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“As
far as I’m concerned he’s a good doctor. I like his manners and he tells it
like it is. I never felt a bit of pain afterwards and he takes the time to
thoroughly explain everything. He’s a great guy in my book and I’d recommend
him to anyone.”
—Gordon
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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the
U.S.
today. The rate of lung cancer is increasing in females, probably
because of the increased cigarette use by women over the last fifty
years. Besides lung cancer, emphysema and fungal diseases of the
lung also may require surgery.
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If diagnosed early enough, lung cancer is treated with
surgery. The
surgery can involve thoracoscopy, looking into the chest cavity with a
lighted scope, or a thoracotomy, an open procedure with an incision between the
ribs. Sometimes both techniques are used. Before or after surgery,
chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be needed, depending on the
circumstances. Whether or not surgery is performed for lung cancer
depends on two things: the presence of cancer outside of the lung
itself, and the projected ability of the patient to function with less
lung tissue after surgery.
If there is cancer in the lymph nodes near the heart, trachea, or
esophagus, surgery may not be worthwhile. CT scan is used to detect if
the lymph nodes are enlarged, and if so, a biopsy may be needed. The presence of
cancer outside of the lung and surrounding lymph nodes often (but not
always) means that surgery isn’t performed.Patients with lung cancer
commonly have underlying asthma or emphysema. If these conditions are
severe, there will not be enough lung function left after surgery to
perform normal daily activities, such as walking across the room. These
patients should not have surgery because while the cancer may
technically be removable, the loss of lung tissue and the stress of the
surgery would leave them too weak. Lung function is measured with
pulmonary function tests, breathing through a device that measures the
speed and volume of respirations.
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The overall results for the treatment of lung cancer
are disappointing
when compared to other cancers. This is because lung cancer often
doesn't become detected until relatively late.
If surgery is
performed for a Stage 1 lung cancer (no lymph
nodes are involved), 50 - 60% of those patients will be alive after
five years.
Lung cancer surgery can usually be performed very safely. The minimally
invasive technique of thoracoscopy is helpful for lung biopsies or wedge
resections, and I use this approach as much as possible in the surgical
treatment of lung cancer.
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Quit smoking, and quit smoking. The risk of lung cancer
in a person
who has smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for forty years is 60 - 70
times higher than the general population. Ask your doctor for help in
quitting.
If you are (or have been) a smoker and have a prolonged or bloody
cough, increased shortened of breath, or unexplained weight loss,
see your doctor.
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