Lung cancer is the disease caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs. These abnormal cells do not function like normal lung cells. Abnormal cells may form in tumors that interfere with the proper function of the lungs that supply the body with oxygen through the blood.
Lung cancers are classified into primary and secondary cancers based on how they form.
Primary lung cancer:
Primary lung cancers start in the lung tissue itself and are classified into two types: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The classification is based on the appearance of the cancer cells when viewed under a microscope.
small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
The nuclear diameter of small cells is about 6 to 8 microns or about twice that of lymphocytes and smaller than the size of normal lung cells.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) grows more quickly and spreads more quickly than non-small cell lung cancer. Generally, small cell lung cancer has a better response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy than non-small cell lung cancer.
Small cell lung cancer is usually caused by smoking, and rarely in non-smokers.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Non-small cell lung cancer cells are larger than normal cells. About 85% of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancers (also called undifferentiated carcinomas). The tumor cells in undifferentiated or abnormal carcinomas do not look like the cells from which they developed.
Three main types of non-small cell lung cancer:
Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer. It starts from the cells of the mucus-producing glands on the airways of the lungs.
Squamous cell or melanoma develops from squamous cells on the surface of the airways. Squamous cell lung cancer is usually diagnosed only after it has spread.
Large cell carcinoma, also called undifferentiated or anaplastic carcinoma, is a non-small cell lung carcinoma without the histological features of squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Poorly differentiated or undifferentiated lymphoma cells do not look like their original tissue. Megaloblasts have large nucleoli and rapid divisions.
It has been found that about 10 percent of people with lung cancer have both small cell and non-small cell carcinomas.
Secondary lung cancer:
Secondary lung cancer develops from another part of the body and spreads to the lungs. It could be breast cancer that has spread to the lungs.
Lung cancer symptoms:
Here are some signs and symptoms of lung cancer that has not yet spread to the chest. However, these signs and symptoms are usually mistaken for other health problems rather than lung cancer. Delays in detection and treatment make lung cancer a high-mortality cancer for both men and women. In an advanced stage, the probability of successful lung cancer treatment is very low.
Persistent and intense cough.
A change in the size or color of sputum.
Sad voice for a long time.
Coughing up blood, bloody mucus, or phlegm
Recurrent pneumonia, bronchitis and other lung problems.
Chest, shoulder or back pain that is not due to coughing.
Shortness of breath and other respiratory symptoms
The following symptoms may be experienced if lung cancer has spread from the chest to other parts of the body. Symptoms may or may not depend on the part of the body where the lung cancer has spread.
Fatigue and general weakness
headache, memory loss, mental changes or blurred vision if the cancer has spread to the brain
Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite.
Bone pain. A fracture is not caused by physical injury if the cancer has spread to the bone.
Back pain, loss of bladder or bowel function or paralysis if the cancer is already in the spinal cord.
Other symptoms
Lung cancer stages:
The stages of lung cancer provide the patient and medical professionals with information about the severity of the disease. The different stages usually describe the size of the tumor and how far the cancer has spread in the body. Cancer stages help doctors determine a treatment plan and assess a patient’s outlook.
Small cell and non-small cell lung cancer have different staging systems
Stages of non-small cell lung cancer
The staging system for NSCLC uses the numbers 1-4 or Roman numerals I-IV and sometimes in combination with letters such as IIIA or 3A.
Therefore, if the diagnosis is stage I, patients and all involved in their treatment know that the cancer, which is still inside the lungs, has not spread to any lymph nodes. Then, if it is already in stage four, they know that the cancer is already in the “most advanced” stage and has spread to other parts of the body.
Stages of small cell lung cancer
There are two stages of small cell lung cancer – limited and expanded stages.
Limited stage: Cancer is only in one part of the lungs and surrounding lymph nodes. Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Lung cancer is still more curable.
Extensive stage: Lung cancer in this stage has spread outside the lungs to other organs in the chest or other parts of the body. Generally, small cell lung cancer at this stage is considered incurable and surgery to remove the cancerous portion is no longer an option. Depending on the patient’s overall health, the oncologist may recommend chemotherapy and radiation to relieve symptoms, shrink the tumor and stop it from spreading further.
Why do people want to get lung cancer screening and treatment in Turkey?
