite differently, they are treated differently.

Causes of lung cancer

Without a doubt, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, says the Canadian Cancer Society. And it’s not just smokers who are at risk; anyone living with a smoker or exposed to second-hand smoke is also at risk.

There are several other factors that increase the risk of lung cancer, including exposure to asbestos or radon gas, a previous history of lung cancer, or air pollution. And some people can develop lung cancer without any of these risk factors.

Treatment options

Once diagnosed with lung cancer, there are several different treatment options available. Doctors and healthcare teams will choose the option that is best, including:

Surgery: Surgery is most commonly used for non-small cell cancers that are still small and have not spread. Surgery is not usually done for small cell lung cancer unless tumours are found at a very early stage, before the cancer has started to spread.
 
Radiation therapy: In external beam radiation therapy, a large machine is used to carefully aim a beam of radiation at the tumour. The radiation damages the cells in the path of the beam – normal cells as well as cancer cells. In brachytherapy, or internal radiation therapy, radioactive material is placed directly into or near the tumour.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy may be given as pills or by injection. Chemotherapy drugs interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread, but they also damage healthy cells. Although healthy cells can recover over time, you may experience side effects from your treatment like nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, hair loss and an increased risk of infection.

Targeted therapies: Targeted therapies use drugs or other substances to block the growth and spread of cancer cells. These drugs are able to attack specific types of cancer cells. Targeted therapy is sometimes used to treat non–small cell lung cancer that has come back or that does not respond to chemotherapy. Side effects are generally mild. They may include diarrhea, a rash, dry or sore mouth, nausea and tiredness.

Photodynamic therapy: Photodynamic therapy uses a special drug that starts to work when exposed to light. The drug is injected into your bloodstream and absorbed by the cancer cells. When exposed to a high-energy laser light, the drug becomes active and destroys the cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy can be used to treat some cases of early-stage lung cancer. It can also be used to help relieve symptoms of a blocked airway.