The lung neoplasm is the abnormal growth that develops in or on the lung which can either be benign or cancerous. The benign growths are considered to be harmless and are unlike to spread to other parts of the body although they have the possibility of becoming cancerous. These noncancerous growths can develop complications and may require treatment. Smoking is considered to be the major risk of developing lung cancer and various tests are used to detect cancer and stage it. The survival is based on various factors such as the type of cancer, the stage of cancer, the health of the individual and the treatment options.
Benign tumors of the lung
The benign tumor of the lung is the non-cancerous growths which are usually rare. Some of the types of benign lung tumors include hamartoma, papilloma, adenoma and leiomyoma. The hamartoma is the common form of benign tumor of the lung which is the overgrowth of cells that are similar to cartilage and the papilloma grows outward from the surface of the tissue. Various types of adenoma can develop in the lung and are based on the cells they originate. The benign tumors usually don’t present any symptoms and are often detected when tests are done for other conditions. However, if the tumors block the bronchi, it can cause shortness of breath, blood with coughing and wheezing. Generally, the treatment for the benign tumors may not be necessary and are mostly monitored for changes in size or depending on the individual, it can be surgically removed.
Lung cancer
Cancer that begins in the lung is known as primary lung cancer and when it has developed in another part of the body and spreads to the lungs, it is called secondary lung cancer. The two types of primary lung cancer are the small cell lung cancer and non small cell lung cancer. The small cell lung cancer develops in the tissue of the lung. Smoking is considered to be one of the major risk factors for developing small cell lung cancer. Additional risk factors include exposure to radiation and various materials such as asbestos, air pollution and having a family history of lung cancer. Among most of the individuals with the small cell lung cancer, the current treatment options do not completely cure cancer. It is estimated that around 87% of all lung cancer in the United Kingdom are non small cell cancer. There are three common types of non small cell lung cancer that include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell cancer and large cell carcinoma. Some of the symptoms associated with lung cancer include trouble breathing, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, weight loss, chest discomfort, cough, wheezing, fatigue and blood in the sputum. The standard forms of treatment used lung cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and symptoms control treatment. Some of the treatments to help the individual breath better include cryotherapy, laser therapy, photodynamic therapy and microwave ablation.
References
http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/lung/lung-cancer/benign-tumours/?region=on
https://www.cancer.gov/types/lung/patient/small-cell-lung-treatment-pdq#link/_50
