Posted on March 20, 2010.
Lung Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled growth of cells in the lung tissue. This growth may lead to metastasis, invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs. The vast majority of primary lung cancers are carcinomas of the lung epithelial cells. Lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer deaths in men and the second most common cancer among women [1] [2] is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide each year.
What causes lung cancer?
Smoking
The incidence of lung cancer is strongly correlated with smoking, with about 90% of lung cancers caused by smoking. The risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked over time, doctors refer to this risk in terms of pack-years of smoking history (number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked).
Lung cancer usually begins in the cells that line your lungs. Smoking causes most lung cancers - both among smokers and people exposed to secondhand smoke. But lung cancer also occurs in people who never smoked. In these cases, there may be no obvious cause of lung cancer. Doctors have identified factors that may increase the risk.
The cancer cells from the lung is called primary lung cancer. primary lung cancer may begin in the airways that branch off the trachea to supply the lungs (bronchi), or small air cavities in the lungs (alveoli). Cancer can also spread (metastasize) to the lungs to other parts of the body (most commonly breast, colon, prostate, kidney, thyroid, stomach, cervix, rectum, testicles , bones or skin).
The symptoms of lung cancer
symptoms of lung cancer are generally not known until the disease had advanced, sometimes delaying the diagnosis. The symptoms of lung cancer as the symptoms mimic other benign diseases.
The most common symptoms are experienced lung cancer:
Top of wheezing
recurring pneumonia or bronchitis
A persistent cough that does not go far
A sign is also an indication that something is wrong in the body. But signs are defined as things that can be seen by a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional. Fever, rapid breathing rate, and abnormal breathing sounds heard through a stethoscope may be signs of pneumonia.
Diagnosis of lung cancer
To help you find the cause of the symptoms, your doctor will evaluate your medical history, smoking history, exposure to environmental substances and professional, and family history of cancer. Your doctor will also perform a physical exam and may recommend a chest X-ray and other tests. If lung cancer is suspected sputum cytology - the microscopic examination of cells obtained from a deep cough sample of mucus in the lungs - is a simple test that can be useful for detecting lung cancer. To confirm the presence of lung cancer, your doctor should examine the tissue.
How do I prevent lung cancer?
The best way to prevent lung cancer is to quit smoking or never start in the first place. You should try and avoid people who smoke, and also avoid pipes, cigars, and marijuana. If you live in an area where radon, you must ensure that adequate ventilation in your basement to get rid of him. Use a detector to ensure that radon levels are low.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Many factors must be taken into account in determining the best treatment for someone with lung cancer. The type of cell, the location of the lung tumor, stage of disease with possible metastasis (spread to other parts of the body), and the general.