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Answering your questions about lung cancer

Answering your questions about lung cancer

Lung cancer experts Dr. Lung cancer is the second most common non-skin cancer in American men and women, and we know there are many questions about the disease, from how it develops to how it is treated.

Here are some of the conversations that took place on Facebook. Please take a moment to read the text and share any additional questions you may have in the comments section of this blog post. Dr. Gershenhorn and Dr. Kyiv will do their best to answer them.

Q: Should a person with lung cancer seek a second opinion? Is there a genetic predisposition to lung cancer? What can we do to end the stigma that lung cancer is a disease for smokers? Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance

L: A second opinion never hurts. You owe it to yourself to make sure you are well informed. There are no well-described common genetic syndromes that put people at risk of developing lung cancer. The more we keep talking about lung cancer, its causes, treatments, etc., the more awareness we will generate. – Dr

P: Are all nodules in the lung/lungs always cancerous? – Deborah

L: No. Most are not cancerous. If a knot is found, be sure to consult a lung expert. You can learn more about how we diagnose lung spots through the program at our hospital near Chicago. – Dr. K

Q: What are the signs of lung cancer? – Terry

For: cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, weight loss, fatigue. However, most patients do not show any symptoms, which is why screening is important in people at high risk. – Dr. K

Q: What kind of innovation is happening in the field of lung cancer? – Brooke

L: Lung cancer moves in two different directions: targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Targeted therapies combine drugs and driver mutations identified in an individual’s cancer. Immunosuppressive therapies use the power of the immune system to directly kill cancer cells. There are many agents currently available, and in the testing phase, they take advantage of these two different approaches. – Dr

Q: What have you heard that would help people overcome the abstinence to quit smoking? – Felicia

L: A good smoking cessation program and a good support system are key to fighting nicotine addiction. – Dr. K

Q: I’ve always heard that smoking is the cause of lung cancer. What about those who have never smoked? – Kony

L: Lung cancer develops in non-smokers, about 10 percent of them. Other causes include asbestos, radon, and other environmental exposures. Non-smokers have a higher rate of mutations that can be attacked with pills than conventional chemotherapy. – Dr. quality. K

Q: I would like to know if doctors have used nivolumab. – Rene

L: Yes. At this time, it has been approved by the FDA for squamous cell lung cancer only. I am very excited about the potential of this drug. – Dr. c

P: What is the chance of developing lung cancer when the carcinoid tumor is removed? – bam

L: Very unlikely, but you should be closely followed up by pulmonologists. – Dr. K

Q: Does chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) directly lead to lung cancer? – musical composition

L: The same risk factor for COPD also causes lung cancer: smoking. Therefore, COPD patients are more likely to develop lung cancer. – Dr. c

Q: My sister has stage 4 lung cancer with six metastases in her brain, and the cancer is present in different areas of her body. Would you or would you be a candidate for immunotherapy or other targeted therapies, or do they only work if cancer is isolated? – Regina

L: At this time, only immunotherapies are approved for squamous cell lung cancer. However, this is likely to change in the near future. Specifically targeted therapies must be tailored to the characteristics of the patient’s cancer. – Dr. c

Q: I lost my grandfather, some of my cousins, and many of my uncles and aunts to lung cancer. My mother has breast cancer. I had pre-uterine cancer when I was 16 years old. My sisters also had different types of cancer. However, why do they say that cancer is not genetic? – there

L: Teresa, that’s a tough question. We recommend an evaluation by a genetic counselor to better understand your and your family’s risks. You can learn more about genetic counseling, including the psychological benefits and risks involved. – Dr

Q: Both of my parents had lung cancer. I am 52 years old and a former smoker. What do lung exams provide? – Tracy

L: A CT scan of the lungs provides an opportunity to detect lung cancer at an early stage, which may improve treatment outcomes. – Dr. K

Q: What is the difference between genetic and genomic testing? – Susan

L: Think of genomic testing as taking the tumor itself and understanding its drivers, why the cell became cancerous. Genome testing allows you to name it for its unique motor, the molecular controller. Then it can attack the cancer based on this molecular motor. Genetic testing is about understanding what your parents gave you and what was passed on to your children. When it comes to genetic testing related to lung cancer, the research is ongoing. – Dr.

Learn more about lung cancer, including how it is diagnosed and treated.

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