Lung cancer is the cancer of the lungs. This type of cancer originates within the lungs.
Lungs?
Lungs are the air filtration organs of the body. They take in oxygen on inhalation and release carbon dioxide on exhalation. The lungs comprise of two spongy organs on the left and right side of your chest. The right lung has three lobes while the left lung has two lobes. Within the lungs, there exists a network of tubes known as the bronchus and the bronchioles. This branched network carries the air to the alveoli, an air sac to exchange the oxygen in the blood for carbon-dioxide.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer. It is responsible for more deaths than other cancers like colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers.
Types of lung cancer
There are two types of lung cancer:
Small cell lung cancer: Small cell cancer is also known as oat cell cancer. This type of cancer typically occurs in heavy smokers. It is less common compared to non-small cell lung cancer, but it spreads rapidly.
Non-small cell lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer refers to multiple forms of lung cancer - squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. They are categorized together as they behave in a similar manner. This type of cancer is the most common form of lung cancer.
Another type but extremely rare form of cancer is the lung carcinoid tumor. These types of tumors are seen in less than 5% of patients. They grow slowly and rarely spread.
Lung cancer symptoms
Lung cancer does not have very strong symptoms in the initial stage. It is only when the cancer spreads and progresses that the symptoms become more prominent. Some of the symptoms you might see:
2. Passive smokers: Individuals who spend a lot of time around smokers passively breathing in their smoke are also at risk at developing lung cancer.
3. Radon gas, asbestos and other chemicals: Individuals who are constantly exposed to radon gas, asbestos and other chemicals are at greater risk of developing lung cancer.
Lungs are the air filtration organs of the body. They take in oxygen on inhalation and release carbon dioxide on exhalation. The lungs comprise of two spongy organs on the left and right side of your chest. The right lung has three lobes while the left lung has two lobes. Within the lungs, there exists a network of tubes known as the bronchus and the bronchioles. This branched network carries the air to the alveoli, an air sac to exchange the oxygen in the blood for carbon-dioxide.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer. It is responsible for more deaths than other cancers like colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers.
Types of lung cancer
There are two types of lung cancer:
Small cell lung cancer: Small cell cancer is also known as oat cell cancer. This type of cancer typically occurs in heavy smokers. It is less common compared to non-small cell lung cancer, but it spreads rapidly.
Non-small cell lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer refers to multiple forms of lung cancer - squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. They are categorized together as they behave in a similar manner. This type of cancer is the most common form of lung cancer.
Another type but extremely rare form of cancer is the lung carcinoid tumor. These types of tumors are seen in less than 5% of patients. They grow slowly and rarely spread.
Lung cancer symptoms
Lung cancer does not have very strong symptoms in the initial stage. It is only when the cancer spreads and progresses that the symptoms become more prominent. Some of the symptoms you might see:
- Headaches
- Hoarseness
- Chronic cough
- Changes in the chronic cough
- Pain in the bones
- Pain in the chest
- Wheezing and shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
- Coughing up blood
Who’s at risk?
2. Passive smokers: Individuals who spend a lot of time around smokers passively breathing in their smoke are also at risk at developing lung cancer.
3. Radon gas, asbestos and other chemicals: Individuals who are constantly exposed to radon gas, asbestos and other chemicals are at greater risk of developing lung cancer.
Lung Cancer - What You Need to Know
With lung cancer being the leading cancer-causing death in America, you really should get to know all you can about this disease - including the causes, symptoms, and screening tests that are done to diagnose lung cancer. If you're armed with the facts, then you'll increase your chance of survival.
The Causes of Lung Cancer
While lung cancer causes the most cancer-related deaths, it's actually one of the most preventable forms of cancer. Most lung cancer is cause by smoking. This comes from directly smoking yourself or prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke. However, it is possible (but rare) for people to develop lung cancer without ever having smoked or been exposed to second-hand smoke. In these rare instances of people developing lung cancer it doesn't have a clear cause.
Cigarette smoke is full of carcinogens (cancer causing agents). When people inhale the smoke into their lungs, it lines the lungs with these dangerous carcinogens. This damages the cells. They may be able to regenerate, but repeated exposure over time causes the cells to act abnormally which eventually causes a person to get cancer.
