Facts About Lung Cancer

Our bodies are created with building blocks called cells. It's a well-known fact that cells grow, divide, and multiply to meet the needs of the body and keep it strong. Sometimes, these cells will divide when there is no need to multiply, and create a mass of extra cells known as a tumor or cancer. In the lungs, an unchecked, rapid growth of cells is known as lung cancer. This disease can be diagnosed in two forms: small cell lunch cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer.

The categories of lung cancer are based morphology of the cells as seen under a microscope. The two types of lung cancer have their treatment methods, as they spread in different ways.

The most common form of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer, the type that slowly grows and spreads. In this class are large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, the three major types of non-small cell lung cancer.

Instances of small cell lung cancer are not so common as that of non-small lung cancer. This type of lung cancer spreads rapidly and may affect different organs of the body. This type of lung cancer is also known as oat cell cancer.

Lung cancer has recently been recognized as the deadliest form of cancer in many of the developed nations. In the United States alone, an estimated 170,000 people die from the disease each year. While changes to the lungs can begin almost immediately upon exposure to carcinogens, lung cancer itself can take years to develop.

The inhalation of the carcinogens through cigarette smoke is the main cause of lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers. The risk of contracting lung cancer increases when there is an environmental exposure to radon compounded with smoking. People working in places with exposure to asbestos face another form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma lung cancer.

Lung cancer mostly affects people over fifty and who also had the habit of smoking for a quite long time. The lung cancer symptoms vary based upon the location of the tumor in the lungs. You may suspect lung cancer if you are experiencing chronic cough, chest pain, wheezing, and recurring lung infections.

The preliminary diagnosis of lung cancer can easily be done by an experienced health care professional. This is based on symptoms, smoking history, medical history, earlier family history of lung cancer and exposure to occupational and environmental risk factors. A second series of tests is performed to confirm the diagnosis. These can include a chest x-ray, which will diagnose small cell or non-small cell lung cancer and gauge the stage to which the cancer has developed. Medical professionals can also confirm whether or not the cancer is localized in the lung or has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment of lung cancer may be done by chemotherapy (cancer cells can be eliminated by medications), radiation therapy (eliminating the cancer cells by high-dose X-rays or other high-energy rays), or surgery (cancer removal). Treatment of advanced stage lung cancer is considered difficult with moderate success rate in early stage treatment.

Prevention is always better than a cure, so of course it's best to avoid tobacco use. Stopping smoking is the best way to reduce your chances of having lung cancer. Kick the habit today and you can gradually decrease your lung cancer risk over 10 to 15 years as your lungs recover.