Lung
What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is cancer occurring in the tissues of the lungs, usually in the cells lining the air passageways. Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer amongst both men and women. Over 80% of lung cancer cases can be attributed to smoking.
Cancer occurring in the lungs will be one of two types, either small cell lung cancer or non small cell lung cancer
- Small cell lung cancer is less common than non small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer grows more quickly and is also more likely to spread to distant parts of the body.
- Small cell lung cancers have a lower survival rate than non small cell lung cancers.
- Non small cell lung cancer is generally smaller and slower growing than small cell lung cancer. There are three types of non small cell lung cancer.
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Adenocarcinoma
- Large cell carcinoma
Lung Cancer Risk Factors
- Cigarettes. Smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer. The likelihood of a smoker developing lung cancer depends on the age that smoking began, how deeply the smoker inhales, number of years smoking and number of cigarettes smoked per day. Carcinogens in tobaccos directly damage the cells in the lungs and in time may develop into lung cancer. People who quit smoking greatly reduce their risk for developing lung cancer.
- Cigars and pipes. Both cigar and pipe smokers are at an increased risk for developing lung cancer. Likelihood of developing cancer depends on all the same reasons as for cigarettes. Even smokers who do not inhale have an increased risk for lung and other cancers.
- Environmental tobacco smoke (Secondhand smoke). Exposure to secondhand smoke increases your risk for developing lung cancer.
- Radon. An odorless, colorless and tasteless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in rocks and soils. Radon can cause damage to the lungs that may lead to the growth of cancerous cells and mine workers may be at increased risk. In some parts of the country radon is found in houses. The combination of smoking and radon exposure increase an individuals risk for developing cancer more than one of these risk factors alone.
- Asbestos. The name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as fibers and are used in various industries. Workers in certain industries who have been exposed to large amounts of asbestos have a 3 to 4 time’s greater risk of developing lung cancer than workers who are not exposed to asbestos.
Lung Cancer Prevention
The number one lung cancer prevention strategy is geared towards smokers. If you are a smoker - stop smoking, even cigars and or pipes. If you live with or socialize with smokers, try to avoid the smoker at times they are smoking.
Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer. It is crucial to test your home for safe radon levels, as every state has issues with radon.
If you are exposed to dusts and debris at work make sure that you know your rights and that you are aware if you are working in an environment contaminated with asbestos or other potentially harmful substances. Wear protective gear appropriate to your position and make sure that you don’t smoke. Smoking and contact with harmful substances, including radon and asbestos, increases your chances of developing lung cancer more than one of these factors alone.
Lung Cancer Early Detection
Some common symptoms of lung cancer include an ongoing and increasingly worse cough, continual chest pain, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, repeated problems with pneumonia or ongoing fatigue. If you have any of these symptoms it is important to see your doctor and express your concerns.
If lung cancer is a suspected cause for any of your symptoms then a doctor may choose to do a biopsy of the lung tissues so that the doctor can test for cancer cells. If cancer cells are found it is important to diagnose the stage of the disease through on of various tests available.
Lung Cancer Treatment
There are several treatment options for lung cancer; the type of treatment used will depend on the type of lung cancer, the extent of the tumor and the general health and age of the patient. Treatments can be used in conjunction with each other and may be used to control lung cancer and or to improve the quality of life of the patient.
- Surgery. There are many surgeries that can be performed to help with lung cancer; the type of surgery performed will depend on the placement of the tumor in the lung and the spread of the cancer throughout the body.
- Radiation therapy. The use of high energy x-rays directly targeted at the tumor to help kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with surgery to either shrink a tumor, before the surgery, or to kill remaining cancer cells, post surgery.
- Chemotherapy. Either administered by IV or sometimes given in pill form, anticancer drugs (chemotherapy) are used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Sometimes removing the tumor out of the lung with still leave cancer in distant parts of the body; chemotherapy can then be used to control growth and or to relieve symptoms
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT). A type of laser therapy that involves injecting a special chemical into the bloodstream. The chemical is absorbed by cells all over the body, but rapidly disappears from healthy cells while remaining in the cancerous cells. A laser light aimed at the cancer sites will activate the chemical and kills the cancer cells. PDT is sometimes used in patients when other forms of therapy are not viable options, and it can also be used to reduce symptoms of lung cancer. Sometimes PDT is effective in removing cancer in places where surgery is not as feasible.