A terrible disease such as cancer has recently become quite common. Modern medicine is trying to find drugs that can prevent the disease. But, unfortunately, so far, not a single developed technique gives a complete one hundred percent guarantee of healing. Squamous cell lung cancer is common. According to statistics, more men are affected by such oncology.
Description of pathology
Lung cancer is a very common, malignant neoplasm. The disease combines several forms of the disease.
The following types of pathology are distinguished:
- small cell;
- large cell;
- squamous cell lung cancer;
- adenocarcinoma.
These ailments differ in structure, degree of spread, rate of progression. Of the above oncological types of disease, squamous cell lung cancer occurs in most cases. That's what the doctors say. Pathology arises from flat cells of epithelial tissues.
Carcinogens are considered the cause. These are environmental factors andother chemicals that enter the human body through the respiratory system. Therefore, heavy smokers, residents of cities with a polluted atmosphere, people working in hazardous industries, the risk of disease is high.
How does a malignant neoplasm develop? The surface layer of bronchial cavity cells is densely covered with cilia. They help to remove phlegm while in motion. Harmful substances, getting into the respiratory system, contribute to the destruction of cilia. In their place, flat cells of the epithelial tissue grow. Selections cannot be output. As a result, mucus stagnation begins. In addition, mucus also combines with harmful chemicals. This creates a favorable environment for the formation of neoplasms.
Causes and factors that provoke the disease
Let's take a closer look at why squamous cell lung cancer occurs.
The main causes of malignant neoplasms in the respiratory organs include:
- Permanent non-specific diseases. Inflammatory processes in the bronchi - bronchitis. Diseases caused by tuberculosis microbacteria. Frequent inflammation of the lungs may underlie the development of oncology.
- Genetic factor. An illness is considered hereditary if at least three people in the family have been ill.
- Age features. Usually, pathology develops in people after 60 years.
- Diseases of the endocrine system.
- Permanent work at hazardous enterprises.
- Smoking. This habit of many people is becoming almostnot the main root cause of lung cancer. It has been proven that a smoker is 30 times more likely to get sick than a person who rejects cigarettes. When tobacco smoke is inhaled, approximately 4,000 harmful substances settle on the mucous membrane. They can kill he althy cells. Passive smoking is also harmful.
- Living in an area contaminated with radioactive substances.
Disease classification
Today, there are several different forms of malignant squamous cell neoplasm of the lung.
The following classification is common:
- Squamous keratinizing (differentiated) lung cancer. It is characterized by the formation of keratin cells. This state is characterized by the formation of so-called oncological pearls. If the disease is diagnosed in the initial stages, then it responds well to therapy. At the same time, you should know that this is a rather dangerous type of disease.
- Squamous cell nonkeratinized lung cancer (undifferentiated). This form is characterized by the presence of mitosis and cell polymorphism. Some of them may contain keratin. This type of disease is the most malignant form. It occurs in about 65% of cases. Mostly men over 40 suffer from this form. Pathology is characterized by rapid development. Metastases appear very quickly. They penetrate the lymph nodes of the root of the lungs, affect the bones, liver and brain. Due to such rapiddevelopment very often when the disease is diagnosed, the patient already has metastases.
- Low-differentiated education. Malignant cells with this variety are localized separately. This seriously complicates the examination. There is a high risk of misdiagnosis. Very often suggest the development of adenocarcinoma. Metastases affect the liver, brain, and adrenal glands. The complexity of the diagnosis gives a disappointing prognosis. If the disease is detected in the early stages, therapy will provide a positive result.
Depending on the anatomical features, they are distinguished:
- Central squamous cell lung cancer. This pathology is observed in almost 2/3 of patients. It is characterized by damage to the large bronchi. Sometimes it can even affect the trachea.
