Introduction:
Bronchogenic cancers are widely called lung cancer in today's age. This cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world. Unfortunately, the survival rate of the people affected by bronchogenic carcinoma or lung cancer is relatively lower than other types of cancers. However, recent advances in medical sciences have improved treatment options to treat these cancers and enhance the affected people's lifespan and quality of life.
What Is Bronchogenic Carcinoma?
The term bronchogenic carcinoma was once used to describe the cancers that develop from the bronchi (extensive airway passages of the lungs) or bronchioles (smaller sub airway passages of the lungs). But, nowadays, bronchogenic carcinoma means lung cancer irrespective of its place of origin.
In this read, you will gain knowledge about the types, characteristic features, diagnosis, and treatment measures.
What Are the Types of Bronchogenic Carcinoma?
The types and sub-types of bronchogenic carcinoma are discussed below,
Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC): SCLC can further be classified as,
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Small cell carcinoma is also commonly called oat cell cancer.
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Combined small cell carcinoma.
About 10 % to 15 % of people with lung cancer belong to this type, small cell lung cancer (SCLC). When viewed under a microscope, the cells of this cancer are relatively smaller in size hence the name, small cell lung cancer.
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): This type of lung cancer is further subdivided into the following types, namely;
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Squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs.
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Large cell lung cancer.
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Lung adenocarcinoma.
Most lung cancer cases, about 80 % to 85 %, belong to this type of lung cancer.
Carcinoid Tumors: This type of lung cancer is scarce. Only about 5 % of lung cancer-affected people have carcinoid tumors. Recently, lung adenocarcinoma, which belongs to NSCLC, has been the most common type of lung cancer. About 40 % of people with lung cancer have adenocarcinoma type of lung cancer. However, this was not the case until the last few years, as squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs was the most common type of NSCLC lung tumor. This shift in predominance has occurred due to the change in smoking habits among today's generation.
What Causes Bronchogenic Carcinoma?
Smoking: Smoking is the most open cause of bronchogenic carcinoma or lung cancer. About 80 % to 90 % of the people diagnosed with lung cancer have smoking habits. Smoking like cigarettes, cigar pipes, hookah, etc., can cause bronchogenic carcinoma.
Indirect Smoking: Not all people affected by lung cancer are smokers. Some patients diagnosed with lung cancer are known to be a never-smoker. These people could have been affected by indirect or secondhand smoking, which means the smoke emitted from the mouth of a smoker or smoke emitted from the tips of the cigarettes could have affected an otherwise non-smoker.
Exposure to Carcinogens: Certain jobs might expose a person to carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) like vinyl chloride, arsenic, beryllium, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), wood dust, silica, and asbestos which can increase the risk of lung cancer. Asbestos increases the risk of a rare type of lung cancer, mesothelioma.
Radiation Exposure: Certain other medical-related jobs might expose a doctor or technician to too much ionizing radiation. This can increase the risk of lung cancer and other different types of cancer. In addition, radiation therapies directed to the chest regions, like breast cancer cases, also increase the chances of lung cancer.
What Are the Symptoms Associated With Bronchogenic Carcinoma?
The most common type of lung cancer, adenocarcinoma, usually starts from the outer layers of the lungs that progress towards the inner part. In most cases, the person does not experience symptoms until cancer spreads to the inner part of the lungs. When cancer progresses, then the person complains of breathlessness to breathing difficulties.
Following are some of the common signs associated with bronchogenic carcinoma,
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Breathlessness or running out of breath (this could happen especially after exertion or exercise).
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Unintentional weight loss.
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Feeling tired all the time (fatigue).
When cancer spreads to the center part of the lungs, the following symptoms appear,
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Change in voice (hoarseness).
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Persistent cough.
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Spitting out blood.
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Recurrent respiratory infections like pneumonia and bronchitis may occur.
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Clubbing of the fingers (the fingers are rounded).
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Chest pain.
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Back pain.
How Does a Doctor Diagnose Bronchogenic Carcinoma?
Adenocarcinoma does not usually develop symptoms until it spreads to the central parts of the lungs. After making the diagnosis, the doctor makes the treatment plan according to lung cancer type, stage, and severity.
Following are a few diagnostic methods,
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CT (computed tomography) scans to see the extension of the tumor.
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Blood tests.
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Lung tissue biopsy ( a tissue sample from the lung is taken to be viewed under a microscope to determine the type of lung cancer and its subtypes).
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X-ray of the chest.
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Fine needle aspiration (FNA), where a sample of tumor cells is taken with the help of a needle to be viewed under a microscope.
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Thoracentesis ( a special needle used to remove chest fluid to examine).
How to Treat Bronchogenic Carcinoma?
Adenocarcinoma does not usually develop any symptoms until it spreads to the central parts of the lungs. After making the diagnosis, the doctor makes the treatment plan according to the type, stage, and severity of lung cancer.
The following are a few of the standard treatment measures,
Surgery: A specialsurgery to remove the tumor is performed. This is usually done in the early stages of lung cancer before it spreads vastly where it cannot be removed. Surgery cannot be done when the cancer metastases (cancer cells spread to other organs of the body).
Chemotherapy: A specific type of medication is provided to help destroy the spread of cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy: Ionizing radiation in higher doses is directed toward the tumor site to prevent the spread of cancer cells. This can be done after surgery or can be done without surgery along with or without chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy: The oncologists provide a specific type of drug that can help the body fight cancer cells.
Along with the treatment measures mentioned above, the medical field is growing extensively in producing new drugs and treatment methods that could prolong lung cancer patient's life and quality of life.
Conclusion:
The prognosis of lung cancer is better when the cancer is diagnosed early. Though the news of lung cancer shatters the peace of the affected and their loved ones, the recent advances in the medical field have provided much-advanced therapy measures that improve the well-being of the persons involved. Therefore, it is advised for every person who crosses 50 years of age to go for a regular overall body check-up to make an early diagnosis of any types of malignancies if present.
