Adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It tends to develop around the outer edges of the lungs and grow more slowly than other types of lung cancer.
In the United States, lung cancer is the main cause of cancer-related death and the
This article will explain the condition, its symptoms, and the diagnosis process. It will also look at some different treatment options and the outlook.
Lung cancer develops as a result of uncontrolled cell division in the lungs, leading to tumors.
A person with this condition may experience difficulty breathing, and the cancer may spread to other regions of the body.
There are two main types of lung cancer: NSCLC and small cell lung cancer.
About
Doctors classify each NSCLC type based on where cancer starts to develop. Adenocarcinoma starts in the cells that line the small air sacs called alveoli.
There is continuing research into the causes of lung cancer. However, some acknowledged
- smoking
- exposure to secondhand smoke
- exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos
- radon
- a personal or family history of lung cancer
- radiation therapy
Generally, lung cancer symptoms
As it gets worse, a person may experience nonspecific symptoms such as a persistent cough or shortness of breath. Some other symptoms may include:
- coughing up blood
- unintended weight loss
- fatigue, or extreme tiredness
- chest pain
In addition, a person may develop swollen lymph nodes or have repeated pneumonia episodes.
However, such symptoms could relate to a number of other conditions. Therefore, a person with any of these symptoms should seek medical advice.
Understanding the causes of lung cancer may help a doctor decide whether or not a person should undergo a screening test to check for it.
The person may not have any symptoms, and the doctor may not suspect cancer but believe that the person is at high risk of developing it.
Screening can help detect early stage cancer and may lead to further diagnostic tests.
However, there may be some risks associated with screening tests, according to the
- false-negative results
- false-positive results
- radiation exposure
If a doctor suspects adenocarcinoma, they may conduct
| Test | What is involved? |
|---|---|
| Physical exam | An examination of a person’s general health will include checking for any signs or symptoms of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. |
| Health history | Detailing a person’s health history means taking note of any health habits, including smoking, past occupations, current illnesses, and treatments. |
| Laboratory tests | A doctor may use medical procedures to test samples of blood, urine, or other substances. These tests may help diagnose disease and plan treatments for it. |
| Biopsy | A biopsy involves testing a sample of tissue and analyzing it for signs of disease. |
| X-rays | An X-ray will reveal areas inside the body, showing gases as black and bones as white. |
Doctors use this information to plan treatments and find suitable clinical trials.
A doctor will diagnose a cancer’s stage, and this does not change. Instead, they will add any new information or changes to the original stage.
TNM
Although there are several staging systems, doctors most commonly use the TNM system, wherein the letters indicate the following:
- T: tumor size and spread into nearby tissue
- N: cancer spread to nearby lymph nodes
- M: metastasis, wherein cancer has spread to other parts of the body
With the TNM system, doctors add numbers to the letters to provide more detailed information about the tumor.
Other staging systems
Although doctors use the TNM system to determine treatment, they may use a
It is less detailed than the TNM system, though it is based on the same information.
Another system of staging uses terms instead of letters or numbers. These terms include:
- in situ
- localized
- regional
- distant
- unknown
Treatment for NSCLC generally depends on when and at which stage the doctor first diagnosed the condition.
Surgery may be a cure, though treatment plans depend on several factors, including the stage of the cancer, the person’s age, and their overall fitness level.
Treatment may include the
| Treatment type | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Wedge resection | This involves the surgical removal of the tumor and some surrounding tissue. |
| Lobectomy | This involves the surgical removal of an entire section of lung. |
| Pneumonectomy | This involves the surgical removal of one entire lung. |
| Sleeve resection | This involves the surgical removal of part of the bronchus. |
| Radiation therapy | This involves using high energy X-rays to stop cancer cells from growing or to kill them. There are two types: external radiation and internal radiation. |
| Chemotherapy | This involves the use of certain drugs to stop cancer cells from dividing or to kill them. |
| Targeted therapy | This involves substances such as monoclonal antibodies, which can identify and attack specific cancer cells. |
| Immunotherapy | This is a biological therapy that can boost the body’s immune system. |
| Laser therapy | This uses a laser beam to kill cancer cells. |
| Photodynamic therapy | This uses drugs and a laser to kill cancer cells. |
| Cryosurgery | This freezing technique can destroy abnormal tissue. |
| Electrocautery | This involves the use of a heated instrument to destroy abnormal tissue. |
New treatments currently under investigation in
The overall 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is 18.6%. This means that only 18.6% of people with the condition will still be alive 5 years later.
Under
However, survival rates can depend on the stage of cancer at diagnosis. For example, the 5-year survival rate for someone who received a diagnosis when their condition was localized to the lungs may be in the range of 56%.
Declining death rate
Since the early 1990s, the death rate from cancer in the U.S. has shown an overall decline, according to the
In adults, the average cancer death rate showed an annual decrease of 1.8% per year among males and 1.4% among females from 2001 to 2017.
Among children ages 0–14 years, the annual death rate for cancer was 1.4% from 2016 to 2017, which was a decrease from previous years.
However, cancer continues to be a leading global cause of death, and experts expect new cases to reach almost 30 million and cancer-related deaths to reach at least 16 million by 2050. This is according to a report in the Global Cancer Observatory by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Adenocarcinoma lung cancer is a subtype of NSCLC. It is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for around
Doctors use diagnostic information to recommend a treatment plan, which may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or newer approaches, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
The long-term outlook for adenocarcinoma will depend on many factors, including the stage at which a person receives their diagnosis.