2. Lung Cancer
LUNG CANCER
(1)
Overview
(2)
Types of lung cancers
(3)
Symptoms of lung cancer
(4)
Risk factors
(5)
Diagnosis as per modern science
(6)
Staging and Grading
(7)
Treatment as per Ayurveda
(1)
Overview:-
The lungs
are two sponges like organs in the chest cavity. The right
lung is divided into 3 sections, called lobes. Left lung
has two lobes. It is smaller to accommodate the heart. Air
with the breath goes into the lungs through trachea (wind
pipe). The trachea divides into tubes called the bronchi,
which divides further into smaller branches called the
bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles are tiny air
sacks known as alveoli. Many tiny blood vessels run
through the alveoli absorbing oxygen from the inhaled air
into the blood stream and releasing carbon dioxide. Taking
in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide are the two main
functions of the lung. A lining called pleura surrounds
the lungs. This slippery lining protects the lungs and
help them slide back and forth as they expand and
contract, during breathing. Most lung cancers start in the
lining of the bronchi, frequently in the periphery of the
lungs. Lung cancers are thought to develop over a period
of many years. First, there may be areas of precancerous
changes in the lungs. These changes do not form a mass or
tumor, or cannot be seen or x-ray, and do not cause any
symptoms. Lung cancer is most frequently seen in
industrialized nations. This cancer is found in both
sexes. This cancer was not as widely spread as it is today
100 years ago, now it is one of the major cancers
affecting people. It is found mostly in people above 40
years of age.
(2)
Types of lung cancers:-
There are
two major types of lung cancers.
(1) Small
cell lung cancer About 15 to 20% of all lung cancers are
small cell lung cancers, named for the small round cells
that make up these cancers. Small cell lung cancer tends
to spread widely through the body. This is important
because ir means that treatment must include drugs to
destroy the wide spread disease. The cancer cells can
multiply quickly, form large tumors, and spread to lymph
nodes and other organs such as the bones, brain, adrenal
glands, and liver. This type of cancer also starts in the
bronchi near the centre of the chest. Small cell lung
cancer is almost always caused by smoking.
(2)
Non-small cell lung cancer The majority of lung cancers
are non-small cell type. There are three sub types of this
cancer. The cells in these types differ in size, shape and
chemical make-up.
(a) Squamous
cell carcinoma About 25-30% of all lung cancers are of
this type. They are associated with a history of smoking.
(b) Adeno
carcinoma This type of cancer accounts for about 40-45%
of all lung cancers. It is usually found in the outer
region of the lung.
(c) Large
cell carcinoma This type of lung cancer accounts for
about 10 to 15% of all lung cancers. It may appear in any
part of the lung, and it tends to grow and spread very
quickly.
(3)
Symptoms: -
Lung cancer
produces symptoms at a very late stage of development,
till it has spread very far.
(a) A cough
that does not go away 75% of patients complain of
coughing at initial stage. If coughing persists more than
three weeks x-rays should be taken. Smokers, who have
chronic bronchitis, should remain more alert and should do
periodic screening.
(b) Chest
pain Often aggravated by deep breathing, coughing and
even laughing.
(c) Bloody
or rust coloured sputum Blood or pus in sputum could
indicate lung cancer, timely screening helps early
diagnosis. If a major vein or artey is affected by cancer,
sudden burst can cause immediate danger to the patients
life.
(d) Weight
loss and loss of appetite Any unexplained weight loss or
loss of appetite is a sign to be taken seriously.
(e)
Shortness of breath and hoarseness of speech As cancer
spreads in lungs the capacity of the lungs to breathe air
diminishes, thus causing shortness of breath frequently,
speech also changes.
(f)
Recurring infections Infections of pneumonia and
bronchitis, which are uncured even after a lot of
treatment may indicate lung cancer.
When the
cancer has spread to other parts of the body the symptoms
may present in the following manner.
(i) Bone
pain.
(ii)
Neurological changes such as weakness or numbness of
limbs, dizziness, or recent onset of a seizure.
(iii)
Jaundice yellow coloring of the skin and the eyes.
(iv) Masses
near the surface of the body, due to cancer spreading to
the skin or to the lymph nodes in the neck, or above the
collarbone.
