What Is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. Cancer begins when cells in the body start to grow out of control.

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

Lung cancer is generally divided into two main types: 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. Whatever the type, it is important to detect the cancer early and begin treatment promptly. For many years, lung cancer treatment in Switzerland has been delivered to the highest standard, with positive effects on the course of the disease.

01 Normal structure and function of the lungs

Your lungs are 2 sponge-like organs in your chest. Your right lung has 3 sections, called lobes. Your left lung has 2 lobes. The left lung is smaller because the heart takes up more room on that side of the body.

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

The alveoli take up oxygen from the air you breathe in and remove carbon dioxide from the blood when you breathe out. Taking in oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide are your lungs’ main functions.

Lung cancer usually begins in the cells that line the bronchi and parts of the lung such as the bronchioles or alveoli.

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

Below the lungs, a thin, dome-shaped muscle called the diaphragm separates the chest from the abdomen. When you breathe, the diaphragm moves up and down, drawing air into and out of the lungs.

02 Types of treatment

Cancer treatment in Switzerland takes several forms, depending on the type of lung cancer and how far it has spread. People with non-small cell lung cancer may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy or a combination of these. People with small cell lung cancer are usually treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

• Surgery. An operation in which doctors remove the cancerous tissue.
• Chemotherapy. The use of special medicines to shrink or destroy the cancer. The medicines may be tablets you take, medicines given into a vein, or sometimes both.
• Radiotherapy. The use of high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to destroy the cancer.
• Targeted therapy. The use of medicines to block the growth and spread of cancer cells. The medicines may be tablets you take or medicines given into a vein. Before this treatment is used, you will have tests to determine whether targeted therapy is suitable for your type of cancer.

Doctors from different specialties often work together to treat lung cancer. Pulmonologists are doctors who specialise in lung diseases. Surgeons are doctors who perform operations. Thoracic surgeons specialise in surgery of the chest, heart and lungs. Medical oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with medicines. Radiation oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with radiation.