Adenocarcinoma of Lung

What is Adenocarcinoma of Lung?

Adenocarcinoma of Lung occurs when abnormal cells in the lungs multiply and form a mass or tumor. Eventually the tumor can spread to other places such as: lymph nodes, liver, bones, brain and adrenal glands.

A form of non-small cell lung cancer, lung adenocarcinoma is the most common lung cancer and accounts for approximately 80 percent of malignant lung tumors. Adenocarcinomas make up about 50% of those.

Adenocarcinoma of Lung is generally found in smokers, but it is the most commonly found lung cancer in non-smokers.

What are the symptoms of Adenocarcinoma of Lung?

Adenocarcinoma of Lung has the following symptoms, but symptoms may not show themselves for quite some time:

Persistent cough
Coughing up blood or mucus
Wheezing
Subtle shortness of breath
Upper back pain
Chest pain
Lack of appetite
Loss of weight
Hoarse voice
Difficult swallowing

What causes Adenocarcinoma of Lung?

Adenocarcinoma of Lung is associated with current or past heavy tobacco use. It also may be linked to second-hand smoke from tobacco. Other possible causes involve patient exposure to radon gas and asbestos. Exposure to other cancer-causing agents also may be associate with lung adenocarcinoma, these may include, gasoline, diesel exhaust, coal products, mustard gas, vinyl chloride or arsenic.

How is Adenocarcinoma of Lung diagnosed?

Adenocarcinoma of Lung is diagnosed in a variety of ways and may include the following tests:

Signs and symptoms
Family history, including patient history of smoking
Physical exam
Blood tests
Urine tests
Imaging tests (MRI, PET Scan among others)
Sputum sample

What are the treatments for Adenocarcinoma of Lung?

Adenocarcinoma of Lung may be treated in the early stages with surgery. However, after the early stages, treatment may include the following: Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, and Immunotherapy among others. Clinical trials may be available.

The prognosis is poor for patients whose lung cancer has spread beyond the chest or it has moved into the lymph nodes between the lungs.

The only route to cure is to surgically remove the tumor or destroy it with radiation.

The 5-year prognosis is less than 20% of patents.

Where can I find out more about Adenocarcinoma of Lung?