Called “the Masquerader” of cancers, Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma (BAC) is one of the most rare forms of lung cancer. BAC was first identified and defined as it is own subtype of lung cancer by Dr. Averill Liebow in 1960 (West). Accounting for 2%-14% of all lung cancers, less is known about this form of cancer than any other type of non-small cell lung cancers (Eldridge). Further detail of the BAC, the cause, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of BAC will be expounded on in the passages to follow.
BAC is a subtype of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) (West). BAC is one of the few lung cancers not caused by smoking, but rather by a cell mutation caused by the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF). This occurs when too much of the protein, which binds onto cells telling them how much to grow and reproduce, exists causing the cells to grow and reproduce excessively. This, along with several other unknown factors, can lead to several types of lung cancer, including BAC. It can appear as a single spot in the periphery of the lungs, or as scattered spots throughout the lungs. BAC develops in either the tissue dividing the alveoli or in the airways in the outer regions of the lung (Eldridge). Under a microscope, the alveolar walls are thickened and described as lepidic, meaning “scale-like” (West).
“BAC qualification: Tumor must not show any evidence of infiltration of the stroma or adjacent lung parenchyma or the pleura, or lymphatic spread to lymph nodes. Tumors showing the characteristic lepidic growth pattern of BAC but that also show, even if focally, infiltration of either the lung parenchyma or the pleura are currently categorized as well differentiated adenocarcinomas with a “bronchioloalveolar growth pattern” (Roy).
The World Health ...
... middle of paper ...
... Cancer & Iressa." Lung Cancer Information Page, Studies, Newsletter, Clinical Trials. N.p., 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.
Lung-Cancer: The ABC's of BAC. Prod. GRACE Global Resource for Advancing Cancer Education. Perf. Dr. Jack West. YouTube. YouTube, 06 Aug. 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2013.
Roy, Sampurna, Dr. "Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma." Surgical-pathology.com. Surgical-pathology.com, Nov. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. .
West, Dr. Jack "Basics of Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma (BAC)." GRACE Lung Cancer. Global Resource for Advancing Cancer Education, 9 July 2010. Web. 26 Nov. 2013.
Wislez, M., M. Antoine, L. Baudrin, V. Poulot, A. Neuville, M. Pradere, E. Longchampt, S. Isaac-Sibille, M.P. Lebitasy, and J. Cadranel. "Non-Mucinous & Mucinous Subtypes of BAC." UpToDate.com. Medline ®, 7 Aug. 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.
The New England Journal of Medicine -- February 1, 1996 -- Vol. 334, No. 5
Haas, D. F. (1990). The Chronic Bronchitis And EMPHYSEMA. New York,NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Whether lung cancer is operable or not, may well depend upon the circumstances of the patient involved; however, where certain factors do not allow for this option, other treatments may well be offered. Many factors must be taken into consideration before any treatment or operation can take place, as either may have a prominent bearing on the prognosis of the cancer patient.
Tamparo, C. D. & Lewis, M. A. (2011). Diseases of the human body. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.
According to “Medical News Today” cancer is a disease that is caused by an over growth of anomalous cells on one or more lungs. Cells often go up the air pipes which can cause difficulty to breath. Due to the over production of cells the tissue cells often begin to over produce; which results in tumors. There are two types of tumors: malignant and benign. Malignant tumors are the more dangerous of the two due to its invasive nature; which makes it cancerous. While benign is not invasive in other words non-cancerous. This is why cancer spreads to multiple areas and can be sometimes very difficult to fight. Cancer cells are abnormal not only because of their evasive nature, but also because of its irregular life cycle. Rather than expire like a regular cell, they continuously grow and duplicate which causes the disease to spread. This makes cell abnormal in shape and other qualities; known as a sickle cell. Due to the large growth and reproduction rate of the cells this makes the spreading of the cancer more rapid. Each cancer has specific symptom, for lung cancer the sympto...
