Lung Cancer : Making Sense of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Options

by Johnston, Lorraine

• ISBN13: 9780596500023
• ISBN10: 0596500025
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-05-01
• Publisher: O'REILLY AND ASSOCIATES

Summary

Lung cancer receives little attention from the media and little sympathy from the public. People with lung cancer suffer more blame and stigma than other cancer patients, even though 50% of those with lung cancer are former smokers or have never smoked. Lung Cancer: Making Sense of Diagnosis, Treatment, & Options addresses the needs of patients and families as they struggle to understand and make informed decisions. The book covers diagnosis and medical tests, treatments, side effects of treatments, emotional responses to diagnoses, and getting support from family and friends. First- person accounts from patients and family members give a human face to the medical facts and procedures, and the resource- rich appendixes make this a handbook for further research.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Symptoms of Lung Cancer	1	(16)
Symptoms and syndromes	1	(15)
Summary	16	(1)
Diagnosis and Staging	17	(27)
General information	17	(2)
Physical examination	19	(1)
Diagnostic tests	19	(6)
Pathology	25	(1)
Diagnosis without open surgery	26	(1)
Diagnostic surgery	26	(1)
Type, stage, and grade	27	(1)
WHO/IASLC classification system	27	(2)
Staging lung cancer	29	(1)
Staging non-small cell lung cancer	29	(5)
Staging small cell lung cancer	34	(1)
Grading (tumor aggressiveness)	35	(1)
Restaging	36	(1)
Cloudy diagnostic issues	36	(1)
Getting the best diagnosis	37	(1)
Emotions at diagnosis	38	(5)
Summary	43	(1)
Finding the Right Treatment Team	44	(13)
Types of surgeons	45	(1)
Types of oncologists	45	(1)
General points for finding good doctors	46	(1)
Finding good specialists	47	(2)
Choosing treatment centers	49	(3)
Checking credentials of candidates	52	(1)
Choosing the best from a shortlist	53	(3)
Summary	56	(1)
Interacting with Medical Personnel	57	(14)
Issues that arise	57	(3)
When to voice concerns	60	(1)
The team	61	(3)
Suggestions for successful interaction	64	(3)
Second and subsequent opinions	67	(1)
Conflict resolution	67	(2)
Summary	69	(2)
What Is Lung Cancer?	71	(15)
What are the lungs?	71	(1)
What is lung cancer?	72	(1)
Differences from other cancers	72	(1)
Incidence and trends	73	(1)
Who gets lung cancer?	74	(7)
What causes cancer?	81	(1)
What causes lung cancer?	82	(3)
Summary	85	(1)
Prognosis	86	(16)
Limitations on accurate prognostics	86	(6)
Which factors matter least and most	92	(1)
Stage (extent) of disease	93	(2)
Tumor aggressiveness (tumor grade)	95	(1)
Histology	95	(1)
Blood values	96	(1)
Tumor subtypes	97	(1)
Patient characteristics	98	(1)
Emotional responses	99	(2)
Summary	101	(1)
Types of Treatment	102	(20)
A word of caution	102	(1)
Surgery	103	(7)
Draining chest fluids	110	(2)
Chemotherapy	112	(3)
Radiotherapy	115	(3)
Biological therapies	118	(2)
Photodynamic therapy	120	(1)
Watch and wait	121	(1)
Summary	121	(1)
Treating Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer	122	(8)
Treatment options for NSCLC	122	(2)
Treatment of NSCLC by stage	124	(5)
Summary	129	(1)
Treating Small Cell Lung Cancer	130	(4)
Treatment options for SCLC	130	(1)
Treatment of SCLC	131	(2)
Summary	133	(1)
Experiencing Hospitalization	134	(18)
General concerns	134	(1)
Preparation	135	(1)
Arrangements	135	(5)
Admission	140	(1)
The staff	141	(1)
Surgery	142	(4)
Hospitalization for infection	146	(1)
Chemotherapy	147	(1)
Internal radiotherapy	147	(1)
Thriving versus surviving	148	(1)
Discharge and departure	149	(2)
Summary	151	(1)
Experiencing Chemotherapy	152	(12)
