Al_ Esraa University College

Department of Medical Analysis

4th Class
Group E2

Histopathology
“LUNG CANCER”

Submitter to the committee of scientific affairs of the college

AL_Essra and the department of Medical Analysis in partial fulfillment
Of requirements for the degree of B.sc in science

By:
Taha Jasim
OVERVIEW:

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. Your lungs are
two spongy organs in your chest that take in oxygen when you inhale and
release carbon dioxide when you exhale.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

People who smoke have the greatest risk of lung cancer, though lung cancer
can also occur in people who have never smoked. The risk of lung cancer
increases with the length of time and number of cigarettes you've smoked. If
you quit smoking, even after smoking for many years, you can significantly
reduce your chances of developing lung cancer.
TYPES OF LUNG CANCER:

Cancer that begins in the lungs is called primary lung cancer. Cancer
that spreads to the lungs from another place in the body is known as secondary
lung cancer. This page is about primary lung cancer.

There are two main forms of primary lung cancer. These are classified by the
type of cells in which the cancer starts growing. They are:

non-small-cell lung cancer – the most common form, accounting for more
than 87% of cases. It can be one of three types: squamous cell carcinoma,
adenocarcinoma or large-cell carcinoma.

small-cell lung cancer – a less common form that usually spreads faster than
non-small-cell lung cancer.

CAUSING:

Smoking causes the majority of lung cancers — both in smokers and in

people exposed to secondhand smoke. But lung cancer also occurs in people
who never smoked and in those who never had prolonged exposure to
secondhand smoke. In these cases, there may be no clear cause of lung cancer.

How smoking causes lung cancer

Doctors believe smoking causes lung cancer by damaging the cells that line
the lungs. When you inhale cigarette smoke, which is full of cancer-causing
substances (carcinogens), changes in the lung tissue begin almost
immediately.
 At first your body may be able to repair this damage. But with each repeated
exposure, normal cells that line your lungs are increasingly damaged. Over
time, the damage causes cells to act abnormally and eventually cancer may
develop

DIAGNOSIS:

If there's reason to think that you may have lung cancer, the doctor can
order a number of tests to look for cancerous cells and to rule out other
conditions.

Tests may include:

 Imaging tests. An X-ray image of your lungs may reveal an abnormal mass
or nodule. A CT scan can reveal small lesions in your lungs that might not be
detected on an X-ray.

 Sputum cytology. If you have a cough and are producing sputum, looking at
the sputum under the microscope can sometimes reveal the presence of lung
cancer cells.

 Tissue sample (biopsy). A sample of abnormal cells may be removed in a

procedure called a biopsy.

Your doctor can perform a biopsy in a number of ways, including

bronchoscopy, in which your doctor examines abnormal areas of your lungs
using a lighted tube that's passed down your throat and into your lungs.

Mediastinoscopy, in which an incision is made at the base of your neck and

surgical tools are inserted behind your breastbone to take tissue samples from
lymph nodes is also an option.
 Another option is needle biopsy, in which your doctor uses X-ray
or CT images to guide a needle through your chest wall and into the lung
tissue to collect suspicious cells.

A biopsy sample may also be taken from lymph nodes or other areas where
cancer has spread, such as your liver.

Careful analysis of your cancer cells in a lab will reveal what type of lung
cancer you have. Results of sophisticated testing can tell your doctor the
specific characteristics of your cells that can help determine your prognosis
and guide your treatment.

SYMPTOMS:

Lung cancer typically doesn't cause signs and symptoms in its earliest
stages. Signs and symptoms of lung cancer typically occur when the disease
is advanced.

Signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include:

 A new cough that doesn't go away

 Coughing up blood, even a small amount

 Shortness of breath

 Chest pain

 Hoarseness

 Losing weight without trying

 Bone pain

 Headache
PREVENTATION:
There's no sure way to prevent lung cancer, but you can reduce your risk if
you:

 Don't smoke. If you've never smoked, don't start. Talk to your children about
not smoking so that they can understand how to avoid this major risk factor
for lung cancer. Begin conversations about the dangers of smoking with your
children early so that they know how to react to peer pressure.

