CHAPTER 2 Respiratory System^111
HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Coughing due to irritation from mass. Presence of mucous or exudate may
not be until later in disease. - Coughing up blood (hemoptysis).
- Fatigue.
- Weight loss due to the caloric needs of the tumor, taking away from the needs
of the body. - Anorexia.
- Difficulty breathing (dyspnea) caused by damaged lung tissue. The patient
begins to have respiratory problems later in the disease. - Chest pains as mass presses on surrounding tissue; may not be until late in
disease. - Sputum production.
- Pleural effusion.
INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS
- Mass in lung shown on chest x-ray.
- CT scan shows mass, lymph node involvement.
- Bronchoscopy may show cancer cells on bronchoscopic washings; may reveal
tumor site. - Cancer cells seen in sputum.
- Biopsy will show cell type:
- Needle biopsy through chest wall for peripheral tumors.
- Tissue biopsy from lung for deeper tumors.
- Bone scan or CT scans shows metastasis of the disease.
TREATMENT
Treatment is focused on resolution of the tumor. Surgical removal is appropriate
for some patients, but not always necessary. Chemotherapy and radiation are both
methods that are used to destroy the cancerous cells. Oxygen therapy is used to aid
in meeting the current needs of the body, but not all patients will require supple-
mental oxygen therapy. Attention to nutrition is important to meet the demands of