Overview
Lung cancer arises in the airways or lung tissue. It is divided into non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), about 85% of cases, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which grows faster and is closely linked to smoking. Air pollution and second-hand smoke mean that a significant share of Indian patients have never smoked.
Symptoms of lung cancer
- A cough that does not go away, or changes in a long-standing cough
- Coughing up blood
- Breathlessness, chest pain, hoarseness
- Repeated chest infections
- Unexplained weight loss and fatigue
Risk factors
- Tobacco smoking (cigarettes, bidis) and second-hand smoke
- Air pollution, indoor biomass smoke
- Occupational exposure to asbestos, radon, silica
- Family history and previous lung disease
Diagnosis
A chest X-ray or CT scan shows the lesion; PET-CT stages the disease. Tissue is obtained by bronchoscopy or CT-guided biopsy and is tested for driver mutations (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, KRAS and others) and PD-L1 expression. These results decide whether targeted therapy or immunotherapy is appropriate.
Treatment at Shichim Oncocare
Early-stage disease is treated with surgery or radiotherapy. For advanced disease, treatment is systemic: oral targeted therapy for patients with a driver mutation, immunotherapy (alone or with chemotherapy) for others, and chemotherapy protocols for small cell lung cancer. At Shichim Oncocare, infusions are given as day-care with symptom control, nutrition and breathing support alongside.