- Peripheral. It could be squamous cell carcinoma of the left lung or the right. This type occurs in 3% of cases. Usually this disease occurs without symptoms. There are no painful endings in light tissues. As a result, the neoplasm can increase without making itself felt. Then it affects the bronchi and neighboring organs. Bleeding occurs. It should be noted that the right lung is more prone to disease, due to physiological characteristics.
Atypical forms of cancer are quite rare:
- disseminated;
- mediastinal.
Symptoms of disease
Squamous cell lung cancer can proceed for a long time without showing anysigns. This makes timely diagnosis very difficult.
This disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Dry, often turning into a wet, prolonged cough. Subsequently, bleeding may occur. They indicate irritation of the bronchial endings by the tumor. Coughed up sputum is accompanied by an unpleasant odor and impurities of pus.
- The appearance of frequent pneumonia and pleurisy.
- When the larynx is affected by the disease, hoarseness and hoarseness appear. Sometimes the voice disappears altogether. This symptom is characteristic of a keratinizing squamous neoplasm.
- Feeling short of breath. atelectasis develops. There is shortness of breath as a result of impaired lung ventilation.
- Fatigue, decreased performance.
- Fingers become irregular.
- Weight loss.
- Frequent and strong, radiating to the heart, arms, back, pain. The symptom is characteristic in the later stages of the disease.
Stages of pathology
The course of the disease is divided according to the degree of progression.
Distinguish such a pathology as squamous cell lung cancer, 4 stages:
- Tumor size no more than 3 cm. No metastases.
- The size of the formation is more than 3 cm. The tumor can grow into the pleura. There is atelectasis of a certain lobe.
- The neoplasm covers neighboring tissues. Atelectasis extends to the entire lung. Metastases affect the lymph nodes.
- Tumor grows into neighboringlarge organs (heart, vessels).
Diagnosis of disease
Detecting squamous cell lung cancer is difficult enough. After all, this pathology has similar symptoms with many diseases of the respiratory system, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, abscesses. This is the main reason why the disease is detected only in the last stages.
If this disease is suspected, the patient is sent for the following examinations:
- fluorography;
- radiography;
- layered x-ray tomography;
- CT;
- bronchoscopy;
- tumor markers like CYFRA, SSC;
- thoracoscopy (in which a biopsy is taken).
Diagnosing an illness requires a systematic approach. After all, a malignant tumor can disguise itself as other diseases.
Cure disease
Therapy for patients diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer is carried out by several methods:
- chemical;
- beam;
- surgical.
Of course, only a doctor can choose the right tactics to fight cancer. An individual therapy regimen is assigned for each case.
The best results are obtained when the above methods are combined.
Surgical method
Instrumental or surgical intervention is the most reliable and basic method of treatment. Excellent results are provided by the surgical method, if it is undertaken at stage 1progression.
However, the operation has a number of contraindications:
- education hits the throat,
- for kidney and liver failure,
- after myocardial infarction.
Chemotherapy
Treatment of squamous cell lung cancer with modern drugs increases the chances of recovery by 4 times.
But, unfortunately, not all cancer cells are sensitive to anticancer drugs.
Radiation therapy
Method of treatment with ionizing radiation. Radiation therapy is indicated for patients who cannot be operated on.
This method of treatment is usually carried out at 3-4 stages of the disease. Only 40% of patients can prevent further development of the neoplasm. For the best effect, the radiation method is used in combination with chemotherapy.
Forecast
What can a patient with squamous cell lung cancer expect?
The forecast depends on many factors, including:
- progression stage;
- individual characteristics of the body;
- professionalism of doctors;
- medical provision.
If the tumor is detected at stage 1 or 2, there are no metastases, or there are isolated cases in the lymph nodes, and the neoplasm itself does not exceed 3-5 cm, the prognosis is quite different. The survival rate of such patients is - 80%.
Significantly worse prognosis for patients who have stage 3. The survival rate drops to 25%.
With 4 stages of progression, the prognosis is completely disappointing. However, palliative care can significantly improve a patient's quality of life.
