How Is Lung Cancer Caused ?

What causes lung cancer �� a dreadful disease that seems to have no mercy on the lives of those affected? Research shows that a lung cancer prognosis in many patients doesn’t exceed five years. This is disheartening at best.

Being given a diagnosis such as this leaves the patient thinking what causes lung cancer? What causes any type of cancer is really still a mystery. However there are suspicions about what causes lung cancer and there are suggested risks. Whenever lung cancer is discussed, the great risk factor focused on is smoking.

Nowadays not only is tobacco use considered a risk for lung cancer but second-hand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke is also considered to be a risk. Other suspected causes of lung cancer are exposure to materials such as radon, asbestos and industrial substances such as arsenic. Some organic chemical are considered to be a risk for lung cancer.

Radiation exposure, air pollution and tuberculosis are also suspected regarding what causes lung cancer. It the cause or lung cancer was known with certainty, perhaps a cure could be found for this awful disease. Patients would be able to look to the future without the fear of premature death.

What causes lung cancer? Many things are considered to be causes and for this reason these risks should be avoided. Staying away from these risk factors should definitely decrease a person’s chances of being diagnosed with lung cancer. Research has shown that men who smoke increase their chances of dying from lung cancer at a rate of more than twenty-two time of men who don’t smoke.

Research also shows that women who smoke increase their risk of death from lung cancer by a rate of more than twelve times of women who don’t smoke. Research has also shown that women who don’t smoke are more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than men who are non-smokers. These are all facts and figures discovered through research. What causes lung cancer? It could be one of these risk factors and for that reason people should follow the advice offered regarding lung cancer prevention.

Read Full Article, Click Here Now ....

Find Best Lung Cancer Treatment Opinions

Composed of many different types of cells; the lungs are one of the largest organs in a human body. Separated into two sections, the left and right lungs, they perform Themost important task for life breaking down the air we breathe to give every human the needed oxygen for survival. So what is lung cancer? Cells throughout our body, including our lungs, go through the cyclic process of life and death.

As the old cells complete their life cycles new one are formed to take their place. In the case of lung cancer, cells keep producing new cells when the other cells are perfectly normal, which means there is an excess of cells in a particular area of the lung.

These cells would not have room to be present, and they also have no function as they would not be able to specialize into the different types of cells because there is no reason for them to. Hence extra cells in the lungs stay together as a growth, more commonly known as tumors.

Tumors can be of two kinds benign or malignant. Benign tumors pose no harm to the person as they do not spread and do not interfere with the usual processes of the body. Malignant tumors in the lung are what we call lung cancer. These malignant tumors may pose more harm if a few cells break free from the mass and spread to other parts of the body, mostly through the lymphatic system. Tobacco use is said to be one of the biggest reasons for lung cancer.

The worst part is that you do not have to be a smoker yourself to be affected. Second hand smoking can have the same effect. Because of this being exposed to tobacco users in any way, whether in your office, in a favorite restaurant or at home from a parent or partner, increases your chances of getting lung cancer as much as for the smokers themselves. Tobacco is said to have carcinogens, which increase the chances of cells acting in the abnormal way to produce a tumor.

There have been many lawsuits against tobacco companies as they are not said to have made the impact tobacco has in the causation of lung cancer clear for the public. It is now the law that every cigarette packet should have a warning in bold letters mentioning how tobacco is harmful to health.

 Treatment for lung cancer can vary according to how far the tumor has spread, or how much of an area is affected. Doctors would prescribe one or a combination of the following few as treatment methods, depending on each individual. Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are some of the most common treatments for lung cancer. But always remember, the fastest cure to lung cancer, or any other disease, is a positive frame of mind!

Read Full Article, Click Here Now ....

3 Potential Small Cell Lung Cancer Symptoms

There are two main types of lung cancer; small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Of these two types, SCLC represents around 20%. It is often nicknamed oat cell carcinoma due to the oat like appearance of the small cells of the lungs. SCLC develops when these small cells start to grow in a rapid and uncontrollable way and eventually become malignant (cancerous). Since this cancer affects the lungs this is the area where most of the symptoms manifest. In this article I will be discussing three of the most common small cell lung cancer symptoms.

 1) A PERSISTENT COUGH:- If you notice you have a cough that does not seem to go away it could be a sign of SCLC. A lot of coughs will have no other symptoms than a dry, hoarse, itchy feeling in the throat. However, some coughs result in phlegm and blood coming up. Other coughs can even cause pain. You should inform your doctor if you notice any type of persistent cough and if any phlegm or blood comes up you should inform them right away. The cough may be down to something much less serious but it may also be an early warning sign of SCLC. Your doctor will be able to perform a number of tests and give you a professional diagnosis.

 2) BREATHLESSNESS:- Feeling breathless for no apparent reason is another potential small cell lung cancer symptom. This can often lead to you feeling tired and lacking in energy whilst performing every day tasks such as walking down the street. Regardless of whether the breathlessness comes on gradually or suddenly it should be treated with suspicion. If you notice yourself becoming short of breath for no logical reason go see your doctor and explain your concerns. They will then be able to identify the cause of the breathlessness and determine if it is linked to SCLC.

