Introduction
Lung cancer is a condition of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. It is one of the most occuring cancers in the United States, accounting for about 15 percent of all cancer cases, or 170,000 new cases per year. It is also the worst cancer killer in the USA, taking more lives each year than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers together, according to the American Cancer Society. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in US women and is responsible for as many deaths as breast and all gynecological cancers combined.
Smoking
Smoking, radon, and second hand smoke are the major factors. Smoking causes an estimated 160,000* deaths in the United States. Smoking leads to 85 % to 90 of all lung cancers. Smoking affects non-smokers by exposing them to 2nd hand smoke. If a person ceases smoking, this chance steadily decreases as damage to the lungs is repaired and contaminant particles are slowly removed.
Radon
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas created by the breakdown of radioactive radium, which in turn is the decay material of uranium, found in the earth's crust. Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer among those who do not smoke, according to EPA estimates. Radon causes between fifteen thousand and twenty two thousand deaths each year in the United States -- twelve percent of all lung cancer deaths are linked to radon.
Risk
Risk factors embrace the following: Smoking cigarettes or cigars, in the present or in the past. Not all cases are due to smoking, however the role of passive smoking is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor, leading to policy interventions to reduce undesired exposure of non-smokers to other peoples tobacco smoke. A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much elevated risk. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the higher your risk of lung cancer. High levels of pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure may also increase risk.
Symptoms
Symptoms include: Chronic cough, Hoarseness, Coughing up blood, loss of weight & loss of appetite, Shortness of breath, Fever without a known cause, Wheezing, Repeated bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia and pain in the chest. About 10% of individuals do not have symptoms at diagnosis; these cancers are incidentally detected on routine chest x-rays. In fact, lung cancer can spread outside the lungs without creating any symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment is dependent on the cancer's specific cell type, how far it has spread, and the individuals performance status. It also depends on the stage, or how advanced it is. Therapy choices can be discussed with your physician. It may encompass chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In recent years, various molecular targeted therapies have been produced as treatments.
Conclusion
Lung cancer is the 2nd most commonly occurring kind of cancer in most western countries, and it is the primary cancer-related cause of death. It is the most common cause of cancer deaths in both males and females, accounting for almost a third of cancer deaths annually in the USA. It has become the subject of a enormous amount of research. Although the rate of males dying from it is declining in western countries, it is actually increasing for women because of the increased takeup of smoking by this group. We already know that the best way to prevent it is to cease (or never start) smoking. Three to five years after quitting, the odds of getting the disease is reduced by one half.
Lung cancer is a condition of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. It is one of the most occuring cancers in the United States, accounting for about 15 percent of all cancer cases, or 170,000 new cases per year. It is also the worst cancer killer in the USA, taking more lives each year than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers together, according to the American Cancer Society. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in US women and is responsible for as many deaths as breast and all gynecological cancers combined.
Smoking
Smoking, radon, and second hand smoke are the major factors. Smoking causes an estimated 160,000* deaths in the United States. Smoking leads to 85 % to 90 of all lung cancers. Smoking affects non-smokers by exposing them to 2nd hand smoke. If a person ceases smoking, this chance steadily decreases as damage to the lungs is repaired and contaminant particles are slowly removed.
Radon
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas created by the breakdown of radioactive radium, which in turn is the decay material of uranium, found in the earth's crust. Radon is the #1 cause of lung cancer among those who do not smoke, according to EPA estimates. Radon causes between fifteen thousand and twenty two thousand deaths each year in the United States -- twelve percent of all lung cancer deaths are linked to radon.
Risk
Risk factors embrace the following: Smoking cigarettes or cigars, in the present or in the past. Not all cases are due to smoking, however the role of passive smoking is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor, leading to policy interventions to reduce undesired exposure of non-smokers to other peoples tobacco smoke. A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much elevated risk. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the higher your risk of lung cancer. High levels of pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure may also increase risk.
Symptoms
Symptoms include: Chronic cough, Hoarseness, Coughing up blood, loss of weight & loss of appetite, Shortness of breath, Fever without a known cause, Wheezing, Repeated bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia and pain in the chest. About 10% of individuals do not have symptoms at diagnosis; these cancers are incidentally detected on routine chest x-rays. In fact, lung cancer can spread outside the lungs without creating any symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment is dependent on the cancer's specific cell type, how far it has spread, and the individuals performance status. It also depends on the stage, or how advanced it is. Therapy choices can be discussed with your physician. It may encompass chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In recent years, various molecular targeted therapies have been produced as treatments.
Conclusion
Lung cancer is the 2nd most commonly occurring kind of cancer in most western countries, and it is the primary cancer-related cause of death. It is the most common cause of cancer deaths in both males and females, accounting for almost a third of cancer deaths annually in the USA. It has become the subject of a enormous amount of research. Although the rate of males dying from it is declining in western countries, it is actually increasing for women because of the increased takeup of smoking by this group. We already know that the best way to prevent it is to cease (or never start) smoking. Three to five years after quitting, the odds of getting the disease is reduced by one half.
About the Author:
Ricardo Henri is the webmaster of Natural Remedies,Treatments And Cures,a website with vast information concerning caring for your own body without depending on medications and needless surgery. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter @ quick natural remedies or quick natural cures
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