medical report of a lung cancer patient

by Berniece Purdy 7 min read

Understanding Your Pathology Report: Lung Cancer

3 hours ago  · The pathologist sends your doctor a report that gives a diagnosis for each sample taken. Information in this report will be used to help manage your care. The questions and answers that follow are meant to help you understand medical language you might find in … >> Go To The Portal


Understanding Your Pathology Report: Lung Cancer When your lung was biopsied, the samples taken were studied under the microscope by a specialized doctor with many years of training called a pathologist. The pathologist sends your doctor a report that gives a diagnosis for each sample taken.

Full Answer

What is the percentage of surviving lung cancer?

Research from the American Lung Association (ALA) suggests that for lung cancer, the average five-year survival rate is approximately 18.6 percent. This means that about 18.6 percent of patients diagnosed with lung cancer survive five years after their diagnosis. This specific rate percentage averages all stages and types of cancer together.

What state has the most lung cancer?

State of Lung Cancer 2020 Report. Health Offer Details: New Cases More than 228,000 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year, with the rate of new cases varying by state.The report finds that Utah has the nation’s best lung cancer rate while Kentucky has the worst at almost 2.5 stage 4 lung cancer survival rate › Verified 3 days ago › Url: Lung.org View Details

What percentage of Americans have lung cancer?

Most statistics look at the overall risk of lung cancer, combining people who smoke with those who have never smoked. According to data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) covering the years 2015 to 2017, the lifetime risk of developing lung cancer in the United States among all groups is 6.3% (or roughly one out of every 15 people). 1

How many deaths per year from lung cancer?

The World Health Organization’s most recent figures are from 2018. In that year, the top five causes of cancer death globally were: Lung cancer: 1.76 million deaths; Colorectal cancer: 862,000 ...

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How do you assess a patient with lung cancer?

Tests may include:Imaging tests. An X-ray image of your lungs may reveal an abnormal mass or nodule. ... Sputum cytology. If you have a cough and are producing sputum, looking at the sputum under the microscope can sometimes reveal the presence of lung cancer cells.Tissue sample (biopsy).

What is lung cancer Detailed?

When cancer starts in the lungs, it is called lung cancer. Lung cancer begins in the lungs and may spread to lymph nodes or other organs in the body, such as the brain. Cancer from other organs also may spread to the lungs. When cancer cells spread from one organ to another, they are called metastases.

What is the medical term for lung cancer?

Also called: Bronchogenic carcinoma.

What 3 symptoms may be present in lung cancer patients?

The most common symptoms of lung cancer are:A cough that does not go away or gets worse.Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)Chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing.Hoarseness.Loss of appetite.Unexplained weight loss.Shortness of breath.Feeling tired or weak.More items...•

What are the 7 signs of lung cancer?

7 Signs of Lung Cancer You Should KnowSymptom: Persistent Cough. ... Symptom: Shortness of Breath. ... Symptom: Hoarseness. ... Symptom: Bronchitis, Pneumonia, or Emphysema. ... Symptom: Chest Pain. ... Symptom: Unexplained Weight Loss. ... Symptom: Bone Pain.

What are the 3 types of lung cancer?

The three main types are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. They are grouped together because they behave in a similar way and respond to treatment in a similar way.

What are the 4 types of lung cancer?

The most common types of lung cancer include lung nodules, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma. Rare lung cancers often don't originate in the lung. Rare lung cancers vary according to size, recommended treatment options and rate of metastasis.

What is lung cancer PDF?

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that starts in one or both lungs. These abnormal cells do not carry out the functions of normal lung cells and do not develop into healthy lung tissue. With time, the abnormal cells start to form tumors that interfere with the functioning of the lung.

Can lung cancer be cured?

Treatments. With early intervention, stage I lung cancer can be highly curable. Usually, your doctor will want to remove the cancer with surgery. You also may need chemo or radiation therapy if traces of cancer remain or are likely to stay.

Can I feel lung cancer?