Diagnosed with lung cancer, now what!? Time to do some research. Lung cancer is the number one cause of deaths in males and females. The causes, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer have advanced recently with new technology available to scientists and the medical profession. Lung cancer develops when the cells grow abnormally and tumors form instead of healthy lung tissue. It can take place in one or both lungs, normally the cells that line the air passages. Not all tumors are cancerous, the ones that do not spread are benign tumors. The more tumors that develop in the lungs will cause the lungs to work less efficiently. The metastatic tumors spread to other parts of the body passing through the blood stream or lymphatic system.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer within the United States with tobacco smoking being the biggest risk factor. In 2012, more than 220,000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer and approximately 150,000 died from the disease. “Lung cancer rates in the United States climbed dramatically throughout much of the 20th century, as smoking became more popular, and peaked in the 1980’s before declining in the 1990’s” (Furlow, 2014, p. 298). Screening of high risk people for lung cancer has been extending patients’ lives with early detection with the use of computed tomography (CT).
Non-small-cell lung cancer is more common than small-cell lung cancer. It makes up about 80 percent of all diagnosed lung cancers. It is actually four different kinds of lung cancers that grow and respond to treatment in about the same way. These four types of non-small-cell lung cancer are termed squamous cell, adencarcinoma, large cell, and mixed cell. Two other related cancers that are also included in the non-small-cell lung cancers group are carcinoid and mesothelioma. Non-small-cell lung cancer grows more slowly than small-cell lung cancer. Non-small-cell lung cancer tends to grow first in the area where it started then invades the surrounding lung tissue and ribs. It eventually spreads to other areas of the body, mainly bones, brain, and liver.
Rosen, Leo and Rosen, Gloria. (2011).Learn About Cancer. American Cancer Society. Retrieved November 26, 2015 from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/index
The cancer cells from gene-mutation. Scientists now know some of the risk factors for lung cancer can cause certain changes in the DNA of lung cells. These changes can lead to not normal cell growth and, sometimes, cancer. DNA is the chemical in each of our cells that makes up our genes and how our cells function. People usually look like their parents because they are the source of our DNA. But DNA affects more than how we look; it also can affect our risk for developing certain diseases, including some kinds of cancer like lung cancer etc…Some people inherit DNA mutation from their parents that greatly increase their risk for developing certain cancers.
Landau, Elaine. "Cancer: Causes and Prevention." Cancer (9780805029901). 36. n.p.: Lerner Publishing Group, 1994. Health Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is preventable disease that has a detrimental effects on both the airway and lung parenchyma (Nazir & Erbland, 2009). COPD categorises emphysema and chronic bronchitis, both of which are characterised by a reduced maximum expiratory flow and slow but forced emptying of the lungs (Jeffery 1998). The disease has the one of the highest number of fatalities in the developed world due to the ever increasing amount of tobacco smokers and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014). Signs and symptoms that indicate the presence of the disease include a productive cough, wheezing, dyspnoea and predisposing risk factors (Edelman et al., 1992). The diagnosis of COPD is predominantly based on the results of a lung function assessment (Larsson, 2007). Chronic bronchitis is differentiated from emphysema by it's presentation of a productive cough present for a minimum of three months in two consecutive years that cannot be attributed to other pulmonary or cardiac causes (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014) (Viegi et al., 2007). Whereas emphysema is defined pathologically as as the irreversible destruction without obvious fibrosis of the lung alveoli (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014) (Veigi et al., 2007).It is common for emphysema and chronic bronchitis to be diagnosed concurrently owing to the similarities between the diseases (Marx, Hockberger & Walls, 2014).
Schepis, Carmelo, Donatella Greco, and Corrado Romano. "Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) Syndrome." Australasian Journal of Dermatology 40.2 (1999): 111-13. Print.
Cancer is defined as where the abnormal cells are divided without any control and they are able to invade into tissues. At times cancer can be cured right away once it is detected through treatments that the doctor recommends, but at times cancer cannot be cured based on what stage the cancer is at. It is very important that every individual gets a physical check up to see if they are diagnosed or detected with any sort of cancer or disease. There are 100 types of cancers out there, but the type of cancer that I will be focusing on is Lung cancer. One of the controversial issues on a lung cancer is the ...