Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prognosis of Stage IV Lung Cancer Rise in United Kingdom

Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prognosis of Stage IV Lung Cancer Rise in United Kingdom - Overall - survival rates of lung cancer at 5 years for patients in the UK have been improving slowly. The latest data published by the Network of National Cancer Intelligence Public Health - England recently said that twice as many patients with lung cancer about lived over 12 months (2011 figures) than those who were diagnosed with lung cancer in 1990 .

Early diagnosis and improved treatments are seen to be behind these new figures - explained. And, despite incidents of lung cancer in men they have been seen to be in decline - the women have increased. Since the 1970s, lung cancer diagnosed in women has increased around 73%, while men in the same period decreased by 47% (mainly due to the different trends in smoking among men and women [women are smoking more these days]).

Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prognosis of Stage IV Lung Cancer Rise in United Kingdom

Although there has been an improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of early lung cancer remains the No. 1 cause of death in the UK and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer after breast cancer. However, Dr. Mick Peake, of the National Cancer Intelligence Network unveils the following figures:

17% of 1990 patients with lung cancer were still alive one year after first being diagnosed with the disease (compared with 29% of men and 33% of women in 2010). However, there seemed to be little change in the overall survival rate at 5 years is still hovering around the figure of 10% -11%.

Smoking is still regarded as the main culprit that kills about 28,000 of the 35,000 who die each year in the UK due to lung cancer.
In addition to early detection of the disease, a major improvement in the short term seems figures a year due to the improved treatments, such as biological therapies that are designed to help stop metastasis (spread) of cryotherapy cancer cells - and recently techniques that allow cancer cells can be frozen developed.

The treatments most often depend on the stage of the disease was diagnosed in a patient, together with other factors. For example: age, gender, health and patient history are all important factors that help decide what treatment may be more appropriate (accessible to every individual on a one by one basis, as it can work for one may not work for others [general guidelines apply]).

Dr Mick Peake, of the National Cancer Intelligence Network, said: "This report shows that we are gradually making inroads in improving survival rates of this common cancer, however, there is much more to be done for patients with lung cancer with most still die within a year of diagnosis. "

It was also noted by Nick Ormiston-Smith, head of Cancer Research UK statistics, "It is great news that lung cancer in men has fallen by more than a third since the early 1990s."

He went further to speak of trends in incidence rates of lung cancer reflect past trends in cigarette consumption, where many men actually quit smoking during the 1950s and beyond, which in his words, said "we are now seeing the positive impact that this fall but unfortunately it did not happen smoking for women until later, etc."

Although survival rates one year are approaching those in other countries, where previously - historically had shown better results, smoking by young people it is still seen as a problem (better understanding among young people should be a priority).

However, a recent campaign to encourage "anyone" who had a cough lasting more than 3 days for review and output, was credited with more than 700 additional cases of picking-up of the disease ([2012] I was in compared to cases reported -up for a similar campaign in 2011).

Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prognosis of Stage IV Lung Cancer Rise in United Kingdom


What causes lung cancer and why?

The most common cause of lung cancer (small cell [CEP] and non-small cell [NSCLC]) is smoking (SCLC and NSCLC) - including passive (secondhand) smoke. However, other causes may include:

Inhaling noxious fumes (such as radon gas).
Work environments (asbestos factories, carpet factories, industries fireworks, etc.).
The main reason for the appearance of lung cancer is because the lungs are one of the organs most exposed to the external environment, more than any other organ in the body.

What are the symptoms of lung cancer stage IV?

The early symptoms of lung cancer are not usually evident for most patients; However, as they do become evident - the symptoms later stage may include the following:


  • Pain in the arms, back, hips and shoulders (showing metastases [the spread] of the disease).
  • Persistent cough ([smoker's cough] often in the blood may be coughed-up - known as hemoptysis or hemoptysis).
  • Swallowing problems - caused by an invasion into the esophagus (throat hoarseness).
  • Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis.
  • Seizures and body weakness [weakness often caused by weight loss).
  • Shortness of breath and wheezing (often with a slight burning sensation felt in the windpipe [trachea] and the chest region.
  • Visionary problems and headaches (mild - pulsating) indicating an invasion of the brain (brain tumor).
  • Yellowing of the skin due to an invasion of the liver (jaundice).

What treatments are available for lung cancer stage IV?

Because lung cancer is usually not diagnosed until a late stage - the options are usually limited to try to prevent further metastases, and try to give a patient an extended prognosis (life expectancy).

However, chemotherapy (to prolong the prognosis of a patient) is usually the treatment of choice - as surgical treatments are of little use because of the metastasis of cancer and has also affected many organs in the body (impossible to remove both body and for a patient to survive after).

Other palliative therapies (complementary) may also be considered, such as radiation therapy, and therapy clinical trials [usually a combination of drugs and new treatments]).

What is the prognosis for lung cancer stage IV?

Unfortunately, the prognosis for lung cancer Stage IV is poor to say the least (because of the discovery of the last stage). In most cases, it is estimated that only a rate of 10% 5-year survival for NSCLC, with a median survival rate [when 50% of patients are still alive, and 50% have died] only about 8 months. This increased is reduced to about a rate of 5% 5-year survival with SCLC, and only a few months, if not treated.

Although, influencing factors may include age, health, choice of treatment and the patient's response to treatment and the specific characteristics of the tumor. It has also been known for certain cancer patients who survived against all odds longer than others (due mostly to the body to be more tolerant of treatments).


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