In its early stages, lung cancer doesn't typically have symptoms you can see or feel. Later, it often causes coughing, wheezing, and chest pain.

Is Stage 4 lung cancer curable?

There is currently no cure for stage 4 lung cancer. However, certain treatments can alleviate the symptoms and prolong a person's life. The best approach to treatment depends partly on the type of lung cancer. There are two main types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

What were your first lung cancer symptoms?

Unexpected Signs and Symptoms of Lung CancerArm/shoulder pain or eye problems. One kind of lung cancer (called a Pancoast tumor) develops in the lung's upper part. ... Hoarseness or change in voice. ... Balance problems. ... Weight. ... Blood clots. ... Bone pain. ... Clubbed fingers – fatter fingers. ... Digestive problems.More items...

What Is The Normal Structure of The Lung?

When you breathe in, air enters through your mouth or nose and goes into your lungs through the trachea (windpipe). The trachea divides into 2 tube...

What Does Infiltrating Or Invasive Mean?

Carcinomas can start in the cells that line the inside of the bronchi, bronchioles, or alveoli. If the carcinoma cells are only in the top layer of...

What Does It Mean If My Carcinoma Is called Squamous Carcinoma Or Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Carcinomas are named based on how the cells look under the microscope. Squamous carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma is the name of a type of non-s...

What Does It Mean If My Carcinoma Is called Adenocarcinoma?

Carcinomas are named based on how the cells look under the microscope. Adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer where the cells resem...

What Does It Mean If The Following Terms Are Used to Describe The Adenocarcinoma: Papillary, Micropapillary, Acinar, Mucinous, Or Solid?

These terms describe different types of lung adenocarcinoma, which are based on how the cells look and are arranged under the microscope (called gr...

What Does It Mean If My Carcinoma Is called Small Cell Carcinoma?

Small cell carcinoma (also known as small cell lung cancer) is a special type of lung cancer that tends to grow and spread quickly. Since it has of...

What Does It Mean If My Carcinoma Is called Non-Small Cell Carcinoma?

In some cases, the cancer clearly does not look like small cell carcinoma under the microscope, but at the same time it is hard to tell whether it...

What Does It Mean If My Carcinoma Is Well Differentiated, Moderately Differentiated, Or Poorly Differentiated?

These terms are assigned by a pathologist based on how the cancer cells look under the microscope: 1. Well-differentiated carcinomas tend to look a...

What Does It Mean If My Report Says Typical Carcinoid Or Atypical Carcinoid Tumor?

Carcinoid tumors are a special type of tumor. They start from cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. This system is made up of cells that are...

What Is Vascular, Lymphatic, Angiolymphatic, Or Lymphovascular Invasion? What If My Report Mentions D2-40 (Podoplanin) Or Cd34?

Tumors can grow into small blood vessels and/or lymphatic vessels. When this is seen under the microscope it is called vascular, lymphatic, angioly...

What is the lung cancer report?

The American Lung Association produces detailed reports on lung health issues that inform the work of public health advocates, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders. The American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE "State of Lung Cancer" report analyzes national and state lung cancer statistics to show how the toll ...

What is the state of lung cancer?

The American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE "State of Lung Cancer" report analyzes national and state lung cancer statistics to show how the toll of lung cancer varies across the country and how every state and the nation can do more to protect residents from lung cancer.

What is the test for lung cancer?

If your pathology results show that you have lung cancer, your doctor might also order molecular testing, also known as genetic profiling, to identify genetic mutations in the cancer cells.

What is the most common type of lung cancer?

If lung cancer is present in your sample, the pathologist will diagnose the type of cancer. The most common types of lung cancer are: Adenocarcinoma in situ. Adenocarcinoma.

How to tell if a cell is cancerous or malignant?

The pathologist can determine if the cells are benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) by examining the sample with a microscope. If you have cancer, the pathology report will provide details about the size, shape, and appearance of the cancer cells.

What is the grade of a tumor?