Preparation	152	(3)
Scheduling	155	(1)
Arrival	156	(1)
The setting	156	(2)
How chemotherapy is administered	158	(4)
Departure	162	(1)
Dosages	163	(1)
Summary	163	(1)
Experiencing Radiotherapy	164	(11)
Where radiotherapy is targeted	165	(1)
External radiation therapy	165	(7)
Internal radiotherapy	172	(2)
Summary	174	(1)
Adverse Effects of Treatment	175	(39)
Terminology	175	(1)
Incidence and severity	176	(1)
Why do adverse effects happen?	177	(1)
Adverse effects after surgery	178	(1)
Adverse effects by symptom	179	(35)
Sexuality and Fertility	214	(8)
Sexuality	214	(4)
Sources of information about sexuality	218	(1)
Fertility	219	(2)
Summary	221	(1)
Stress and Stress Reduction	222	(27)
What is stress?	223	(5)
Responses to stress	228	(1)
The effects of stress on the immune system	228	(4)
Why stress should be reduced	232	(1)
Stress-reduction techniques	233	(13)
Stress medications	246	(2)
Summary	248	(1)
Getting Support	249	(30)
Two hurtful stereotypes	249	(3)
Specific needs	252	(4)
Typical reactions to requests for help	256	(2)
How to communicate successfully	258	(10)
Dealing with the healthy unaware	268	(2)
Sources of support	270	(5)
Quitting smoking	275	(3)
Summary	278	(1)
Finances, Employment, and Record Keeping	279	(17)
Insurance issues	280	(6)
Tobacco industry settlements	286	(1)
Financial issues	287	(1)
Disability income	288	(2)
Employment issues	290	(1)
Record keeping	291	(4)
Summary	295	(1)
After Treatment Ends	296	(19)
Medical monitoring	297	(5)
Venous catheter removal	302	(1)
Emotional responses	303	(7)
Social and professional aftereffects	310	(4)
Unused drugs or equipment	314	(1)
Summary	314	(1)
Recurrence of Disease	315	(12)
The definition of recurrence	315	(1)
How recurrence is detected	316	(1)
Why disease recurs	317	(1)
Who experiences recurrence	318	(1)
Where disease recurs	318	(1)
Gray areas and delays	319	(1)
When does risk abate?	320	(1)
Treatment options	320	(3)
Emotional issues	323	(2)
Getting help	325	(1)
Summary	326	(1)
Clinical Trials	327	(22)
Who should examine clinical trials?	328	(1)
What are clinical trials?	328	(3)
Why use clinical trials?	331	(1)
Won't I be just a guinea pig?	331	(1)
Placebos	332	(1)
How are clinical trials run?	332	(6)
Where are clinical trials run?	338	(1)
Finding trials for lung cancer	338	(3)
Why research trials on your own?	341	(2)
Getting admitted to a trial	343	(2)
Once you're enrolled	345	(1)
Experimental drugs outside clinical trials	345	(1)
About payment	346	(1)
Free treatment	347	(1)
Summary	348	(1)
If All Treatments Have Failed	349	(12)
Preparing emotionally for death	350	(4)
Physical aspects of dying	354	(4)
Can we make dying easier?	358	(2)
Planning your own memorial ceremony	360	(1)
Summary	360	(1)
Researching Your Illness	361	(22)
Reasons to research	361	(1)
Prerequisites and perspectives	362	(3)
Ways to find information	365	(1)
How to obtain the NCI's information	366	(1)
How to obtain medical research papers	367	(6)
How to obtain medical textbooks	373	(1)
How to find clinical trials	374	(3)
How to find support groups	377	(1)
How to verify drug information	377	(1)
How to verify your chemotherapy dose	378	(1)
How to interpret test results	379	(1)
How to assess unproven remedies	380	(1)
Unique web resources	380	(1)
What next?	381	(1)
Summary	382	(1)
The Future of Therapy	383	(26)
Cancer cell genes	384	(1)
An overview of research trends	384	(6)
Current trials of new drugs and techniques	390	(13)
Future trials	403	(4)
Summary	407	(2)
A. Resources	409	(28)
B. Tests and Procedures	437	(29)
C. Test Results	466	(4)
D. Chemotherapy Drugs and Regimens	470	(4)
E. Experimental Prognostic Markers	474	(3)
Notes	477	(4)
Glossary	481	(14)
Index	495