Worldwide, lung cancer stands as the second most common cancer and is responsible for a significant number of lives lost every year. In India, it accounts for 6.9% of all new instances of cancer.
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies and a major contributor to cancer-related fatalities worldwide. Worldwide, lung cancer stands as the second most common cancer and is responsible for a significant number of lives lost every year. It accounts for 6.9% of all new instances of cancer in India and 9.3% of all cancer-related fatalities in people of both sexes.
The tissues of the lungs, namely the cells lining the airways, are the source of lung cancer. Uncontrolled growth of these cells damages lung tissue and may impair lung function. Unfortunately, only 15% of instances of lung cancer are discovered early, and symptoms usually manifest at severe stages.
Lung Cancer And The Brain: Understanding the Link
There is a significant chance that lung cancer will spread to other areas of your body, including the brain, if it is not detected early. Brain metastases, sometimes known as brain mets, is when the cancer cells spread to the brain. This may result in the formation of one or more brain tumors, which may cause severe symptoms including headaches, seizures, impaired speech, and blurred vision. Although brain mets are widespread in many other cancers, they are most common in lung cancer occuring in around 50% of lung cancer patients.
Lung cancer cells can spread to other areas of the body, including the brain, if the disease goes undetected in the initial stages. Actually, lung cancer is the initial cause of most brain mets. What connection exists? It is not entirely understood by experts.
According to several recent studies on mice, lung cancer cells swiftly form blood vessel branches when they reach the brain. They now have the blood supplies they need to thrive and proliferate. Research suggests that nicotine from cigarette smoke may be one of the reasons, however, further research is required in this regard.
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the type of lung cancer that has the highest risk of brain metastases. Particular types of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that result from modifications to particular genes, such as EGFR-positive lung cancer, can also induce brain metastases. Others being those with NSCLC (ROS1) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and positivity.
Roughly 50 60% of patients with lung cancer that is EGFR- or ALK-positive go on to develop brain metastases. Why does this occur? Scientists are not sure. However, NSCLC patients typically live for a few of years following their diagnosis. This might give the disease additional time to travel to the brain, according to experts. According to certain beliefs, targeted therapy for lung cancer may not adequately target brain tumors. Alternatively, these cancer cells with mutations may be genetically predisposed to brain metastases.
Brain mets that form inside the brain matter are the most prevalent. However, malignancy has the potential to spread to the fluid around your brain. Termed as Leptomeningeal disease (LMD).
Brain tumors can impact brain regions that govern speech, motor skills, hearing, balance, and memory; thus, rehabilitation may be necessary as part of your recovery process following treatment. This can involve treatments including speech, occupational, and physical therapy. In the event that available treatment choices are insufficient to fight the cancer, your physician may recommend palliative and/or hospice care. These therapies assist you and your loved ones have a better quality of life while you have advanced lung cancer and brain mets. They are a team of professionals who support you physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
This article is authored by Dr Praveen Gupta, Principal Director & Chief of Neurology, Fortis Hospital
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