In general, tumors are graded as grade 1, 2, 3, or 4, depending on the degree of abnormality. 6. Tumor margins: Tissues surrounding the tumor may be negative/"clean" (meaning there are no cancer cells) or positive/"involved" (meaning there are cancer cells). 7.

What information can be derived from a microscopic evaluation?

There are several important pieces of information that can be derived from a microscopic evaluation: Tumor type: The microscopic exam can differentiate the types of lung cancer based on the size, structure, and organization of cells and whether certain proteins are revealed when the sample is stained.

Which type of cancer is more likely to develop in the airways?

For instance, cancers that develop in the airways are more likely to be squamous cell carcinoma, while those that develop on the outer edges of the lung are more likely to be adenocarcinoma. Along with the type of sample obtained, the pathologist will refer to its location with a combination of letters and numbers.

What is gross examination?

The gross examination, also known as the macroscopic examination, describes the pathologist's examination of the sample without any diagnostic tools. With respect to lung cancer, gross examination describes: Tumor size: The measurements include the largest dimension and the general dimension in centimeters (cm) ...

What is the medical history of lung cancer?

Medical History. If a patient has signs or symptoms that may be due to lung cancer, the doctor will examine the patient and take a medical history to check for risk factors and learn more about the symptoms. A medical history and physical examination do not provide a definite diagnosis of lung cancer. As part of the medical history, the doctor will ...

What are the environmental hazards that can cause lung cancer?

Environmental exposures that may have put the person at risk of lung diseases, including lung cancer. These include living in certain parts of the country where radon exposure is more likely; history of tobacco use; and jobs that might have put the person at risk for lung cancer, like mining or working with heavy metals.

What does a doctor look for in a patient with a hoarse voice?

The doctor will examine the patient to look for signs of disease, such as swollen lymph nodes, decreased breath sounds, or anything else unusual. ...

Can lung cancer be diagnosed with a physical?

A medical history and physical examination do not provide a definite diagnosis of lung cancer. As part of the medical history, the doctor will ask about the patient’s background. Questions may include: Past or current illnesses and injuries.

What is included in the state specific lung cancer report?

The report includes state-specific measures of lung cancer incidence, adult smoking prevalence, radon zones, five-year survival, early diagnosis, surgery as part of the first course of treatment, lack of treatment, and screening among those at high risk.

What is the goal of the State of Lung Cancer report?

As the American Lung Association works toward defeating lung cancer, the goal of the “State of Lung Cancer” report is to empower the public to learn more about lung cancer in their state and take action to improve lung cancer patients’ access to quality and affordable health care.

What is the average survival rate for lung cancer?

Lung cancer has one of the lowest five-year survival rates because cases are often diagnosed at later stages, when the disease is less likely to be curable. The national average of people alive five years after a lung cancer diagnosis is 22.6%, which is a 13% improvement over the last five years. Connecticut ranked best at 27.1%, while Alabama ranked worst at 17.1%.

Why are people of color more likely to get lung cancer?

People of color who are diagnosed with lung cancer face worse outcomes compared to white Americans because they are less likely to be diagnosed early, less likely to receive surgical treatment , and more likely to not receive any treatment. About half of the 30 million uninsured Americans are people of color, and research is clear that having health coverage impacts people’s medical care and ultimately their health outcomes. Addressing racial disparities in healthcare coverage is critical to addressing racial disparities in lung cancer care.

Is lung cancer the same everywhere?

While we have seen advances in personalized treatment thanks to biomarker testing and targeted immunotherapies, and saved more lives through the introduction of lung cancer screening, the burden of lung cancer is not the same everywhere. Treatment, exposure to risk factors, and use of screening vary from state to state. To save more lives, it’s critical to prevent lung cancer when possible and diagnose the disease as early as possible.

Does Medicaid cover lung cancer screening?

State Medicaid programs are one of the only healthcare payers not required to cover lung cancer screening for the traditional Medicaid population. If screening is covered, Medicaid programs may use different eligibility criteria, require prior authorization or charge individuals for their scans.

