Doctor Nguyen Thi My Hanh, an internal medicine specialist at Tam Anh General Clinic in District 7, said the patient had a nearly 1 cm nodule in the upper lobe of his right lung, with irregular, spiculated margins, classified as Lung-RADS 4A (a classification system for suspicious lung nodules), indicating a 5-15% chance of malignancy. A 1975-slice full-body CT scan with contrast showed the lesion was confined to a single nodule in the lung, with no signs of spreading to lymph nodes or other organs.

Doctors performed a minimally invasive surgery to remove the entire upper right lung lobe and dissected mediastinal lymph nodes to eliminate the tumor.

Doctors examine Mr. Hung’s respiratory function after surgery. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Doctors examine Mr. Hung’s respiratory function after surgery. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Post-surgery, Mr. Hung showed no signs of air leakage or bleeding and practiced deep breathing and light bed exercises to prevent pneumonia or lung collapse. The biopsy confirmed stage IA lung cancer – the earliest stage – with a small tumor localized within the lung, without invasion of surrounding tissue or lymph node metastasis. At this stage, the patient only required surgical removal, not chemotherapy, radiation, or other adjuvant therapy, leading to a positive recovery. A week later, his cough subsided, his appetite returned, and an X-ray showed good lung expansion. Doctors advised him to quit smoking, practice daily breathing exercises, maintain a healthy diet, and schedule follow-up appointments every 3-6 months for the first two years.

According to Dr. Hanh, smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. The disease typically takes 1-1.5 years to progress from early to late stages. Initial symptoms are often vague, such as persistent cough, hoarseness, fatigue, and slight weight loss, easily mistaken for common respiratory illnesses. If diagnosed in stage one, the cure rate is 90%.

Dr. Hanh recommends that anyone with a cough lasting more than three weeks, especially smokers, those with a family history of lung cancer, or those exposed to asbestos, silica dust, or oil fumes, should seek a respiratory specialist promptly. Following a clinical examination, doctors may order a low-dose lung CT scan for tumor screening. This technique is currently recommended for individuals 50 and older, current or former smokers, those with chronic lung disease, or those with occupational exposure risks. Quitting smoking, regular exercise, a balanced diet, and respiratory vaccination can help prevent the disease.

Lan Anh

*The patient's name has been changed.