Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both of the lungs. While normal lung tissue cells reproduce and develop into healthy lung tissue, these abnormal cells reproduce rapidly and never grow into normal lung tissue. Lumps of cancer cells (tumors) then form and disrupt the lung, making it difficult to function properly.

More than 87% of lung cancers are smoking related. However, not all smokers develop lung cancer. Quitting smoking reduces an individual's risk significantly, although former smokers remain at greater risk for lung cancer than people who never smoked. Exposure to other carcinogens such as asbestos and radon gas also increases an individual's risk, especially when combined with cigarette or cigar smoking. (www.lungcancer.org).

More Americans die each year from lung cancer than from breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined. Approximately 173,770 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 20043, accounting for 13% of all new cancer cases. An estimated 160,440 Americans died in 2004 from lung cancer, accounting for 28% of all cancer deaths. Annually, lung cancer kills more men than prostate cancer and more women than breast cancer. An estimated 68,510 women in the U.S. will die this year from lung cancer, and an estimated 91,930 men in the U.S. will die this year from lung cancer. (www.lungcancer.org).

There are two different types of lung cancer, which include Non-small cell lung cancer, and Small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is classified into three subtypes. 1.) Adenocarcinomas, which is found in the mucus glands, 2.) Squamous or epidermoid carcinoma, which is located in the bronchial tubes, and 3.) Large cell carcinoma and this is found near the surface. Small cell lung cancer is highly associated with smoking and grows and spreads quickly. There are two stages of this disease: limited and extensive. (www.lungcancer.org).

Some of the main symptoms that people encounter are non-smokers cough that persists and doesn't go away over time, constant chest pain, coughing up blood, and shortness of breath, wheezing, Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis, swelling of the neck and the face, loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss, and fatigue, blood in sputum, change in color of sputum, and increase in volume of sputum. (www.infotrac.com) then types of treatment, then the conclusion.