Adenocarcinoma of The Lung
What is adenocarcinoma of the lung?
Adenocarcinoma of the lung is a type of lung cancer. It is the most common manifestation of the disease, and makes up to thirty five percent of all lung cancers diagnosed. Unfortunately, the last three decades have seen an increase in the frequency of adenocarcinoma of the lung. In women, it is the most common lung cancer, and the same applies to non-smokers.
The greater percentage of adenocarcinomas are found at the outer edge of the lungs; due to this fact, they often remain asymptomatic (without symptoms) until they have advanced to a later stage.
Symptoms Of Adenocarcinoma of The Lung
As mentioned above, lung adenocarcinoma typically starts to form on the periphery of the lungs; this means that the recognizable signs of lung cancer, such as the coughing up of blood, or a chronic cough, may not manifest until the disease is in a later stage of development.
Some early symptoms to watch for include:
- Fatigue/low energy
- Back, chest or shoulder aches
- Mild shortness of breath
In addition, symptoms can include:
- A worsening cough
- Unrelenting chest pain
- Loss of voice
- Respiratory infections
- Swelling of the face and neck
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss without trying to lose weight
Diagnosis
Though adenocarcinoma of the lung is usually first diagnosed with a chest x-ray (often incidentally, during a routine scan or while looking for something else), the following diagnostic methods are also used:
- Chest CT (computer tomography)
- Bronchoscopy
- PET Scan
- Sputum Cytology
Based on the results of the chosen test, a doctor will likely wish to obtain tissue samples to confirm a diagnosis; further tests may be ordered to determine if the cancer has spread or metastasized. Tests for “lung markers” (indicators of genetic changes found in some cases of adenocarcinoma) may also be advised in order to aid an oncologist in choosing the best course of action.
Remember: Symptoms may not show up until later; if you have any suspicion of adenocarcinoma of the lung, see your doctor.