Lung cancer is one of killer disease among both men and women. It claims more lives each year than colon, prostate, lymph and breast cancers combined. Like other cancers, this cancer is results from an abnormality in the body's basic unit of life, the cell. In this cancers cases, the uncontrolled cells reproduce rapidly grow into normal lung tissue because of malignant transformation and expansion of lung tissue.Estimated new cases and deaths from this cancer {Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)} in the United States in 2008 (Info: NCI): New cases: 215,020 and Deaths: 161,840.
Sign and SymptomsSigns and symptoms of lung cancer typically occur only when the disease is advanced, it will take many years to develop which often leads to diagnosis at an advanced stage of this disease. Sometimes this cancer does not cause any symptoms and is only found by a routine x-ray, it is important to talk to a doctor when symptoms are present. The most common symptoms may include:Smoker's cough that persists or becomes intense.Cough is an important symptom of lung cancer, but it is difficult to distinguish cough associated with lung cancer from cough associated smoking or cough associated with chronic lung conditions like COPD that has resulted from smoking.
Causes and Risk factors
one of killer disease that most common cause by smoking (87%), Exposure to other carcinogens such as asbestos and radon gas. Cases in United States and United Kingdom are yearly increase in the large number and most of patients have smoking history.
The other risk factors to develop of this cancer cases are air pollution, other lung diseases, diet, personal and family history. Radiation Therapy, especially on the chest area its possible as risk factor for developing lung cancer.
Caused by Tobacco Smoking
Smoking tobacco is the first number of risk factor which responsible for this cancer cases. The chance that a smoker will develop this cancer is affected by many criteria bellow:
1. How young the smoker was when he started smoking2. How long the person has smoked3. How many of cigarettes are smoked per day.
In most people, this cancer is related to cigarette smoking. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoking also as risk factor to increase the number of this cancer disease. The smoke in the air when someone else smokes, has been accepted as a cause of this cancer since the Surgeon General's report of 1986.
Caused by Asbestos Exposure
Exposure to the asbestos as a fiber that found in industrial materials is a big risk factor for this cancer. Asbestos is a unique cause of lung cancer Asbestos, worker are 7 time more likely to develop and die from lung cancer. Asbestos Exposure is the second biggest cause after smoking. Lung cancer that caused by exposure to the asbestos material known as Asbestos Cancer or Mesothelioma. More about Mesothelioma information here "Mesothelioma Full Articles".
Caused by Air Pollution
In the many of modern countries, especially an area with crowd population and transportation has high risk for increase of air pollution. According to the American Cancer Society, air pollution increases the risk for this cancer cases event this risk is far less than smoking.
Caused by Other Lung Disease
Tuberculosis and other lung diseases such as Pneumonia can leave scarring on the lungs. Lung cancer tends to develop in areas that are injured or scarred from lung diseases, specifically adenocarcinoma.
Breathing problems (shortness of breath or wheezing)Any kind of "shortness of breath" is a potentially life-threatening emergency, It may lead to the dangerous causes such as heart attack, pneumonia, or pulmonary embolism. But for the people who have heavy smoker history, a change in pattern of respiratory difficulty should cause concern for the development of lung cancer.
Coughing up blood, even a small amountThe symptom of coughing up blood needs to be distinguished from the more general symptom of blood in sputum, where blood may come from other causes than coughing such as nasal bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, etc. The doctors are also considering about lung cancer development.
Frequent lung infections (pneumonia or bronchitis)Some of lung cancer patients are developed of pneumonia or bronchitis.
Persistent chest, shoulder, or back painLung cancer can infiltrate into the chest wall and may cause pain in the chest. Development of chest pain in a high-risk person should alert the physician to the possibility of this cancer with chest wall invasion, or plural involvement.
Change in the voice (hoarseness of voice)These is also one of this cancer's symptom, its occur because of the pressure effect on the one of nerves that comes from the chest to the vocal cord (called recurrent laryngeal nerve).
Other sign and symptomsThose people who develop of persistent cough more than 2 weeks, event they are non-smokers category may need to be consider about symptom of this cancer. Other symptoms that can be related to late-stage of this cancer are trouble swallowing, neck and facial swelling, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and tiredness.
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