Pancoast tumor is also called superior sulcus tumor and pulmonary sulcus tumor. This is the tumor that often develops in the pulmonary apex. It is a certain category of lung cancer that is usually located in the left or right and top or end area of the lungs. Actually, it spreads near the tissues (vertebrae and ribs). The Pancoast tumor is also non-small cell cancers and it often exists and incorporates a certain symptom called Pancoast tumor. This tumor provides great pain inside the hands, shoulders, and arms.
When you have Pancoast tumor, it will surely affect several parts of your body such as lymphatics, stellate ganglion, brachial plexus lower roots, intercostals nerves, adjacent ribs, sympathetic chain, and vertebrae. If your condition is very critical, the entire parts of your body will no longer have enough strength to fight the disease. That’s why most patients who are suffering from it are taking the treatment that is recommended by their doctors with a hope that they will get their life back to normal soon.
The cause of Pancoast tumor is compression of phrenic nerve, brachiocephalic vein, vagus nerve, subclavain artery, and recurrent laryngeal nerve. There are times that the compression of the sympathetic ganglion can trigger Horner’s syndrome. There are also some factors that can trigger the development of Pancoast tumor, and these are cigarette, industrial elements like nickel, asbestos, and gold, and family history. In order for you to avoid Pancoast tumor, you must avoid utilizing cigarette and stay away in the places which are always exposed to those industrial elements.
The Pancoast tumor symptoms that are often experienced by a lot of people are weight loss, fatigue, malaise fever, Horner’s syndrome, drooping of eyelids, constriction of pupils, sunken of eyeball, and lack of sweating. Aside from that, it can also cause severe pain in the shoulder, interior part of scapula, and in the bones are being flattened and lies above the ribs. When you failed to seek for treatment, the pain that you feel will surely go deeper in your ring finger, arm, and elbow. Sometimes, a patient who suffers from constant and painful pain requires support in his or her elbow to relieve the tension in his or her upper arm or shoulder.
The diagnosis of Pancoast tumor is usually performed in a delayed time due to two reasons. One is it doesn’t have similar symptoms with lung cancer and it is so difficult to see even though doctors are making use of high tech equipment. The treatments that are often taken by patients who have Pancoast tumor are listed below:
The Top 4 Treatments for Pancoast Tumor
1. Radiation Therapy
2. Chemotherapy
3. Surgery
4. Palliative Therapy
Before choosing a certain treatment, you must go to your doctor first so that you will know the treatment that is compatible to your body. It is essential to have the help and assistance of a doctor because he or she is the only one who has lots of knowledge in treating Pancoast tumor. Aside from that, he or she can also provide pieces of helpful advice for patients with regard to those medicines that they will need to take after the operation.