 Stop smoking. Stop smoking now. Quitting reduces your risk of lung cancer,
even if you've smoked for years. Talk to your doctor about strategies and stop-
smoking aids that can help you quit. Options include nicotine replacement
products, medications and support groups.

 Avoid secondhand smoke. If you live or work with a smoker, urge him or
her to quit. At the very least, ask him or her to smoke outside. Avoid areas
where people smoke, such as bars and restaurants, and seek out smoke-free
options.

 Test your home for radon. Have the radon levels in your home checked,
especially if you live in an area where radon is known to be a problem. High
radon levels can be remedied to make your home safer. For information on
radon testing, contact your local department of public health or a local chapter
of the American Lung Association.

 Avoid carcinogens at work. Take precautions to protect yourself from

exposure to toxic chemicals at work. Follow your employer's precautions. For
instance, if you're given a face mask for protection, always wear it. Ask your
doctor what more you can do to protect yourself at work. Your risk of lung
damage from workplace carcinogens increases if you smoke.
  Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables. Choose a healthy diet with a variety
of fruits and vegetables. Food sources of vitamins and nutrients are best.
Avoid taking large doses of vitamins in pill form, as they may be harmful. For
instance, researchers hoping to reduce the risk of lung cancer in heavy
smokers gave them beta carotene supplements. Results showed the
supplements actually increased the risk of cancer in smokers.

 Exercise most days of the week. If you don't exercise regularly, start out
slowly. Try to exercise most days of the week.

TREATMENT:

Treatment for pneumonia involves curing the infection and preventing

complications. People who have community-acquired pneumonia usually can
be treated at home with medication. Although most symptoms ease in a few
days or weeks, the feeling of tiredness can persist for a month or more.

Specific treatments depend on the type and severity of your pneumonia, your
age and your overall health. The options include:

 Antibiotics. These medicines are used to treat bacterial pneumonia. It may

take time to identify the type of bacteria causing your pneumonia and to
choose the best antibiotic to treat it. If your symptoms don't improve, your
doctor may recommend a different antibiotic.

 Cough medicine. This medicine may be used to calm your cough so that you
can rest. Because coughing helps loosen and move fluid from your lungs, it's
a good idea not to eliminate your cough completely. In addition, you should
know that very few studies have looked at whether over-the-counter cough
 medicines lessen coughing caused by pneumonia. If you want to try a cough
suppressant, use the lowest dose that helps you rest.

 Fever reducers/pain relievers. You may take these as needed for fever and
discomfort. These include drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB,
others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).

REFRENCES:

1) Discovery of distinct lung cancer pathways may lead to more targeted

treatmentsAug. 01, 2019, 04:00 p.m. CDT

2) Sharing Mayo Clinic: Treating lung cancer during COVID-19 pandemicJune 28,
2020, 07:54 p.m. CDT

3) Why patients with lung cancer in a COVID-19 era need to keep their treatmentApril
30, 2020, 03:14 p.m. CDT

4) Alberg AJ, Brock MV, Samet JM (2016). "Chapter 52: Epidemiology of lung
cancer". Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine (6th ed.). Saunders
Elsevier. ISBN 978-1-4557-3383-5.

5) Lu C, Onn A, Vaporciyan AA, et al. (2010). "Chapter 78: Cancer of the

Lung". Holland-Frei Cancer Medicine(8th ed.). People's Medical Publishing
House. ISBN 978-1-60795-014-1.

6) Chang L, Rivera MP (2015). "Chapter 112: Clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and

staging of lung cancer". In Grippi MA, Elias JA, Fishman JA, Kotloff RM, Pack AI,
Senior RM (eds.). Fishman's Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders (5th ed.).
McGraw-Hill. p. 1728. ISBN 978-0-07-179672-9.

7) "Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment –Patient Version (PDQ®)". NCI. 12 May
2015. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.

8) World Cancer Report 2014. World Health Organization. 2014. pp. Chapter
5.1. ISBN 978-92-832-0429-9.

9) Chapman S, Robinson G, Stradling J, West S, Wrightson J (2014). "Chapter

31". Oxford Handbook of Respiratory Medicine(3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
p. 284. ISBN 978-0-19-870386-0.