How does lung cancer affect the body?

 Lung cancer is one of the two most common cancers in the world. In India alone, it constitutes about 6.9% of all new cancer cases and 9.3% of all cancer-related deaths in males & females.

Lung cancer begins in the cells of the lungs. It is nothing like cancer that starts somewhere else and spreads to the lungs. The primary symptoms of lung cancer involve the respiratory system, but in later stages, it can spread to distant organs as well.

In all it’s stages, lung cancer is treatable by specialists like Dr. Manish Singhal, the best lung cancer doctor in Delhi NCR.

However, the question we’re answering here relates to lung cancer’s effect on the body as a whole.

Lung cancer’s effect on the body

Lung cancer does not just affect your lungs. It is cancer after all, and it can spread. Once you have a tumor in your lung/s, the cancer cells can easily break off, forming new tumors nearby or anywhere in the body if it enters the lymphatic system or bloodstream. They can travel anywhere then, and this is called metastasis.

Commonly lung cancer spreads to:

-Lymph nodes

-Bones

-Brain

-Liver

-Adrenal Glands

Depending on where the cancer migrates, different organs/systems are affected.

An in-depth look:

• Respiratory system

Most lung cancer patients do not have any symptoms at first. However, if they do, they might have frequent bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia. They can sound hoarse or notice other changes in their voice.

Then comes persistent cough which will eventually become intense and produce mucus. With disease progression, mucus can change color or have blood in it. A hacking cough can cause chest pain which worsens with breathing or cough.

Shortness of breath, wheezing, becoming breathless even on little exertion is seen.

The respiratory system is the first system to be affected by lung cancer, and that is why this is where the primary symptoms are seen, according to top cancer doctors.

• Circulatory and cardiovascular systems

Cancer cells can make their way into the bloodstream and spread through the circulatory system throughout the body.

People with lung cancer can cough up blood, have fatal blood clots, can cause pulmonary embolism, etc. Lung cancer can also spread to the heart or the pericardial sac. (Rare) Radiation toxicity due to lung cancer can damage the cells of the heart.

Ask any oncologist in Noida, pan India, or worldwide, they’ll confirm.

• Immune & excretory systems

If lung cancer has metastasized to nearby lymph nodes, it can form lumps and bumps around your collarbone, neck, or armpits and cause neck or facial swelling. According to experts, some types of lung cancer can cause hormone-like substances to enter the bloodstream and cause “paraneoplastic syndromes.”

If it has spread to the liver, it can cause jaundice or liver pain.

• Central nervous system

Lung cancer, if it has spread to the brain, can cause memory problems, visual changes, dizziness, seizures, numbness of the limbs, weakness of the limbs, an unsteady gait, balance problems, etc. Not only that, but it can also cause Horner’s syndrome, which affects the face & the neck.

• Skeletal and muscular systems

If lung cancer has spread to the bones, it can cause bone and muscle pain, weakened bones, and an increased risk of fracture. If a cancer doctor performs an X-ray, he/she can detect it easily.

Some types of lung cancer are associated with an autoimmune disorder that interrupts the signals from the nerves to the muscles, Lambert-Eaton syndrome.

These are only a few examples. Lung cancer can also affect hormonal balance, weight, appetite, and more.

Winding up

Lung cancer affects more than the lungs. But today, with the advent of modern medicine, it can be treated and managed very well. The best way to do it is to consult an expert of repute like Dr. Manish Singhal, a leading cancer specialist in Delhi NCR.

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How is lung cancer treated?

 Lung cancer has wreaked havoc in many lives around the world. But with the advent of modern treatment, the chances of survival have improved drastically.

The 5-year survival rate for all people with all types of lung cancer is 19%. For women, it is 23%, and for men, it is 19%. Out of the two types of lung cancer, the 5-year survival rate for NSCLC is 24%, compared to 6% for small cell lung cancer.

The treatment options for lung cancer are many. The best treatment option for a patient is determined by the lung cancer doctor in-charge keeping the type, stage, and treatment goals in mind.

