Lung Cancer: Pathophysiology the Pathophysiology

Lung Cancer: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of lung cancer development is complex and incompletely understood" (Mazzone 2004). While it is well-known that environmental factors, such as smoking and exposure to environmental toxins like second-hand smoke and asbestos are factors that can contribute to a patient's tendency to develop lung cancer, not every individual who is exposed to these toxins develops the disease. There is a clear, but still uncertain genetic component. The genes that influence the pathogenesis of lung cancer stimulate the cell growth and differentiation, cell cycle processes, apoptosis, angiogenesis, tumor progression, and immune regulation involved in the development of the ailment. "Unveiling these mechanisms should translate into novel means of risk stratification, prevention, early detection, and therapy" (Mazzone 2004).

Clinical signs and symptoms

Most people assume that a smoker's cough is the obvious clinical sign of lung cancer, but the signs and symptoms can be far more diffuse. Symptoms can "result from the effects of local growth of the tumor, regional growth" or result from the disease's "spread through the lymphatic system" (Mazzone 2004). Local or peripheral growth the lung can cause the traditional symptoms of coughing and other features associated with large-airway obstruction such as shortness of breath and hoarseness and pleurisy. Regional growth may lead to esophageal compression, hoarseness, and nerve paralysis. Apical growth may lead to shoulder pain radiating in an ulnar distribution. "The superior vena cava can become obstructed and involvement of the heart and pericardium can occur. Lymphatic obstruction and spread can lead to dyspnea, hypoxia, and pleural effusions. Distant metastatic disease can affect most organs. Neurologic symptoms may suggest brain metastases or spinal cord compression, and pain could indicate bone metastases" (Mazzone 2004).

Treatment