What Causes Bronchogenic Carcinoma?

Cigarette smoking is the principal cause of bronchogenic carcinoma. Pulmonary scarring is also considered to be a potential candidate in pathophysiology of Bronchogenic Carcinoma lung cancer.

Other contributing factors include occupational health hazards such as exposure to arsenic, asbestos, chloromethyl ethers, chromates, mustard gas, nickel, radiation, radon gas, and various radioactive substances.

Bronchogenic Carcinoma Signs and Symptoms:

Peripheral Bronchogenic Carcinoma tumors are often asymptomatic until the lung cancer nodules (cancer tumors) have progressed to the pleura and/or the chest wall. Symptoms usually associated with Bronchogenic Carcinoma include: atelectasis, chest pain, persistent cough, diminished breathing sounds,, dyspnea, fatigue, fever, Hemoptysis, loss of appetite, neoplasm,, recurrent malignant serosanguineous pleural effusions, streaks of blood in the sputum, unexplained weight-loss, weakness, and wheezing.

Diagnosis of Bronchogenic Carcinoma:

Depending upon the type, the location and the extent of the spread (stage) of the Bronchogenic Carcinoma tumors, the disease presents unique (Horner's syndrome, Pancoast syndrome, Superior vena cava syndrome, Paraneoplastic syndrome, etc.) symptoms. Therefore, a careful review of the symptoms presented and a detailed physical exam greatly helps with the diagnosis of this disease. Other diagnostic tests for Bronchogenic Carcinoma may include: Bronchoscopy, Chest x-ray, CT scans, Cytologic examination of pleural fluid, Exploratory thoracotomy, Liver biopsy, Parasternal mediastinotomy, Pleural biopsy, Sputum sample analysis, and Thoracic MRI.

Treatment, Cures and Remedies for Bronchogenic Carcinoma:

Treatment for non-small cell carcinoma stages I and II usually involves a surgery. Patients who are diagnosed with stage IV or IIIB malignant pleural effusion carcinoma are usually not considered for a surgical cancer treatment. The determination of whether or not surgical resection would be appropriate for a patient is largely influenced by the size of the lung nodules, as well as the location and the type of cancerous tumors. Age is usually not a factor. Therefore, elderly patients are not automatically excluded from surgical pulmonary resection simply because of their age.

Depending upon the specific nature and extent of the Bronchogenic Carcinoma disease involved, following medicines and treatment options may be considered: Brachytherapy, Bronchodilator medicines, Carboplatin, Chemotherapy with cisplatin, Chemotherapy with Topoisomerase inhibitors, Cisplatin, Corticosteroids, Docetaxel, Laser bronchoscopy, Lobectomy, Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Oxygen therapy, Paclitaxel, Physiotherapy, Pneumonectomy, Prophylactic cranial radiation therapy, Radiation therapy, Thoracotomy, and Antibiotics therapy for combating bacterial lung infections.

Prevention of Bronchogenic Carcinoma:

Smoking cessation greatly helps prevent bronchogenic carcinoma. Avoiding exposure to occupational/environmental carcinogens also helps reduces one's chances of developing Bronchogenic Carcinoma.

Bronchogenic Carcinoma Prognosis:

Most cases of Bronchogenic carcinoma have a poor prognosis. If left untreated, most bronchogenic carcinoma patients survive approximately 8 to 9 months. However, it is not uncommon for Bronchogenic carcinoma patients -whose tumors are surgically excised -to live longer than 5 years following a surgery. Usually small cell carcinoma is inoperable.

Don't forget to check out Lung Disease News section of this website for the latest Bronchogenic Carcinoma Treatment News and our Lung Disease Articles Library for the latest Bronchogenic carcinoma related articles.

Note: Consult a qualified medical practitioner if you suspect lung disease. Information published at this mesothelioma lung disease asbestos cancer forum - or most other websites for that matter - should not be relied upon for health decisions. The information presented on this web site is not intended as a substitute for medical care, medical, legal, or professional advise. Please talk with your healthcare provider for all your health concerns.