Respiratory System - Thoracic Cancers

Thoracic cancers are malignant diseases that affect the organs in the chest cavity and are serious health problems that have profound effects on general health and quality of life. The most well-known and common of these cancers is lung cancer, and it is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Environmental factors such as smoking, air pollution and asbestos are the main risk factors for this type of cancer. The importance of thoracic cancers is further increased by the fact that obvious symptoms are rarely seen in the early stages and they are usually diagnosed in advanced stages. This situation limits treatment options and negatively affects the prognosis of the disease. In addition, rare thoracic cancers such as mesothelioma are associated with occupational exposures, bringing preventive measures to the agenda in terms of occupational health and safety. Thoracic cancers increase both individual and social health burden; Early diagnosis, effective treatment methods and increasing awareness of risk factors are important in the fight against these types of cancer. For this reason, preventive approaches and early diagnosis programs are of great importance in public health policies against thoracic cancer.

Thorax (chest area) cancers located in the respiratory system can be listed as follows:

Lung cancer: It is the most common thoracic cancer. Smoking is the main risk factor and there are two main types: small cell and non-small cell lung cancer.

Mezotelyoma: It is a rare type of cancer that develops in the mesothelial cells lining the chest wall and diaphragm, caused by exposure to asbestos.

Thymoma and Thymic Carcinomas: They are tumors that occur in the thymus gland (a gland located in the upper part of the rib cage). Some thymomas may be benign.

Mediastinal Tumors: The mediastinum is the middle part of the rib cage that contains structures such as the heart, great vessels, trachea, esophagus and thymus gland. Tumors in this area can be benign or malignant.

Bronchial Carcinoid Tumors: It develops in the bronchi of the lungs and is usually benign, but can sometimes show malignant features.

These types of cancer develop differently in the respiratory system and chest area and can cause a variety of symptoms. Diagnosis and treatment methods vary depending on the type of cancer and the patient's general health condition.

Cancer Types and Treatments