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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.

Lung cancer has been categorized based upon the morphology of the cells as seen under a microscope. Each type of the lung cancer has its own method of treatment since they spread in different ways.

Non-small cell lung cancer, the more regularly occurring form of the disease, grows and spreads slowly. In this class there are three major kinds of cancer: large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Small cell lung cancer is not as prevalent as non-small lung cancer. This type of lung cancer spreads rapidly and may grow to affect other organs in the body. Oat cell cancer is another term used to describe this disease.

Recently lung cancer has been recognized as the deadliest form of cancer in many developed nations, including the USA where 170,000 people die from the disease each year. Even though lung changes start almost immediately upon exposure to carcinogens, lung cancer takes years together 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.

An experienced health care professional can diagnose lung cancer based on symptoms, smoking history, medical history, earlier family history of lung cancer, and exposure to occupational and environmental materials. After the initial tests, an X-Ray can be used to make an affirmative diagnosis. Different tests are available to diagnose small cell or non-small lung cancer and to gauge the stage of the cancer. Medical professionals are also able to confirm whether the cancer is localized within 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.