Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

Large Cell Large cell lung cancer is a serious and common lung cancer. The growth and spread of large cell lung cancer is much slower as compared to small cells. It can occur in any part of the lung. It generally originates in the central portion of the lung and is not diagnosed before the spread has been made to areas outside the lung. It has the potential to spread to nearby lymph nodes and the chest wall and even goes to distant areas in the body. Smoking contributes to large cell lung cancer. Symptoms of this disease are coughing up blood, shortness of breath, wheezing in one side of the chest, marked fatigue, pneumonia affecting the same side of the lung, and unexplained loss in weight. Squamous Cell Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common kind of non-small lung cancer. These cells originate in the tissues lining the air passages in the lung. This type of cancer is generally located in the larger bronchi adjoining the trachea to the lung. Smoking is the prime reason for the development of squamous cell lung cancer. Major signs and symptoms constitute a cough that does not go away, coughing up blood or mucus, troubled breathing, wheezing, fatigue, difficulty in swallowing, fever, pain in the chest, hoarse throat, unexplained weight loss, poor appetite, and high levels of calcium in the blood. Adenocarcinoma Lung adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer and accounts for the majority of lung cancer. These cells originate in the tissues situated near the outer parts of the lung. This type of cancer is not caused from smoking and incidences of adenocarcinoma are on the rise among women who do not smoke. The major cause of lung adenocarcinoma is exposure to radon in the home. The main signs and symptoms of this carcinoma are chronic cough; fatigue; mild shortness of breath; pain in the back, shoulder, and chest; and coughing up blood occuring when the disease has progressed to later stages. Oral Laryngeal Cancer Oral laryngeal cancer occurs when cancerous cells develop in the larynx (voice box). It is caused by a mutated gene such that the abnormal cells tend to grow and the healthy cells die. The cells accumulate in the throat area and form tumors. Further, there are some risk factors associated with oral laryngeal cancer. These risks include smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, deficiency of vitamin A, exposure to asbestos, and poor dental hygiene. The main symptoms of oral laryngeal cancer are a change in the voice to hoarseness, pain while swallowing, development of a lump or swallowing in the neck, prolonged coughing, sore throat, earache, and difficulty breathing.

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