The information that I’m providing below is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your personal physician or other health care professional regarding medical questions or conditions that you might have. The Basics of Lung Cancer
As everyone already knows, lung cancer is a very serious health condition for a lot of individuals. When diagnosed with lung cancer, the patients and their families are all emotionally affected due to the seriousness of this disease. This form of cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths; not only in the United States but throughout the entire world. Lung cancer is usually caused by cigarette smoke but can be caused by other hazards in the home and in the work-place.
When an individual is diagnosed with lung cancer, further testing is done to determine what type of lung cancer it is and the current stage of the disease. The following information will provide you with a brief description of the different stages of lung cancer, as well as the symptoms and the warning signs that are normally associated with this disease.
The Causes of Lung Cancer
It is well documented that smoking cigarettes is the primary cause of lung cancer and 85% of all lung cancer in the United States is caused by smoking cigarettes. Secondhand smoke, radon gas, asbestos, and the exposure to other carcinogens also contribute to an individual being diagnosed with this deadly disease.
Smoking reduces one's normal life expectancy by an average of 13-15 years and is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths. Once diagnosed, only 15% of lung cancer patients have a survival rate of 5 years or longer. Approximately 50% of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually die from their addiction. A smoker's risk of developing lung cancer is 10-30 times greater than that of a non-smoker!
The American Lung Association has stated that radon gas (a natural by-product of decaying uranium in the soil) is responsible for approximately 12% of all lung cancer deaths in the United States. The EPA has estimated that 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States has radon levels at, or above the recommended levels. Only 11-15% of those individuals that are afflicted with lung cancer caused by radon gas will have a life expectancy of 5 years or more.
There are various tests that can detect lung cancer, but none of these tests have proven to be effective in detecting this disease early enough to prevent the death of the cancer patient. Each day medical scientists are looking for new ways to improve early detection. Typically, lung cancer symptoms do not appear until they are in an "advanced" stage!
The Two Types of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is divided into two categories... which are Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC). Each type of cancer grows and spreads at different rates and is treated differently by medical professionals.
• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - This is the most common form of lung cancer and comprises about 80% of all lung cancers... which is divided into 3 different categories.
1. Squamous Cell Carcinoma - This form of cancer originates in the thin, flat cells that line the passages of the respiratory tract.
2. Adenocarcinoma - This form of cancer begins in the cells that form the lining of the lungs.
3. Large Cell Carcinoma - This form of cancer looks large and abnormal when it is viewed under a microscope.
• Small Cell Lung Cancer - This type of cancer is almost always caused by smoking and secondhand smoke. It comprises approximately 20% of all lung cancer. These cancer cells are usually smaller than other cancer cells but they have the ability to reproduce rapidly to form large tumors. Their small size and quick rate of reproduction allows them to spread to the lymph nodes and to other organs in the body.
The 4 Stages of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Stage I - This is the earliest stage of lung cancer. There is no visible spread of the cancerous tumor to lymph nodes or to outside of the chest cavity. The disease is considered to be "localized" since the tumor has not grown beyond the location where is first manifested itself.
• Stage II - The cancer has either spread to the lymph nodes of the infected lung, or has invaded the tissues surrounding the lungs, or has started to invade the central structures of the lung.
• Stage III - Even though these tumors are more advanced than Stage I or Stage II, they have not as yet spread outside the chest. The disease may have spread to the lymph nodes in the center of the chest or it may extensively involve the structures connected to the lungs.
• Stage IV - The cancer has spread to the opposite lung or to another part of the body such as the liver, the brain, or to the bones.
The 2 Stages of Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Limited Stage - The cancer is found in one lung, the tissues between the lungs, and nearby lymph nodes only.
• Extensive Stage - The cancer has spread outside of the lung in which it began or to other parts of the body.
Lung Cancer Symptoms and Warning Signs
• A chronic cough
• Shortness of breath
• Hoarseness of one's voice
• Sputum streaked with blood
• Moderate to severe wheezing
• Recurring bronchitis or pneumonia
• General fatigue and loss of energy
• Swelling of the face and neck (SVCO)
• Skin paleness or bluish discoloration
• Loss of appetite accompanied by weight loss
• Moderate to severe difficulty when swallowing
• Pain in the chest, shoulder, arm, or upper back
Please note that all of these symptoms may be caused by cancer or by some other medical condition. If you should have one or more of these symptoms its very important that you check with your health-care provider as soon as possible. Early detection is vital to survival!
Risks for Developing Lung Cancer
• Over the age of 50 (male or female)
• Smoking cigarettes (currently or in the past)
• Smoking cigars or pipes (if smoke was inhaled)
• Being exposed to secondhand smoke
• Previously treated with radiation therapy (chest or breast)
• Residing in a geographical area with smog and/or air pollution
• Family history of lung cancer (biologically related parent or sibling)
• Exposure to asbestos or radon gas
• Exposure to arsenic or chromium and chromium compounds
• Exposure to vinyl chloride or nickel and nickel compounds
• Exposure to bis-chloromethyl ether or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
If you are a smoker and you are currently at risk for developing lung cancer, don’t you think that you should consider quitting as soon as possible? The life that you save may be your very own!
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Contributor's Note
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