Not only that but a mix of different treatments may also be advised depending on the type of lung cancer.

The treatment plan has to be created and agreed upon by a cancer specialist and a patient. An informed decision is important because each treatment option has potential side effects, which can be managed. Get more information about the side effects of lung cancer treatment.

So, if you're a cancer patient, the best way for you to approach treatment is to consult a top specialist like Dr. Manish Singhal, the best lung cancer doctor in Delhi NCR.

Lung cancer treatments

There are two main types of lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer.

Many tests are performed to determine what type of lung cancer it is, what stage it is in, where it has spread, etc.

Not only that, but post lung cancer diagnosis, the cancer doctor may run tests like EGFR to find out if there is any change in the genes of the patient. This is mostly done in non-small cell lung cancer. The results of these tests help your doctor know which treatments will work best for you.

Here are the treatment options:

• Surgery

Surgery can be an option if the cancer is confined to the lungs. For a largely spread lung cancer, cancer doctors may recommend chemotherapy or radiation before surgery to shrink the cancer. Also, if there is a risk of cancer cells being left behind post-surgery, doctors can also recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery.

The procedures include:

1. Wedge Resection-It removes a small section of the lung that contains the tumor along with a margin of healthy tissue.

2. Segmental Resection-It removes a larger portion of the lung but not an entire lobe.

3. Lobectomy-It removes the entire lobe of one lung.

4. Pneumonectomy-It removes an entire lung

• Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.

It is often used for people with locally advanced lung cancer before or after surgery. It is also combined with chemotherapy therapy sometimes; becoming a primary treatment option along with chemotherapy if surgery is not a viable option. Not only that but for advanced lung cancers that have already spread to other areas of the body, radiation therapy helps relieve symptoms like pain.

• Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses specialized drugs to shrink or kill cancer cells. The drugs can be administered through the veins, orally, or through both. A combination of chemotherapy drugs is given in a series of treatments over weeks or months, with breaks in-between so patients can recover.

In people with advanced lung cancer, chemotherapy can also be used to relieve pain and other symptoms.

• Targeted Therapy

There are several targeted lung cancer treatments. Targeted treatments focus on unique abnormalities present within cancer cells. By remedying these abnormalities, targeted drug treatments specifically attack cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.

Certain targeted therapies only work in people who have cancer cells with specific genetic mutations. To ascertain whether the patient has the said genetic mutations the cancer cells may be tested.

The testing is important; ask a trusted oncologist in Noida or wherever you live about the testing before choosing targeted therapy.

• Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the patient's immune system against the cancer cells.

The body's immune system, which is designed to fight diseases, does not attack the cancer cells because the cells produce proteins that hide them from the immune system. Immunotherapy interferes with the process and allows the immune system to recognize & destroy cancer cells.

There are several more treatments and treatment adjacents, including palliative care to improve quality of life, clinical trial participation for better outcomes, coping with symptoms, alternative medicines, etc.

In conclusion

The treatment a patient receives is entirely dependent on the type of lung cancer, the stage, the spread, and most importantly, the cancer doctor. If you're a lung cancer patient, whether you're newly diagnosed or looking for a second opinion, you can always consult an expert in the area like Dr. Manish Singhal, a cancer specialist in Delhi NCR.

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Major signs and symptoms of bone cancer

 Bone cancer accounts for less than 1% of all cancers.

It occurs when cells grow out of control and destroy normal bone tissue. It can weaken the bones and lead to broken bones along with other issues. 

85 out of 100 bone cancer patients survive 1-year post-diagnosis. 60 out of 100 bone cancer patients live beyond the 5-year mark, and 55 out of 100 bone cancer patients survive 10-years post-diagnosis. 

A bone cancer specialist in Delhi or elsewhere can tell you that while bone cancer is generally idiopathic, some risk factors can be linked to it. 

Risk factors of bone cancer: 

• Previous cancer treatment

Bone cancers are more common in individuals who've already had radiation or stem cell transplants or even chemotherapy. 

