Lung Cancer
The Seremban GH doctors wrote that my cancer's primary is unknown (the original cancerous tumor; the source of cancerous cells that lead to secondary or metastatic tumors). The NCI doctors said based on observation, most probably the primary site is the lungs. My lung cancer is the non small cell type, and is further classified as adenocarcinoma which is a common lung cancer for non-smoker. So stop asking me if I am a smoker or ever was!!!
Ghita Andersen Othman sent me a link to http://www.cancerguide.org . This is a great site for cancer info; thanks, Ghita :)
It is from here I found an e-book titled "With Every Breath: A Lung Cancer Guidebook" by Dr. Tina M. St John. She lost her husband to lung cancer and wrote this book to help other lung cancer patients. The book can be downloaded at http://www.lungcancerguidebook.org/book.htm
It is from this book I found some answers to my cancer conditions.
Why the speedy spread of my cancer?
The first symptom of my cancer is pericardial effusion in early December. Now I know the lung cancer has spread to my bones and chest lymph nodes. Why so fast? The book explains(pg 31):
"Most lung cancers are relatively slow growing. Researchers have estimated that by the time a lung tumor grows to 1 centimeter in diameter , it has been present for an average of 8-15 years (my node which was biopsied is around 2 cm). Although most lung cancers are slow growing, they have the ability to metastasize or spread to other parts of the body early in their growth. The high blood flow through the lungs may facilitate the metastatic process."
The book further states that the lack of nerves in the lungs allows the cancer to spread without much symptom until the late stages. 95% of lung cancer patients are detected because of symptoms showing up, not because of early detection.
"The lungs are highly vascularized organs, meaning they have many blood vessels running through them. This vascularization is needed for the quick exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that takes place with each breath. Among people with lung cancer, these blood vessels provide many convenient routes for lung cancer cells to travel to other parts of the body."
"The lungs also have a rich supply of lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic vessels are part of the immune system.Cancer cells in lymph fluid that escape the lymph nodes may travel to other areas of the body and cause metastatic tumors."
The book also lamented the lack of early screening for lung cancer. Lung cancer is, from the medical viewpoint, incurable at the late stage:"It is notable that there are screening programs for both of the second most common causes of cancer death in the U.S. − breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.There are also screening guidelines for the number three cancer killer of men and women,colorectal cancer. Yet, we do not screen for the number one cancer killer of both men and women – lung cancer. Lung cancer kills more Americans every year than breast,prostate, and colon cancer combined."
Ghita Andersen Othman sent me a link to http://www.cancerguide.org . This is a great site for cancer info; thanks, Ghita :)
It is from here I found an e-book titled "With Every Breath: A Lung Cancer Guidebook" by Dr. Tina M. St John. She lost her husband to lung cancer and wrote this book to help other lung cancer patients. The book can be downloaded at http://www.lungcancerguidebook.org/book.htm
It is from this book I found some answers to my cancer conditions.
Why the speedy spread of my cancer?
The first symptom of my cancer is pericardial effusion in early December. Now I know the lung cancer has spread to my bones and chest lymph nodes. Why so fast? The book explains(pg 31):
"Most lung cancers are relatively slow growing. Researchers have estimated that by the time a lung tumor grows to 1 centimeter in diameter , it has been present for an average of 8-15 years (my node which was biopsied is around 2 cm). Although most lung cancers are slow growing, they have the ability to metastasize or spread to other parts of the body early in their growth. The high blood flow through the lungs may facilitate the metastatic process."
The book further states that the lack of nerves in the lungs allows the cancer to spread without much symptom until the late stages. 95% of lung cancer patients are detected because of symptoms showing up, not because of early detection.
"The lungs are highly vascularized organs, meaning they have many blood vessels running through them. This vascularization is needed for the quick exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that takes place with each breath. Among people with lung cancer, these blood vessels provide many convenient routes for lung cancer cells to travel to other parts of the body."
"The lungs also have a rich supply of lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic vessels are part of the immune system.Cancer cells in lymph fluid that escape the lymph nodes may travel to other areas of the body and cause metastatic tumors."
The book also lamented the lack of early screening for lung cancer. Lung cancer is, from the medical viewpoint, incurable at the late stage:"It is notable that there are screening programs for both of the second most common causes of cancer death in the U.S. − breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.There are also screening guidelines for the number three cancer killer of men and women,colorectal cancer. Yet, we do not screen for the number one cancer killer of both men and women – lung cancer. Lung cancer kills more Americans every year than breast,prostate, and colon cancer combined."
posted by Hee Boon at 8:47 pm
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