These
symptoms could be the first warning signs of a lung
cancer. Many of these symptoms can result from other
causes or from non-cancerous diseases of the lungs, or
heart, and other organs.
(i) Horners
syndrome Cancer of the upper part of the lungs may
damage a nerve that passes from the upper chest into neck.
These are at times also called pancost tumors. Their most
common symptom is severe shoulder pain. Horners syndrome
is the medical name for the group of symptoms consisting
of drooping or weakness of one eyelid, reduced or absent
perspiration on the same side of face, and a smaller pupil
on that side of the face.
(ii)
Paraneoplasic syndrome Some lung cancers may produce
hormones like or other substances that enter the blood
stram and causes problems with distant tissues and organs,
even though the cancer has not spread to those tissues or
organs. These problems are called paraneoplasic syndromes.
Sometimes these syndromes may be the first symptoms of
early lung cancer. Because these symptoms affect other
organs, patients and their doctors may suspect at first
that disease other than lung cancer caused them. Patients
with small cell lung cancer and those with non-small cell
lung cancer often have different paraneoplastic syndromes.
The most common paraneoplastic syndrome associated with
small cell lung cancer.
(iii) SIADH
( Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormones )
causes salt levels of the blood to become very low.
Symptoms of SIADH include fatigue, loss of appetite,
muscle weakness or cramps, nausea, vomiting, restlessness,
and confusion. Without treatment, severe cases may lead to
seizure and coma.
(iv)
Production of substances that cause blood clots to form
most of these clots interrupt blood flow to the limbs,
lungs, brain, or their internal organs.
(v)
Unexplained loss of balance and unsteadiness in arms and
legs movement (cerebeller degeneration ) The most common
paraneoplastic syndrome caused by non-small cell cancer
are. 1- Hypercalcemia (sometimes painful) of certain
bones, especially those in fingertips. The medical term
for this is hypertrophy osteoarthropy. 2- Production of
substances that activates the clotting system, leading to
blood clots. 3- Excess breast growth in men. The medical
term for this condition is gynecomastia.
(vi)
Easinophelis Easinophil counts if are excess in blood it
may indicate lung cancer.
(vii)
Neuromyipathies The patient feels swelling of muscle
tissues and general weakness of the muscles. Sense of
touch is lost in some parts of the body. When all
treatments fail lung x-ray sometimes reveals the spread of
lung cancer. As cancer is treated successfully these
symptoms disappear.
(viii)
Myesthenia gravis This disorder can also be caused due
to lung cancer. Where muscle activity is lost due to
weakness. If eyelids are affected one loses control of
movement of them, eyes get closed inadvertently. If throat
muscles get affected breathing becomes difficult, chewing
and swallowing of food also becomes difficult.
(ix) These
are some of the common complaints of patients affected
with lung cancer.
- General
weakness in the body.
-
Diminished strength and skin glow.
- Clubbing
of nails.
- Irregular
breathing.
- Neck
tumors are seen.
-
Enlargement of liver.
- Joint
pains in the body.
- Bone
fracture without any visible cause.
(4)
Risk factors: -
(i) Tobacco
smoking Tobacco is the most common risk factor for lung
cancer. In the past lung cancer was not so common as it is
today. Phenomenal increase in smoking due to mass
production and marketing of cigarettes has increased the
instances of lung cancer drastically. Smoling is equally
dangerous even if smoke is inhaled indirectly i.e.
passively. Even after the smoker has stopped smoking, the
damaged lung tissues take 10 to 15 years to return to
normal condition. Even after that period the risk
reduction is only third of what it would be if the person
had not stopped smoking.
(ii)
Asbestos Exposure to asbestos fibres is an important
risk factor for lung cancer. And if a person is smoking
and also is exposed to asbestos inhalation, the risk of
lung cancer is 50 times higher than that of any other
person. Both smokers and non-smokers exposed to asbestos
have a great risk of developing lung cancer that starts
from pleura. This cancer is called mesothelioma.
(iii)
Radiation exposure When uranium breaks down naturally it
produces radon, a radio-active gas that is not dangerous
outdoors, but indoors it can be very dangerous if inhaled
directly.