• Certain inherited issues

Certain diseases can make individuals more likely to get bone cancer. Generally, these are diseases that have been passed down through generations like Li-Fraumeni syndrome or retinoblastoma. 

• Paget’s disease of bone

This is a benign bone disease that can increase an individual’s chances of getting bone cancer. 

Symptoms of bone cancer

Bone tumor symptoms are mostly unnoticeable. Your family doctor might find it on random X-rays done for other ailments. If there are symptoms, these include: 

• Pain. This pain can be a symptom of a bone tumor if the pain is in the area of the tumor, if it is dull/achy, if it gets worse with activity, or even if it wakes you at night. 

• Swelling, inflammation, & tenderness around the area affected.

• Weak bones that can often fracture. 

• Severe Fatigue

• Fever

• Limping due to bone pain or breakage.

• Unintended weight loss

• Extreme tiredness

• If cancer has spread to other organs then the patient may experience difficulty in breathing. 

• Since the bones in the spine may press nerve roots, it can affect neurological functioning like numbness, tingling, weakness, and spinal instability. 

When should you see a doctor?

If you or your child develops bone pain that either comes & goes, worsens at night, or doesn't go away with OTC pain medications, that is when you should see a doctor. If need be, then an oncologist in Noida or elsewhere. 

And it is a wrap-The Conclusion

Even if you have bone cancer, there are multiple treatments available today to treat & manage bone cancer. From surgery to radiation, from chemotherapy to alternative therapy, there are many avenues to pursue. If you need more information or help, you can always consult a specialist like Dr. Manish Singhal, a top bone cancer doctor in Noida. 

What Is The Most Effective Treatment For Lung Cancer?

 Lung cancer rates are rapidly increasing in non-smokers and women. 6.9% of all new cancer in India is lung cancer, and 9.3% of all cancer-related deaths in both men and women are due to lung cancer. In fact, lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world.

In India, lung cancer is on the rise not only because of the changing lifestyle but also because of the increase in air pollution. 

There are two major types of lung cancer, small-cell lung cancer, and non-small-cell lung cancer. Out of the two, non-small-cell lung cancer is more common. 

After lung cancer has been diagnosed, several tests, including a test for assessing genetic mutation, are conducted before deciding on a treatment plan. 

From the stage of lung cancer, i.e., where the lung cancer has spread to the patient’s age, from overall medical history to the type of lung cancer, from the extent of the disease to the medication or procedure, or therapy tolerance, from treatment expectations to individual preference, the best treatment plan for a lung cancer patient depends on a lot of factors. 

In this blog, we’ll talk about the most effective treatments for lung cancer.

Which treatment is best for lung cancer?

There is no one treatment plan which is better than the other because, as discussed, lung cancer treatment depends on a variety of factors. However, all lung cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, other medications, localized treatments like laser therapy, or a combination of different treatments. 

Generally, cancer specialists treat people diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, even targeted therapy, or a combination of the said treatments, also called multimodality treatment. On the other hand, small-cell lung cancer patients are often treated with either radiation therapy or chemotherapy, or both. 

Now let’s talk about the treatments in detail.

Surgery

Surgery is often an option for early-stage lung cancer; that is when the cancer is confined to the lungs.

The types of surgery depend upon multiple factors, including tumor size & location, cancer extent, overall patient health, etc. If cancer has spread, then cancer specialists often recommend chemotherapy or radiation before surgery to shrink the tumor. Not only that, but if there is a chance of cancer cells being left behind post-surgery, cancer doctors also may suggest chemotherapy or radiation post-op.

Types of surgery:

1. Wedge Resection-Here a small section of the affected lung containing the tumor is removed with a margin of healthy tissues.
2. Segment Resection-Here a larger lung portion is removed but not an entire lobe.
3. Lobectomy-Here an entire lobe is removed.
4. Pneumonectomy-Here an entire lung is removed.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors. It is often used for locally advanced lung cancer pre or post-surgery. It can be used with chemotherapy when surgery is not a viable option. Radiation therapy can also be useful in cases of advanced lung cancer for relieving pain symptoms.