Early, prompt, and accurate diagnosis of lung cancer is essential in developing a treatment plan. People who choose to have lung cancer treatment in Turkey will find that many healthcare facilities that can provide them with the highest quality of diagnosis, treatment and aftercare are readily available to you.
Lymphoma is a cancer that affects the immune system or the lymphatic system. Lymphoma occurs when lymphocytes (the type of white blood cell that help fight infection) divide and multiply abnormally.
The lymphatic system is a network of organs and tissues (nodes) throughout the body. It is the system that moves lymph, the fluid that contains lymphocytes. There are two main types of lymphocytes:
B cells – produce antibodies against toxins, bacteria and viruses that enter the body.
T cells – destroy body cells that have been attacked by germs or viruses or have become cancerous.
Lymphatic circulation in the body is similar to blood circulation. The lymphocyte also removes damaged or aged cells for a healthy and clean body.
Since lymph travels to different parts of the body, lymphomas can develop in any of these parts. The tumor tends to grow in the bone marrow, thymus gland, spleen, lymph nodes and other organs that have a lot of lymphatic tissue, but it can also be outside. Ectopic lymphomas develop in organs outside the lymphatic system, such as the liver or lungs.
Lymphomas can develop at any age.
The main types of lymphoma
Lymphoma is classified into two main types depending on the lymphocytes from which it begins – Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There are many subspecies under each major type which are both named after pathologist Dr. Thomas Hodgkin.
Hodgkin lymphoma
One of the distinguishing characteristics of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells when the cells are viewed under a microscope. Reed-Sternberg cells are giant cells (five times larger than normal cells) that appear in various shapes. Some Reed-Sternberg cells, named after Carl Sternberg and Dorothy Reed, the scientists who identified them, contain more than one nucleus. They are derived from B cells but do not show the observable characteristics or traits of a B cell anymore.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma does not contain Reed-Sternberg cells. It starts from both B and T cells. It also affects the lymph nodes and spreads to other body systems.
Signs and symptoms
Like other cancers, lymphoma has a better chance of survival if it’s diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma have roughly similar signs and symptoms, including:
Painless swelling in the neck, groin, armpit, or stomach.
fatigue or stress
Fever and cough for no known cause.
Unexplained weight loss.
Frequent night sweats.
itchy skin;
In addition to the common symptoms mentioned above, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has other symptoms such as: a rash and unexplained pain in the bones, chest or abdomen.
See your doctor for further diagnosis because symptoms also warn of signs of other health problems.
Lymphoma diagnosis
Doctors may use any of the following diagnostic procedures for initial and subsequent diagnosis to confirm whether you have lymphoma.
blood tests
scan using imaging
Imaging procedures may include x-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radioscanning, ultrasound and positron emission tomography (PET). These imaging procedures can produce detailed images of the internal parts of the body.
biopsy
Diagnosis is based on laboratory analysis of the patient’s tissue sample. A biopsy may be done in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, or liver.
lumbar examination
This test can check for lymphoma in your central nervous system.
stages
Lymphomas also develop in stages. It is expressed as four (4) major stages, which are the same for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, in numbers 1 through 4 or Roman numerals I through IV. Substages are identified by letters after numbers.
Some doctors describe a case of lymphoma as “high grade” or “low grade” based on how the cells appear under the microscope.
In a high-grade lymphoma, the cells look as if they are dividing rapidly. This is explained by the fact that lymphoma can be a relatively rapid growth. In low-grade lymphoma, cells appear to divide at a slower rate. This is explained by the fact that the lymphoma develops slowly.
treatment
A medical team plans the treatments a patient needs based on some or all of the following factors:
The type and stage of the lymphoma
Age, general health and future plans of the patient. Does the patient suffer from other diseases?
Part or organ of the body affected by lymphoma.
Genetic test results. The test tells how a patient is likely to respond to a particular treatment.
Both types of lymphoma can be treated with surgery (usually for extracorporeal lymphoma), chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or stem cell transplantation.
Why people would like to have lymphoma treatment in Turkey.
People would like to have lymphoma treatment in Turkey for two main reasons. First, they have access to health services that are at least as good as those provided in the United States and in European countries. Second, the cost of these services is much lower.
The significant improvement in the quality of medical services in Turkey did not happen by chance. It’s a well-planned goal backed by government legislation for more than a decade.
Turkey has good oncologists and hospitals
Patients who are looking for lymphatic cancer treatment in Turkey get customized treatment plans. Treatment is planned and managed
