What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer starts in the lungs and can spread to lymph nodes or other organs of the body, such as the brain. Conversely, cancer that starts in other organs can spread to the lungs. When cancer cells spread from one organ to another, it is called metastasis.
Lung cancers generally fall into two main types: small cell and non-small cell (including adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma). These types of cancer grow differently and require different treatments. Non-small cell lung cancer is more common than small cell lung cancer.
The lungs are a pair of cone-shaped organs that are responsible for breathing and are located in the chest. When inhaling, oxygen passes through the lungs and enters the body. When exhaling, the lungs release carbon dioxide, a waste product from the body’s cells. Each lung has sections called lobes. The left lung has two lobes. The right lung is slightly larger and has three lobes. The bronchi are two tubes that branch off the trachea and continue into the right and left lungs. Sometimes, lung cancer also affects bronchi. Inside the lungs, there are tiny air sacs called alveoli and small tubes called bronchioles.
Types of lung cancer
There are two main types of lung cancer that are treated in very different ways.
- Non-small cell lung cancer: It is a condition where malignant (cancerous) cells form in the tissues of the lung, accounting for 80% of all lung cancer cases. This form of cancer involves many different types of cells:
- Squamous cell carcinoma: Cancer that develops in the thin, flat cells lining the inside of the lungs. It is also known as epidermoid carcinoma.
- Large cell carcinoma: Cancer that starts in various types of large cells.
- Adenocarcinoma: Cancer that starts in the cells that line the alveoli and produce substances such as mucus.
- Small cell lung cancer: A condition where malignant (cancerous) cells develop in lung tissue; it accounts for 20% of all lung cancer cases. This form of lung cancer grows faster, is highly aggressive, and spreads metastases relatively quickly. The types of small cell lung cancer are named based on the type of cells and their appearance under the microscope, which are then classified as:
- Small cell carcinoma (oat-cell cancer).
- Combined small cell carcinoma.
Lung cancer in Mexico.
In 2020, global estimates suggested there were over 2 million lung cancer cases, with approximately 1.8 million deaths attributed to this condition. In Mexico, there were 7,811 new cases and 6,733 deaths attributed to lung cancer. Mortality trends for this cancer have shown varying degrees of decline over different time periods. From 1990 to 2016, the mortality rate decreased on average 1.9% each year nationwide; this decline varied in men and women (2.1% and 1.4% per year, respectively). Nevertheless, additional data regarding cultural factors, accessibility to healthcare services, as well as environmental exposure are still required to establish a correlation between these factors and the onset of this disease, in order to prevent its occurrence in future generations.
At least two out of the three epidemiological analyses found an increase in cancer mortality in the northern states (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Tamaulipas), and one of these two studies also noted a rise in the number of new cases in the same region. In contrast, the peripheral areas around Mexico City reported a 30% decrease in the number of deaths.
Lung cancer in Latin America.
While cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, lung cancer has become the primary cause of death in Latin America, and its incidence is expected to continue rising in the region. Projections indicate that by 2030 there will be over 151,000 new cases, with the disease causing approximately 135,000 deaths, which is a 50% increase compared to current figures.
Lung cancer worldwide.
Lung cancer is one of the most dangerous silent diseases in the world: it claims approximately 3 lives per minute, 4,000 per day, and 1.59 million annually.
According to GLOBOCAN 2018, cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Every year, there are 1.8 million new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 9.6 million people worldwide, with lung cancer having the highest mortality rate in the general population, accounting for 1.8 million deaths.
Although all cancers are important, the primary concern today is lung cancer because, unlike other tumors, it is the most aggressive and lethal.
Symptoms.
Symptoms of lung cancer can include:
- Chest discomfort or pain
- Cough that does not improve or worsens over time
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Blood in the sputum (mucus expelled from the lungs)
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling extremely tired
- Swelling of the face or neck veins
Treatments
Surgery: A procedure where the physician removes the cancerous tissue.
Chemotherapy: It seeks to reduce or eliminate the tumor with medications. These medications can be administered as a tablet or intravenously.
Radiation therapy: Involves the use of high-intensity radiation (similar to X-rays) to kill cancer cells.
Targeted therapy: It refers to the use of medications to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells. These medications can be taken orally as tablets or administered intravenously. Tests will be conducted to determine if targeted therapy is suitable for your type of cancer before this treatment is administered.