Chemotherapy

In chemotherapy, specialized drugs are used to kill or shrink cancer cells. It can be with other treatments. It is often administered in a series of treatments over a period, sometimes weeks or months. The breaks are for the patient to recover. A cancer specialist can recommend an individualized chemotherapy plan depending on the patient.

Targeted Therapy

In lung cancer, there are multiple targeted treatment options. These treatments focus on unique abnormalities present within a patient’s cancer cells. Targeted therapy remedies the abnormalities & attacks cancer cells specifically but spares the healthy cells. Presently, such drugs have only found use in some cases of non-small-cell lung cancer. For targeted therapy, a gene mutation test is often necessary.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses the patient’s immune system against the cancer cells. It can come in the forms of drugs, vaccines, and other therapies which activate the natural defenses of the immune system to fight lung cancer. 

In some cases, “anti-PD-1” has shown noticeable tumor regression after a round of chemotherapy. Some immunotherapy drugs like pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, and nivolumab have also been approved for certain types of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer treatment breakthroughs

• On 1st June 2021, the USFDA approved Lumakras™ (sotorasib) as the first treatment for NSCLC or non-small-cell lung cancer patients with tumors that have the KRAS G12C genetic mutation and have received at least one systemic therapy prior. 
• Keytruda monotherapy was found to improve progression-free survival in previously treated, PD-L1–positive advanced NSCLC.
• It was seen that at-home prehabilitation may improve surgical outcomes in lung cancer patients. 
• A recent study also demonstrated that a combination of Tecentriq (atezolizumab) plus carboplatin and etoposide can safely improve the survival rate of patients with extensive-stage SCLC or small-cell lung cancer.

Multiple other treatments and treatment adjacents like palliative care, clinical trial participation, coping mechanisms, alternative medicines, can be used and are used in lung cancer.

Lung cancer treatment today-The conclusion

Which lung cancer treatment is best for you? As discussed before, it is entirely dependent on the staging, the spread, the choice, and most importantly, the cancer specialist. If you are a lung cancer patient and want a second opinion or looking for advanced treatment options, you can always consult an expert like Dr. Manish Singhal, a lung cancer doctor in Delhi NCR.

Note

Dr. Manish Singhal is a leading lung cancer doctor in Delhi NCR. With an acute understanding of lung cancer treatment and a rich well of knowledge of the advancements in lung cancer treatment, he and his team have successfully created efficient and customized cancer treatment plans for patients suffering from different types of lung cancer.

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Does obesity complicate cancer treatment?

Since 1975 worldwide obesity has tripled. 

A 2016 report stated that more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, are overweight. Of the 1.9 billion, 650 million were reported to be obese. 

The link between obesity & an increase in cancer risk has been observed. In fact, 1 in 20 cancer cases in the UK is caused by excess weight.

It is beneficial to note that a healthy weight reduces the risk of about 13 different types of cancer. 

In India, about 135 million+ individuals are affected by obesity. And with the advent of socio-economic development in the country, a part of the urban Indian population falls in the category, putting them at a higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer.

Correlation between obesity and cancer

A multitude of researchers has shown through extensive research that excess body fat increases the risk of several cancers including colorectal cancer, postmenopausal breast cancer, uterine cancer, esophageal cancer, kidney cancer, and pancreatic cancers. 

According to experts, obesity-related cancer can be due to inflammation caused by visceral fat. Visceral fat has large cells, and they are many in the body protecting vital organs. An obese individual has more visceral fat in their body, leaving less room for oxygen. This low oxygen triggers inflammation. Not only that, but excess fat also affects different body processes, including how certain hormones like insulin and estrogen are managed. 

All of this can increase the risk of cancer by indirectly affecting how cells divide & how they die. 

