Brief introduction to the manifestations of small cell lung cancer

What is the manifestation of small cell lung cancer? Most people don't know much about this disease, but the troubles caused by this disease are very great, so it is necessary to check and treat it as soon as possible. But what are the manifestations of this disease? Let's learn about it together!

Smokers are the most vulnerable group, and more than 90% of patients with small cell lung cancer have a history of smoking. The age of onset is 35-68 years old, with an average age of 60 years old, and there are more males than females.

Symptoms and signs caused by the primary tumor

(I) Cough: It is a common early symptom, mostly irritating dry cough. When the tumor causes bronchial stenosis, a persistent, high-pitched metallic cough may occur. Cough is often accompanied by a small amount of mucus sputum, and when secondary infection occurs, it may be combined with purulent sputum.

(ii) Hemoptysis: Most cases are blood in the sputum or intermittent bloody sputum. In a few cases, severe hemoptysis occurs due to erosion of large blood vessels.

(III) Chest tightness and shortness of breath: The tumor causes bronchial stenosis, or the tumor metastasizes to the hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes, and the enlarged lymph nodes compress the main bronchus or tracheal carina.

Symptoms and signs due to tumor extension within the chest

(1) Chest pain: The tumor directly invades the pleura, ribs or chest wall, causing varying degrees of chest pain. If the tumor invades the pleura, it will produce irregular dull pain or pain. If the tumor compresses the intercostal nerves, the chest pain may affect their distribution area.

(ii) Superior vena cava syndrome: It is mostly caused by compression of the superior vena cava or, less commonly, blockage by a tumor thrombus in the cavity. It manifests as edema of the face, neck, and upper limbs, distended neck veins, congestion and varicose veins in the chest, and may be accompanied by dizziness, swelling of the head, and headache.

(III) Dysphagia: Tumors invade or compress the esophagus, causing dysphagia.

The treatment of small cell lung cancer is mainly chemotherapy, which can be combined or sequentially with radiotherapy. For less than 5% of early-stage patients limited to the lung parenchyma, surgical treatment is considered. Limited-stage SCLC is mainly treated with synchronous chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy and radiotherapy sequentially. Synchronous chemoradiotherapy is better than sequential treatment. Synchronous chemoradiotherapy should be performed as early as possible, and preventive whole-brain radiotherapy should be given. Preventive whole-brain radiotherapy has significant benefits for survival. Extensive-stage SCLC is mainly treated with chemotherapy, and local or metastatic lesions are treated at an elective time.

Prevention of small cell lung cancer is better than treatment, and it is mainly divided into three levels of prevention. The first level of prevention is for healthy people, mainly including not smoking and staying away from secondhand smoke pollution. Try to avoid outdoor air pollution and kitchen fumes. Choose environmentally friendly decoration materials. Balanced nutrition, eat more grains, vegetables and fruits. Maintain an optimistic and positive attitude towards life and improve psychological adaptability. The second level of prevention is early diagnosis and early treatment for high-risk groups, mainly for long-term smokers over 40 years old, smokers for more than 20 years, smokers under 20 years old who start smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day, those who are often exposed to coal smoke, coal tar and oil smoke, those who are exposed to excessive radiation (miners, etc.), those with chronic cough, blood in sputum and those with a family history of lung cancer. It is best for high-risk groups to have regular comprehensive physical examinations every year, and CT examinations if conditions permit. If symptoms such as irritating cough, bloody sputum and hemoptysis occur, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time. The third level of prevention is rehabilitation prevention. Lung cancer patients should follow the doctor's advice and go to the hospital for follow-up examinations on schedule.