Lung Cancer

Question 1

What are the two types of lung cancer?

Answer 1

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Question 2

What is the most common type of cancer?

Answer 2

Non-small cell lung cancers - 85%

Question 3

most aggressive type of lung cancer?

Answer 3

Small cell lung cancer

Question 4

Symptoms of lung cancer:

Answer 4

• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood (haemoptysis) or sputum
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue

Question 5

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

Answer 5

Chest CT/Xray - visualise masses

biopsy from brochoscopy

PET scan - to see areas of most metabolic activity

Question 6

Where are 70% of the tumours found?

Answer 6

Large bronchi

Question 7

What types of lung cancer fall under Non-small cell lung cancer?

Answer 7

Squamous cell,

large cell,

Adenocarcinoma

Question 8

Risk factors for lung cancer?

Answer 8

Smoking

Radon gas exposure

Air pollution

Family history

Occupational exposure eg: asbestos

Question 9

Risk factors for lung cancer?

Answer 9

Smoking

Radon gas exposure

Air pollution

Family history

Occupational exposure eg: asbestos

Question 10

5 year survival rate for small cell lung cancer vs non-SCLC

Answer 10

• 25% for NON
• 6% for SCLC

Question 11

Role of PET scans in cancer diagnosis

Answer 11

Helps assess whether cancer has metastasised as it detects areas of increased cellular activity.

Question 12

What is the difference between signs and symptoms of a disease

Answer 12

Signs:
Objective evidence of a disease that can be observed, measured detected by a HCP
Like fever, rash, abnormal heart rate and lab results

Vs

Symptoms:
Experiences reported by the patient which can’t be observed by a HCP
Like fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness and pain

Question 13

What is pleural effusion

Answer 13

Accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, pleura= membrane surrounding lungs

The fluid build up can compress the lungs and lead to difficulty reaching

Question 14

How is pleural effusion caused in lung cancer?

Answer 14

Common complication - indicates advanced disease

Tumour can spread into the pleura/invade lymph nodes = inflammatory response = fluid accumulation

Metastasis to lymph nodes can also block drainage of fluid

Leads to SOB and chest discomfort and cough, fluid needs to be drained

Question 15

Haemoptesis

Answer 15

Coughing up blood

Question 16

Signs of lung cancer

Answer 16

• anorexia and weight loss
• clubbing
• collapse, pleural effusion
• horners syndrome
• signs of metastasis - neuro/bonepain
• lymphadenopathy - swollen lymph nodes
• stridor

Question 17

Lymphadenopathy

Answer 17

Swelling of lymph nodes, relates to malignancy

Question 18

Horners syndrome

Answer 18

Sign of lung cancer:

Drooping eyes (ptosis)

Constricting pupil (miosis)

Loss of facial sweating (anhydrous is)