Changes in the populations of immune cells due to diet, & in turn, obesity is also known to increase the risk of cancer. Obesity can reshape cancer cell mechanisms impairing T-cells’ inflammatory functions. It remodels cellular fuel use of tumors, increasing the fatty acid oxidation of cancer cells & reducing the numbers as well as the spatial positioning of CD8+ cells. This, in turn, reduces antitumor immunity.

Obesity and cancer treatment

Top cancer doctors and oncology researchers vouch for the fact that lean cancer patients mostly outlive obese cancer patients. Previously, it was believed to be only because of obesity itself. But today, cancer specialists are realizing that bad outcomes can be tied to mistreatment based on individual requirements. You see, obese patients come with risks that others do not, and that warrants a different treatment approach. 

In this blog, we will discuss the effect of obesity on different cancer treatments. 

• Cancer Surgery

The correlation between obesity & cancer surgery is a mixed bag. In the case of breast, colorectal, and intra-abdominal cancer, no correlation between BMI & short-term or long-term mortality along with major surgical complications has been found. But there is an increased frequency of minor surgical complications, which might increase costs, reduce the quality of life, & delay adjuvant therapy. Studies on prostate cancer, on the other hand, demonstrated prolonged surgical time & greater blood loss in obese patients. The effect of obesity was also correlated with an increased chance of recurrence, poor outcome, and potential need for different adjuvant treatments. 

• Radiation Therapy

Among prostate cancer patients being administered external beam radiation therapy, inferior outcomes due to obesity have been noted. External problems may arise as well; for example, delivering issues, like difficulty with daily set & increased likelihood of cancer location shifting. Not only that but it has also been observed that obese cervical cancer patients can even experience an increased rate of treatment-related toxicity compared to patients in the normal weight range. In breast cancer patients, cancer doctors have seen that a larger breast size & higher BMI can be associated with a higher risk of cute or late dermatitis after radiation.

• Chemotherapy

The dosing of chemotherapy drugs, which is essential in treating cancer, is calculated using BSA or body surface area in adults. Chemotherapy dosing is extremely important in treating cancer because it decides efficacy. Unfortunately, up to 40% of obese patients receive limited chemotherapy dosing, which does not correlate to their actual body weight. Why? Because of toxicity concerns among obese patients due to the higher dose of medication based on their actual body weight. 

Also, obese cancer patients often have comorbidities like vascular disease or diabetes. This increases the chances of peripheral neuropathy. Baseline peripheral neuropathy is often associated with dose-limiting chemotherapy‐induced neurotoxicity.

But a low dose of chemotherapy can increase chances of disease recurrence and mortality, contributing to low survival rates.

• Hormonal Therapy

Endocrine therapy is a common adjuvant treatment for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers with appropriate hormone receptors. In patients using tamoxifen, no correlation was found with obesity and efficacy or recurrence. But in premenopausal women taking ovarian suppression medication, high BMI was associated with low efficacy of endocrine therapies inhibiting aromatase and promoting the production of estrogen, including from adipose tissue, like anastrozole and goserelin. Aromatase Inhibitors or AI did not give as good results in obese women as they did in leaner women.

• Immunotherapy & stem cell therapy

There is very little information available regarding the efficacy of immunotherapy or stem cell therapy among cancer patients concerning BMI, whether normal or higher.

Does obesity hamper cancer treatment – Conclusion

Further research is needed to get a clearer picture of the correlation between the efficacy of cancer treatment and obesity because there are multiple gaps in the literature. While most research associated BMI with obesity, BMI cannot measure the adiposity of a body, which is important for treatment efficacy. Hence, more research is required in the area. However, the studies conducted so far have given a clear indication that obesity negatively impacts several cancer treatments, the bounds of which we are still discovering.

Note

Dr. Manish Singhal is a leading cancer specialist in Delhi NCR. With an acute understanding of lifestyle choices affecting cancer & cancer treatment, he & his team have successfully created efficient and customized cancer treatment plans for patients suffering from obesity and its many associated issues.

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