Lung Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

Among the causes of Lung Cancer, cigarette-smoking stands at the number one position that has taken about 80-85% of the lives of those who suffer from Lung Cancer, exposure to the cancer-causing substances such as asbestos, which come from industrial area is the other major reason of lung cancer. Besides this, passive smoking, abuse of chemical elements, genetic disorders etc. are also considered as possible causes of lung cancer.

"Small Cell Cancer" and "Non-small Cell Lung Cancer" are the two common types of lung cancers. "Non-small Cell Lung Cancer" is common and found in most of the cases and "Small Cell Cancer" takes the second position. In "Small Cell Cancer", the infection starts at a very small level inside the breathing tube (Large Breathing Tube of our respiratory system) in the form of infection and growth of small round cells, it mutates and grows very fast at rapid pace, which leads to problems in breathing process. Smoking is considered to be main cause of "Small Cell Cancer". The "Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer" affects other parts of the lung and the time taken by it to develop completely differs from the "Small Cell Cancer". "Squamous Cell Carcinoma" (found in a bronchus near the center of lung), "Adenocarcenoma" (cancer of mucus producing cells) and "Large Cell Carcinoma" are the main subtypes of "Non-small Cell Lung Cancer" (causes larger round cancer cells).

The Carcinogens, which are found in the Tobacco and substances like asbestos, damage the cells on the internal lining of bronchi and other sensitive areas of the respiratory systems such as air passages. The tissues that are infected are damaged and they slowly start taking shape of tumors. In some cases, these carcinogen substances do not show their effect altogether for few years to a couple of decades on the tissues/cells, after initial exposure, which makes it hard to detect and substantially reduces the possibility of survival of the patient.

The severity and treatment success rate of the lung cancer highly depends on the direction in which the cancer is spreading. If the cancer tumor is growing inwards or if the tumor has a mutating capability then it really becomes very hard to detect the cancer in its early stage. The spreading of the damaged/infected tissues all over the body through blood (a condition, which is called metastasis) makes the condition worst for the patient as it stands a very high possibility of multiple-cancer situation.

Wheezing and coughing are the primary or very first of the symptoms of lung cancer, which sometimes is accompanied by small quantity of blood. At times, due to the blood secretion through the internal part (affected tissues/cells) of the lung, the affected person’s mucus can contain blood stains. Besides all these symptoms, lung cancer is also accompanied by common cancer symptoms such as weight loss, cyanosis (change in color of skin due to the less supply of oxygen), back-ache, tiredness, pain in chest, swelling of arms and legs, and as the time passes by, the patient finds it difficult to breathe (shortness of breath, which is also called Dyspnea).

The lung cancer is staged in five stages depending upon its progression and the probability of the patient’s survival.
Stage 0 indicates that the lung cancer has just infected but has not yet started spreading and can be controlled. The Stage 0 length can be up to 5 years and the patient’s survival rates are about 75-85%.
Stage I indicate that the cancer tumor is inside the lung, but has not yet matured and started spreading. The survival rate for the same is about 50%.
Stage II indicate that the cancer has started spreading, survival rates for patient with Stage II lung cancer are very low and are about 25-30%.
Stage III indicates that the cancer tumor has matured and has spread across every region around chest and all the blood vessels. Survival rates: 10-15%.
Stage IV indicates that the cancer has spread everywhere in the body and the survival rates are not more than 1-2%.

If you think that you might have contracted Lung Cancer, then the first advice for you would be to find a good physician and get yourself diagnosed for it. There are many diagnostic tests available which can help you find out if you are really infected with the disease. Difference Tests available for Lung Cancer are: CT scan, CAT scan, Chest X-Ray, and Sputum Culture Testing. The treatment of lung cancer depends on the stage cancer is in and the physical and medical history of the patient. Treatment primarily includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Following are few things which we can follow in order to avoid cancer:
1) Smoking is considered to be primary cause of cancer, try to avoid both active and passive smoking.
2) Try to avoid junk food, include as much vegetables as possible in your daily diet.
3) Try to avoid the contact of industrial substances such as asbestos, coal gas etc.
4) Take vitamins daily.
5) Reduce alcohol consumption.