 3) CHEST PAIN:- Chest pain is a very serious symptom which is linked with a number of conditions including SCLC. The chest pain may be caused by coughing or deep breathing. However, you may also experience constant or spontaneous chest pain. Any type of chest pain should be treated with extreme caution and you should go see your doctor right away. They will then be able to perform a number of tests to identify the cause.

 Many of the symptoms of small cell lung cancer are linked to the chest. Although the above symptoms are not exclusive to SCLC, they do usually act as early warning signs. If you notice any of the symptoms discussed above you should inform your doctor right away. They will be able to investigate any suspicious coughs or spontaneous chest pains and determine if they are linked to SCLC. This type of cancer is much more treatable in the early stages so it makes sense to act on any potential symptoms early and go see your doctor.

 Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Small cell lung cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.

Read Full Article, Click Here Now ....

A Look Toward the Final Stage of Lung Cancer

A common question, and a very understandable one from patients with any cancer is what is the prognosis? The prognosis is the medical forecast of the outcome of the disease if left untreated or treated. Usually, the patient is focused on survivability and thereafter, on the quality of life they will have and what undergoing treatment actually will entail.

Cancer is a frightening disease because of its prevalence and because it still holds a reputation for being a killer. What needs to be borne in mind is that not every case is the same and individual case prognosis varies widely depending on a wide number of factors including the type of cancer a patient has contracted, how healthy they are generally and the ability to deliver treatment for the condition.

Introduction to the Staging of

Lung Cancer

The prognosis for a patient with lung cancer depends on the type of cancer they have contracted.Those patients with a diagnosis of SCLC (small cell lung cancer) have a very short life expectancy because it is extremely aggressive and does not lend itself to medical treatment. If left untreated, SCLC patients typically have 2 to 4 months to live after diagnosis.

SCLC does lend itself to radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and this can dramatically affect the prognosis and life expectancy can be increased four or five time, however it is a sad fact that SCLC patients are unlikely to survive beyond a year after diagnosis (less than 10% survive beyond 5 years from diagnosis).

Examining Lung Cancer Survival Rates

Non-SCLC (NSCLC) has a poor record of survivability except where the condition has been diagnosed early and the tumor is small enough to be surgically removed. Where the surgical resection (resection is the medical term for removal of the tumor) has taken place and the lung cancer is diagnosed as Stage 1, then survival rates are over 75% at 5 years post-diagnosis.

Radiation therapy can be used to completely cure some NSCLC patients and in others leads to effective control of the symptoms for the majority of patients.Where lung cancer has reached an advance stage, a course of chemotherapy is the ultimate recourse for a cure, though it is also used as radiation therapy to alleviate the symptoms of the condition.

Exploring the Medical Condition of Lung Cancer

The honest answer to the survivability question is that survival rates are poor compared to other forms of cancer. Overall, survival rates for patients with lung cancer are 16% after 5 years from initial diagnosis, which compares unfavorably with prostrate cancer (99%), breast cancer (89%) and colonic cancer (65%).

The prevalence of lung cancer as the number one cancer killer combined with the extremely poor survival rates mandates an increase in research and awareness of the condition. Many cancers have historically experienced equally poor survival rates until techniques and methodologies for treatment were discovered by increased research.

While lung cancer may be the number one cause of cancer deaths in the world and at home, it is to be expected that as the rates of smoking decline then this disease will also decline with it. A crucial component of treating any medical condition is to focus upon prevention rather than cure, and it is clearly the case that if you smoke you should stop, and even better, if you are contemplating a cigarette, it is better to decline using tobacco altogether.

Read Full Article, Click Here Now ....

Lung Cancer Stages

Cancers are staged depending on how far they have spread. Staging a cancer correctly is essential to select the most appropriate treatment option. A number of diagnostic tests, such as CT scans, MRIs, bronchoscopy, blood tests, bone scans, and biopsies are used to find out how far the cancer has spread.

Non-small cell lung cancers, which account for about 80 percent of lung cancers, are staged using the Roman numerals 0 through IV. If a cancer is too small to be detected, it is called an occult or hidden cancer and not assigned any numeral.

Stage 0 cancer, or carcinoma in situ, is limited to the lung and only involves a few layers of cells. Stage I cancer is still limited to the lung, with an area of normal tissue surrounding it. Stage I cancers are further divided into Stage IA and Stage IB, depending on the size of the tumor.

In stage II cancer, the cancer may have spread to nearby lymph nodes, the chest wall, the diaphragm, or to the tissues lining the lung (pleura) and the heart (pericardium). In stage III cancer, lymph nodes in the central chest or on the other side of the body from the original tumor are involved. Stage III cancer is further divided into stage IIIA and stage IIIB.

In stage IV cancer, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, bones or brain, or to a lobe of the other lung. Cancers that are stages 0 through IIIA may be treated with surgery. Treatment of stage III and stage IV cancers requires chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Small cell lung cancer has two stages. Limited-stage cancer is limited to only one lung, the tissues between the lungs, and nearby lymph nodes. In extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The brain is commonly involved in extensive-stage cancer.

Read Full Article, Click Here Now ....