(iv) Cancer
causing agents in the workplace Radioactive ores such as
uranium, inhaled chemicals or minerals such as arsenic,
beryllium, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal
products, mustard gas, and chloromethylether, fuel fumes
from gasoline etc., exhaust fumes inhalation. In cotton
industry fine dust particles of cotton entering the lungs
through breathing can cause cancer. Workers in stone mines
face the danger of inhaling stone dust. This gets settled
in the lungs ultimately resulting in cancer. People
working in farms are exposed to minute dust particles and
pollen from plants which causes lung cancer in the long
run.
(v)
Radiation therapy People exposed to radiation therapy
for chest are at high risk for lung cancer. The most at
risk are women being treated for breast cancer.
(vi) Mineral
exposure Talc mineral contains asbestos amd exposure to
talc dust increases the risk of lung cancer. Also minerals
like silicosis and berylliosis also have a higher risk of
lung cancer.
(vii) Family
history, diet and air pollution have a major role to play
in the developed of lung cancer.
(5)
Diagnosis as per modern science: -
·
X-ray
·
CT scan
·
MRI
·
Sputum cytology
·
Radiologically occult cancer This type
of cancer is detected in other biological tests, but X-ray
fails to detect this cancer.
·
Lung profusion scan With the help of
this scan the physician can determine the spread of this
cancer.
(6)
Staging and Grading: -
Stage 0:- The cancer is found
only in the layer of cells lining the air passages. It has
not
invaded other lung tissues nor
spread to lymph nodes or distant sites.
Stage IA:- The cancer is no
larger than 3 centimeters, has not spread to the membranes
that surround the lungs, does not affect the main branches
of the bronchi and has not spread to lymph nodes or
distant sites.
Stage IB:- The cancer is larger
than 3 cm, or involves a main bronchus, but is not near
the carina or it has spread to the pleura or the cancer is
partially clogging the airways. It has not spread to lymph
nodes or distant sites.
Stage IIA:- The cancer is no
larger than 3 centimeters, has not spread to the membranes
that surround the lungs, does not affect the main branches
of the bronchi. It has spread to nearby or hilar lymph
nodes, but not to distant sites.
Stage IIB:- The cancer is larger
than 3 cm, or involves a main bronchus, but is not near
the carina or it has spread to the pleura or the cancer is
partially clogging the airways. It has spread to nearby
lymph nodes, but not to distant sites, it has spread to
the chest wall or the diaphragm, the mediastinal pleura,
or membranes surrounding the heart, or it invades a main
bronchus and is close to the carina or it has grown into
the airways enough to cause an entire lung to collapse or
to cause pneumonia in the entire lung. It has not spread
to lymph nodes or distant sites.
Stage IIIA:- The cancer can be
any size, or involves a main bronchus, but is not near the
carina or it has spread to the pleura or the cancer is
partially clogging the airways. It has
spread to nodes in the middle of
the chest (mediastinum), but not to distant sites.
Stage IIIB:- The cancer can be of
any size. It has spread to lymph nodes around the
collarbone on either side, or to hilar or mediastinal
lymph nodes on the side opposite
the cancerous lung, it has spread
to the mediastinum, the heart, the windpipe (trachea), the
esophagus (tube connecting the throat to the stomach).
Stage IV:- The cancer has spread
to distant sites.
(7) Ayurvedic treatment for
Lung Cancer ( including Ayurvedic herbs and Ayurvedic
preparations )
Results of 770 patients of
various types of cancer treated at DARF during Jan.2004 to
Dec.2004.
(1) Total no. of Primary cancer
504. In all 504 patients with primary cancer of various
types were treated at DARF.
- 13%
patients were rendered disease free
- 20.63%
patients were markedly improved
- 65.27%
patients were improved
- 0.9%
patients were uncured
(2) Total no. of Secondary
(metastases) cancer 266. In all 266 patients with
metastases of different types were treated at DARF.
- 12.03%
patients were rendered disease free
- 18.04%
patients were markedly improved
- 68.79%
patients were improved
- 1.12%
patients were uncured
The above results show the high
effectiveness of DARF anti cancer therapy.
(3) Ayurvedic Herbs used in
the treatment of Lung cancer : -
(Keep watching this space for
more results, and details)
(Prepared by Divyajyot
Ayurvedic Research foundation India. We are conducting
research and treatment in Ayurvedic herbal cure of
cancer since last 25 years. The data and information
contained on this site is based on Ayurvedic herbal
wisdom and our research.)
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