Current Screening Methods

Screening for a condition refers to looking for and finding a condition before symptoms are present. If a test is done to evaluate symptoms, it is not considered a screening test but rather a diagnostic test.

Blood Tests for Lung Cancer

The results of non-biomarker blood tests (tests that aren't specifically looking for lung cancer) are usually nonspecific (meaning that the finding could be due to many different medical conditions) with lung cancer and frequently normal in the early stages of the disease.

The State of Lung Cancer Research

When looking at newer techniques to detect lung cancer early, it's important to note that these are two different issues:

Summary

Currently, almost half of lung cancers are found when they have grown or spread too far to cure the disease. While CT lung cancer screening can reduce lung cancer deaths, it's only recommended for current or former smokers, and it has a high false positive rate.

A Word From Verywell

Unlike several medical conditions and even cancers that have biomarkers to aid in diagnosis, a blood test for early lung cancer has been lacking. Newer techniques, especially those now possible due to the completion of the Human Genome Project, offer solid hope that the early detection of lung cancer for everyone could be possible in the future.

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Abstract

Introduction

  • Background of the study
    The results of a diagnosis, regardless of whether the clinical problem is terminal illness or not, stimulates development of patient’s thoughts and feelings on the sustainability and management of the disease (Borbasi, 1996). The patient is anxious to know the results. The patient desire to know the facts on a disease affects cons…
  • Thesis statement
    Patient’s feelings and thoughts that constitute patient experiences after being informed on their status of lung cancer is based on patient’s lack of enough understanding on the influence of lung cancer on the patient’s life (Taylor, 2005). If the patient has understanding of the lung cancer, they demonstrate different experiences than t…
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Literature Review

  • Introduction
    This section reports on past studies on patient experiences after diagnosis in order to identify sustainability of the methodologies of study used and their deficiencies. The empirical studies (Kaneko et al, 1996) have demonstrated that patient experiences after communication of lung cancer diagnosis are based on capacity to p…
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Methodology of The Study

  • Introduction
    This section reports on the method of study that was used to investigate the patient experiences when they are informed on their status of the lung cancer. The section reports on the method of collecting data used; method of data interpretation and method of data analysis. The section concludes with review of ethical considerations for …
  • Method of the study
    The study used phenomenology as the primary form of research. Phenomenology was used because it helps to examine the life experiences of a patient or the patient lived experiences after the communication of diagnoses (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980). Phenomenology has capacity to identify patient experiences and attach meaning and …
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Results and Discussion of The Results

  • The results of the data collection are represented by appendix 1. The results (appendix 1) indicated that the patient was not prepared for the communication of the diagnosis. The nurse should have prepared the patient for the diagnosis by ensuring the environment was conducive to communicate any information that was necessary. The nurse should have introduced the people to the patient and their role in lung cancer diagnosis. The patient w…
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Conclusion

  • The study achieved its objectives in determining the patient experiences after communication of her lung cancer status. The study determined that the patient communication of her diagnosis didn’t follow nursing principles of care. There were no procedures in communicating the diagnosis. The environment for communicating the diagnosis was not appropriate. The communication of the diagnosis should have been done in presence of famil…
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Recommendations

  • The communication of diagnosis should be structured around nursing principles of care. The nurses should demonstrate duty of care by satisfying principle of autonomy, principle of beneficence, principle of non-malfeasance and principle of informed consent.
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References

  • Beaver, K. et al (2000) Primary care services received during terminal illness. International Journal of PalliativeNursing; 6: 220–227. Becker, R. (2009) Palliative care 1: principles of palliative care nursing and end-of-life care. Nursing Times;105: 13, early online publication. Becker, R. et al (2004) Fundamental Aspects of Palliative Care Nursing.Salisbury: Quay Books. Borbasi, S.A. 1996, Capturing the experience of the clinical nurse specialist …
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