Lung Cancer

Introduction Cutaneous melanoma is a public health issue, particularly in fair-skinned populations. It is a complex neoplasm thought to arise from multiple genetic and environmental factors. 1 The head and neck region is of particular interest, despite accounting for only 9.0% of the total body surface, it harbours 20% of melanoma cases. 2 Melanomas of the head/neck occur mostly in elderly patients, and the current increase in life expectancy of the population should resolve in a higher incidence of this subtype of melanoma. 3 Scalp melanoma (SM) represents 35% of cases of head and neck melanomas and is accountable for 5% of all melanomas. 4 Data from the literature show that SMs carry the highest mortality rates, with a 10-year survival rate of 60% which lead them to be named as the "invisible killer". Additionally, SM is characterized by a risk of death nearly 2 times higher than the ones located on the extremities. 5 Ozao-Choy et al 6 proved that scalp location ...

A exposure-response analysis indicated that a 3.2mg/m2 dose of lurbinectedin every 3 weeks achieved a favorable risk/benefit profile in patients with small cell lung cancer. Lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) given at dose of 3.2 mg/m2 every 3 weeks was found to have a favorable risk/benefit profile in a population of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), according to results from the exposure-response analysis conducted during the phase 2 B-005 trial (NCT02454972). Patients were given between 0.02 mg/m2 and 6.9 mg/m2 at 2 possible dose regimens of either day 1 or days 1 and 8 of each 3-week cycle for the benefit-risk ratio of the analysis. The dose of 3.2 mg/m2 was determined to be the optimal dose by which to achieve a median area under the unbound plasma concentration-time curve (AUCu) of 1400 ng.h/L, the midpoint of the range of values by which lurbinectedin treatment resulted in the greatest risk/benefit ratio. "This integrated exposure-response analysis indicates that lurbine...

Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is a rare type of cancer that affects the pigments in a person's skin, specifically on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and nail beds. ALM is an aggressive form of melanoma. When detected early, it can be cured by surgically removing the lesion. However, diagnosis presents challenges, especially for those who are not diagnosed early. This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of ALM. 35007 / Getty Images  Types of Acral Lentiginous Melanoma The two primary characteristics of ALM are: Location : "Acral" means "extremity" in Greek, which describes the location where this skin cancer appears (hands and feet). There's a subtype of this melanoma that is found in the nail beds, called subungual melanoma. Lesion coloration : "Lentiginous" refers to the freckled pigmented appearance of the spots or lesions. They can be a different, da...

You probably think of lung cancer as a smoker's disease—after all, we've long heard the warnings that lighting up skyrockets your risk. And while that's certainly true, the truth is, it's not exclusively a smoker's disease. And the number of non-smokers who develop the deadly disease may be rising: In fact, in a study of 2,170 lung cancer patients from Europe, the frequency of never-smokers developing lung cancer more than doubled from 2008 to 2016. The American Cancer Society estimates that as many as 20 percent of annual lung cancer deaths are in people who've never smoked or used tobacco. That's more than 30,000 of the estimated 155,870 lung cancer deaths in 2017—more than colon, breast, and prostate cancer deaths combined. (Overall, there were about 222,500 new cases of lung cancer in 2017.) Yes, it's still true that smoking is the biggest risk factor, but it's not the only one. "You may be exposed to things that cause lung cancer and not e...

A 70-year-old man presented to a hospital because he had been coughing up blood for about 6 months. He reported being a pack-a-day smoker for 50 years. Initial clinical assessment revealed that he had high blood pressure. He had not received any treatment with antiplatelet or anticoagulant agents. Chest x-ray showed the presence of a mass in the right pulmonary hilum, and CT and PET-CT scans of his chest revealed a tumor in the pulmonary hilum with stenosis of the right upper lobe bronchus, with a standardized uptake value of 8.5. Calcification of half of the ascending aorta was also noted. After subsequent bronchoscopy, the medical team noted a large area of redness and irregularity in the bronchial epithelium between the trachea and the lower lobe bronchus, along with narrowing of the right upper lobe bronchus. Clinicians performed a transbronchial biopsy of the lesion, and pathological assessment identified squamous cell carcinoma. Results of additional biopsies from the low...

Lung cancer may not produce any noticeable symptoms in the early stages, and many people aren't diagnosed until the disease has advanced. But some early signs and symptoms may be seen in some people. Read on to learn about early lung cancer signs and symptoms, and how early screening may help people at high risk for the disease. Note that these symptoms can overlap with other conditions, many of them very common and mild. 1. A cough that won't quit or changes Be on alert for a new cough that lingers. A cough associated with a cold or respiratory infection will go away in a week or so, but a persistent cough that lingers can be a symptom of lung cancer. Also pay attention to any changes in a chronic cough, particularly if you smoke. If you're coughing more often, your cough is deeper or sounds hoarse, or you're coughing up blood or an unusual amount of mucus, it's time to make a doctor's appointment. Don't be tempted to dismiss a stubborn cough, whether it...