Adenocarcinoma

Lung cancer can be grouped into two different categories. These classifications depend on whether the lung cancer started in the lungs or started somewhere else in the body and spread to the lungs. Primary lung cancer starts in the lung and secondary lung cancer is cancer that has spread to the lungs from somewhere else in the body.

Primary lung cancer can be divided into two types of lung cancer, namely small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. About 20% of lung cancers are small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer includes three sub-categories. These variations are called squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. These three types of cancerous cells are grouped together since they attack the body in a similar fashion and their response to treatment is different than the response drawn from small cell lung cancer treatment.

Adenocarcinoma Carcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a form of carcinoma (cancer that comes from layers of cells) that grows from the cells that line the airway of the lungs. It grows from a cell that produces mucus or phlegm, and it's commonly found in the outer regions of the lungs. About 40% of all lung cancers are diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, and it's very common in women.

Treatment for Adenocarcinoma

There are several treatment options for those diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Surgery is on of the most common treatments, but sometimes, in order to slow the advancement of adenocarcinoma and/or treat the symptoms, doctors will use radiation therapy or chemotherapy. The common symptoms of adenocarcinoma could include coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, hoarseness, wheezing or weight loss.

Adenocarcinoma and Smoking

Adenocarcinoma, like most lung cancers, is most often caused by smoking. Smokers have a much greater risk of developing lung cancer than those who do not smoke. There are other risks that can cause lung cancer; however, smoking is by far the leading cause of this debilitating and often fatal disease. You can also develop lung cancer from what is called secondhand smoke, or the gaseous clouds that a smoker exhales while smoking.

Adenocarcinoma Diagnosis

The process of being diagnosed with adenocarcinoma will include a medical history, smoking history, evaluation of current symptoms and a complete physical examination. Your doctor may take test such as a CT scan and/or x-rays. Depending on what the results of these tests produce, your doctor may request additional tests such as a biopsy, sputum sample, or fine-needle aspiration.

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer and have a history of smoking or living with a smoker, you need to learn what legal options you have. Significant State Supreme Court precedents have recently been set, so you need to act now to protect your rights. Contact an attorney today.