If you're a smoker or have been exposed to a lot of cigarette smoke in your life, then there are certain signs and symptoms you do not want to ignore. Since lung cancer usually doesn't have any symptoms until it's more advanced, you don't want to let it continue untreated.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Here's what you should look out for when lung cancer is involved:
* A new, persistent cough
* Any changes to your “smoker's cough”
* Coughing up blood, no matter how little
* Shortness of breath
* Chest pain
* Wheezing
* Hoarseness
* Sudden weight loss without trying to lose weight
* Bone pain
* Headache
If you have any of the signs or symptoms above that have become worrisome, or anything else that concern you, then call your doctor right away. Quitting smoking before any of these symptoms arise is probably in your best interest. Seek help with this if you have to; discuss it with your doctor. It might not prevent you from getting lung cancer, but your chances of survival increase the sooner you quit smoking.
If you're at risk for lung cancer or have any of the above signs or symptoms, your doctor might order some tests.
Lung Cancer Screening Tests
Screening for lung cancer isn't as easy as for other cancers. While we know heavy smoking causes it, really until masses show up on your lungs and you show symptoms it's hard to tell right now when someone has lung cancer. This is probably why it is the deadliest form of cancer. Your best fighting chance of early detection is a low-dose spiral CT scan. This test has been shown to decrease the chance of death from lung cancer in heavy smokers. It is much more effective than x-rays or sputum tests.
The problem with the technology that we currently have to test for lung cancer is they often show benign non-cancerous cells which leads to more invasive testing. And since there isn't a greater chance of survival in most cases, having invasive procedures are not always recommended.
If you are showing symptoms, then your doctor will most likely do a sputum test or an x-ray. If masses are found, then they'll send you for a biopsy. There is just no other reliable method for diagnosing lung cancer early.
If you are worried about lung cancer, then the best thing you can do is quit smoking and talk to your doctor. Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of both men and women in the United States, and your chances of getting it are greatly dependent on your lifestyle choices.
The Causes of Lung Cancer
While lung cancer causes the most cancer-related deaths, it's actually one of the most preventable forms of cancer. Most lung cancer is cause by smoking. This comes from directly smoking yourself or prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke. However, it is possible (but rare) for people to develop lung cancer without ever having smoked or been exposed to second-hand smoke. In these rare instances of people developing lung cancer it doesn't have a clear cause.
Cigarette smoke is full of carcinogens (cancer causing agents). When people inhale the smoke into their lungs, it lines the lungs with these dangerous carcinogens. This damages the cells. They may be able to regenerate, but repeated exposure over time causes the cells to act abnormally which eventually causes a person to get cancer.
If you're a smoker or have been exposed to a lot of cigarette smoke in your life, then there are certain signs and symptoms you do not want to ignore. Since lung cancer usually doesn't have any symptoms until it's more advanced, you don't want to let it continue untreated.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Here's what you should look out for when lung cancer is involved:
* A new, persistent cough
* Any changes to your “smoker's cough”
* Coughing up blood, no matter how little
* Shortness of breath
* Chest pain
* Wheezing
* Hoarseness
* Sudden weight loss without trying to lose weight
* Bone pain
* Headache
If you have any of the signs or symptoms above that have become worrisome, or anything else that concern you, then call your doctor right away. Quitting smoking before any of these symptoms arise is probably in your best interest. Seek help with this if you have to; discuss it with your doctor. It might not prevent you from getting lung cancer, but your chances of survival increase the sooner you quit smoking.
If you're at risk for lung cancer or have any of the above signs or symptoms, your doctor might order some tests.
Lung Cancer Screening Tests
Screening for lung cancer isn't as easy as for other cancers. While we know heavy smoking causes it, really until masses show up on your lungs and you show symptoms it's hard to tell right now when someone has lung cancer. This is probably why it is the deadliest form of cancer. Your best fighting chance of early detection is a low-dose spiral CT scan. This test has been shown to decrease the chance of death from lung cancer in heavy smokers. It is much more effective than x-rays or sputum tests.
The problem with the technology that we currently have to test for lung cancer is they often show benign non-cancerous cells which leads to more invasive testing. And since there isn't a greater chance of survival in most cases, having invasive procedures are not always recommended.
If you are showing symptoms, then your doctor will most likely do a sputum test or an x-ray. If masses are found, then they'll send you for a biopsy. There is just no other reliable method for diagnosing lung cancer early.
If you are worried about lung cancer, then the best thing you can do is quit smoking and talk to your doctor. Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of both men and women in the United States, and your chances of getting it are greatly dependent on your lifestyle choices.