Does lung biopsy spread the disease?
If you can diagnose lung cancer with a biopsy, at least you can start treatment and look for a better quality of life. Do CT-scans help diagnosis? CT-scan is an advanced radiological technique that helps in picking up disease not picked up by x-rays. This can not be used routinely on all persons but is extremely useful in smokers who exhibit changes in symptoms. CT scans help diagnose the disease at an early stage. What are the treatment modes available? It depends on the type of cancer and when it is diagnosed. If diagnosed at a late stage nothing can be offered. If diagnosed at an early stage surgery is possible. Can a person lead a normal life after surgery? We have five lobes to live with and you can live even if one lung is completely removed. The answer depends on how good the remaining lung is. This is decided by pulmonary function test. This is done as a screening before the operation. The writer is a Senior Respiratory Physician, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. E-mail : drrnarasimh
