What is lung cancer?

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. . Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow uncontrollably.

Lung cancer begins in the lungs and can spread to lymph nodes or other organs of the body, such as the brain. Cancer from other organs can also spread to the lungs. When cancer cells spread from one organ to another, they are called metastases.

Lung cancer is typically divided into two main types, called small cell and non-small cell (including adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma). These types of lung cancer grow differently and are treated differently. Non-small cell lung cancer is more common than small cell lung cancer. It is important to detect and begin treatment for any type of lung cancer in a timely manner. Many years of lung cancer treatment in Switzerland have been at the highest level, showing positive progress in managing the disease.

Normal structure and function of the lungs

Your lungs are two spongy organs in your chest. Your right lung has three lobes, called segments. Your left lung has two segments. The left lung is smaller because the heart takes up more space on that side of the body.

When you breathe, air enters through your mouth or nose and goes into the lungs through the trachea (windpipe). The trachea divides into tubes called bronchi, which enter the lungs and further divide into smaller bronchi. These smaller bronchi branch into even smaller airways called bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles are tiny air sacs known as alveoli.

Alveoli absorb oxygen from the inhaled air and remove carbon dioxide from the blood during exhalation. The absorption of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide are the primary functions of your lungs.

Lung cancer usually begins in the cells lining the broncLung cancer usually begins in the cells lining the bronchi and parts of the lung, such as bronchioles or alveoli.hi and parts of the lung, such as bronchioles or alveoli.

A thin lining called the pleura surrounds the lungs. The pleura protects your lungs and helps them slide against the chest wall when they expand and contract during breathing.

Beneath the lungs, a thin, dome-shaped muscle called the diaphragm separates the chest cavity from the abdomen. When you breathe, the diaphragm moves up and down, causing air to enter and exit the lungs.

Types of treatment

The treatment of lung cancer in Switzerland is carried out in several ways, depending on the type of lung cancer and the extent of its spread. People with non-small cell lung cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatment methods. People with small cell lung cancer are typically treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

  • Surgery A procedure in which doctors remove cancerous tissue.
  • Chemotherapy: The use of special medications to reduce or destroy cancer. These drugs can be in the form of tablets you take or medications administered through an IV, sometimes a combination of both.
  • Radiation therapy: The use of high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to destroy cancer.
  • Targeted therapy: The use of medications to block the growth and spread of cancer cells. These drugs can be in the form of tablets you take or medications administered through an IV. You will undergo tests to determine if targeted therapy is suitable for your type of cancer before using this treatment.

Doctors from different specialties often work together in the treatment of lung cancer. Pulmonologists are doctors who specialize in lung diseases. Surgeons are medical professionals who perform surgeries. Thoracic surgeons specialize in chest, heart, and lung surgery. Medical oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with medications. Radiation oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with radiation.