| Lung cancer, like all other cancers, is caused by a | | | | tumor is malignant. There are a variety of tests |
| malfunction in the cells of the body which for | | | | which can be carried out, and there are usually a |
| whatever reason, embark on uncontrolled | | | | range of tests rather any one single diagnostic |
| replication and growth. Cells undergo a cycle of | | | | test which is utilized. Post-diagnosis involves a |
| birth and death many millions of times throughout | | | | process known as "staging"; this is where the |
| the life of a person, but this is done in a controlled | | | | extent and seriousness of the disease is assessed |
| cycle which replaces old cells with new ones. | | | | and this determines the treatment regime which |
| When cancer strikes, the unchecked production of | | | | will be followed by the medical team and the |
| new cells leads to growths, known as tumors, and | | | | patient. |
| these physically interfere in the function of the | | | | Treatment may be non-invasive such as |
| organs and the processes of healthy, normal life. | | | | chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which is |
| A tumor can be benign or malign, and usually | | | | used in advance stages of the disease and |
| when we refer to a "cancer" we are using this | | | | attempts to either reduce the size and extent of |
| term to refer to a malignant growth. Malignant or | | | | the tumor so it becomes practical to remove it |
| cancerous tumors are aggressive and capable of | | | | (known as a resection), or acts as a safety |
| spreading, or metastasising, to other parts of the | | | | measure after a surgical removal to ensure that |
| body so that further tumors occur, further | | | | any cancerous cells in the lymphatic system or |
| interfering in the delicate balance of the body. | | | | bloodstream are killed so they cannot gain a |
| Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of | | | | purchase elsewhere in the body (which may result |
| the body and can usually be removed without | | | | in a further recurrence of the cancer elsewhere in |
| further complication to the life and health of the | | | | the body). |
| patient. | | | | Surgical treatment may involve a major operation |
| When cancer appears in the lungs it will be | | | | to open the chest cavity to gain access to the |
| because it has either originated there (a primary | | | | lungs and affected parts of the body, however |
| tumor) or it has spread to the lungs from another | | | | the trend has been to develop minimally invasive |
| part of the body. Typically, lung cancer will have | | | | techniques which do not require major surgery |
| originated or will spread to the adrenal glands, | | | | with its attendant risks and post-operative |
| brain, liver or bones, though treatment must take | | | | recuperation issues. |
| into consideration the entire health of the patient | | | | Techniques such as VATS, involves the making of |
| as cancer cells are capable of spreading widely | | | | small incisions into the side or rear of the chest in |
| from any source within the body once unchecked | | | | order to insert specialist video capture equipment |
| cell replication has started. | | | | which is used to provide a highly detailed image on |
| Lung cancer is typically referred to as a tumor | | | | a video screen. This gives the surgeon a real-time |
| which has originated within the lungs; cancer which | | | | and highly detailed video feed which is used to |
| has originated from elsewhere and spread to the | | | | guide the surgeon in the removal of the affected |
| lungs is usually referred to as "metastatic cancer" | | | | cancerous areas. The shock, pain and |
| rather than lung cancer. | | | | post-operative issues are minimalized for the |
| The first step in assessing treatment is to | | | | patient, though it requires an extremely skilled |
| positively diagnose cancer; in other words that the | | | | surgeon to perform the operation. |