Lung Cancer

One of the most common types of cancers that occur all over the world is lung cancer. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of death amongst both women and men in the U.S. Most lung cancers are caused due to smoking. As a matter of fact, the earlier one begins smoking and the higher the number of cigarettes one smokes, the higher the chances of getting lung cancer. Exposure to asbestos, radiation, and pollution are also some of the other causes of lung cancer.

Although this disease can affect any area of the lungs, it is thought that about 90-95 percent of lung cancers occur in the lining cells, or the epithelial cells of the bronchi and the bronchioles. This is the reason lung cancer is sometimes referred to as bronchogenic cancer or bronchogenic carcinoma. But, lung cancer can also occur in the pleura, the thin serous membrane that the lungs are encased in, which is known as mesothelioma, or very rarely in the supporting tissue inside the lungs, such as the blood vessels.

Lung cancer is usually divided into two main types based on how the lung cancer cells look when examined under a microscope:

Small Cell Lung Cancer: This occurs almost entirely in people who smoke heavily, and it less common compared to non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: This is a term that includes various types of lung cancers that have similar symptoms. This includes large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

The treatment of lung cancer is based on the type it belongs to.

What are the Symptoms and Signs of Lung Cancer?

Typically, in the earlier stages of the disease, it does not have any symptoms or signs, which only occur in the advanced stages of the disease. Some of the symptoms and signs of lung cancer are:

• A persistent cough that refuses to go away, and worsens with time
• A change occurring in chronic cough
• Blood being coughed up
• Hoarseness, wheezing, and shortness of breath
• Constant pain in the chest
• Repeated attacks of bronchitis or pneumonia
• Swollen face and neck
• Weight loss or loss of appetite
• A general feeling of fatigue

What are the Causes of Lung Cancer?

As has been mentioned above, lung cancer usually affects the cells that line the lungs, and is usually caused due to smoking, both amongst smokers as well as passive smokers.
However, there are also cases of lung cancer occurring in people who have never smoked, wherein it is not known what exactly causes it.

Lung Cancer and Smoking: According to medical science, lung cancer is caused by smoking due to damage caused to the cells that line the lungs. Each time smoke is inhaled, which contains carcinogens, almost immediate changes occur in the tissue of the lungs. Initially, the body has the ability of repairing the damage. However, when the cells are subjected to repeated exposure, these cells begin acting abnormally, eventually leading to the development of lung cancer.

Lung Cancer and Genetic Predisposition: Although most lung cancers are caused by smoking, however, it is also known that not everybody who smokes gets lung cancer and there are some who do not smoke at all who get lung cancer. This suggests that there may be a genetic link for lung cancer occurring. According several studies, it has been found that both non-smoking and smoking relatives of people who get lung cancer get the disease.

Lung Cancer and Lung Diseases: There is a slightly higher risk of getting lung cancer when certain lung diseases occur, such as COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Lung Cancer and Air Pollution: There are higher chances of lung cancer occurring due to air pollution caused by power plants, industry, and automobiles. In fact, experts are of the opinion that about 1 percent of deaths caused by lung cancer can be attributed to polluted air being breathed, and exposure to air that is highly polluted for a prolonged period of time can be as risky as passive smoking.

Also, people who have already recovered from a bout of lung cancer have a higher risk of getting lung cancer.

What is the Treatment for Lung Cancer?

There are various factors that are taken into account regarding the treatment of lung cancer, like the type as well as the stage of the lung cancer, the general health of the affected person, as well as the personal preferences of the person. The usual options of treatment are: surgery; radiation therapy; chemotherapy; and targeted drug therapy.

Sometimes patients may opt for not undergoing any treatment at all. For example, if a patient feels that the side effects of a treatment surpass the potential beneficial effects. In that event, the patient may be recommended palliative treatment wherein only the symptoms of the lung cancer, such as pain, are treated.