More About Cancer of The Lung Complete
What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer, like all cancers, results from an abnormality in the base unit of the body of the life of the cell. Normally the body maintains a system of checks and balances on cell growth so that cells divide to produce new cells only when necessary. Disruption of this system of checks and balances in the growth performance of the uncontrolled cell division and proliferation of cells that eventually forms a mass called a tumor.
Tumors can be benign or malignant, when we speak of “cancer” refers to those who are regarded as malignant tumors. Benign tumors can usually be removed and not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors, however, grow aggressively and invade other tissues of the body, allowing the entry of tumor cells in the blood or lymphatic system, then to other parts of the body. This expansion process is called metastasis, areas of tumor growth in these distant sites are called metastases. Since lung cancer tends to spread or metastasize early in its course, is a very life threatening cancer and one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Although lung cancer can spread to any organ in the body, certain organs – particularly the adrenal glands, liver, brain and blood – are the most frequent sites of metastases from lung cancer.
The lung is also a very common site metastasis of tumors in other parts of the body. Metastatic tumors are composed of the same type of cells that the initial or primary tumor. For example, if prostate cancer spreads through the bloodstream to the lungs as cancer of the prostate with metastases in the lung is not lung cancer.
Please see the picture of lung cancer (lung cancer pictures), the main function of the lungs is gas exchange between the air we breathe and the blood. Through the lungs, carbon dioxide is eliminated from the blood and oxygen from inspired air enters the blood. The right lung has three lobes, while the left lung is divided into two lobes and a small structure called the lingula which is the equivalent of the middle lobe. The major airways in the lungs are the bronchi, which arise from the trachea. The bronchi branch into progressively smaller airways called bronchioles, which end in tiny sacs called alveoli where gas exchange occurs. The lungs and the chest wall are covered with a thin layer of tissue called the pleura.
Lung cancers can occur anywhere in the lung, but 90% -95% of lung cancers are likely to arise from cells or epithelial cells lining the airways, both large and small (bronchi and bronchioles ) For this reason, lung cancers are sometimes called broncho-pulmonary or lung cancer. Cancers can also arise from the pleura (the thin lining that surrounds the lungs), mesothelioma, or rarely from supporting tissues of the lungs, for example, blood vessels.
More FAQ About Lung Cancer Part 2
How is treated lung cancer?
For treatment of lung cancer, surgery to remove tumors (radiation X-rays, which kill or to reduce the tumor tumors), chemotherapy (systemic medications that kill all fast-growing cells in the body which cancer cells), and possible experimental procedures are part of your medical tool window. Before deciding which treatment or combination of treatments is good for you, your doctor will determine what your lung cancer at advanced stage, this process is called staging.
Is it possible to prevent lung cancer?
The best way to prevent lung cancer do not smoke and avoid inhaling the smoke of others. If you smoke, stop. Although the risk for former smokers is still high compared to non-smokers, it continues to decrease with each year of smoking cessation. Indeed, after more than 10 years, former smoking reduced the risk by 30% to 50%. Just do it!
There is little evidence that eating a healthy diet can help prevent lung cancer, but there are many other benefits. There have been many attempts to reduce the risk of lung cancer among current or former smokers, giving them high doses of vitamins and vitamin preparations that, but none of these studies have been developed favorably. In a study related to vitamin A nutrient called beta-carotene actually increased the rate of lung cancer, so the drawing board!
What are the different types of lung cancer?
There are two main types of lung cancer: lung non small cell cancer, small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small-cell lung cancer represents about 80% of lung cancers. They comprise a heterogeneous group of cancers grow and spread more slowly than small cell cancers of the lung. Unlike the accounts of lung small cell accounts for 20% of all lung cancers. Although the cells are small, they multiply rapidly and form large tumors that can spread throughout the body. Smoking almost always causes small cell cancers of the lung.
Maybe lung cancer detected at an early stage?
Unfortunately, there is no test for early detection of lung cancer yet. But this new method is called a spiral or helical low dose CT scan has been successful in detecting early lung cancer in smokers and former smokers, when combined with other noninvasive tests. It has not yet been shown whether this criterion should save lives or improve treatment. On the one hand, he often finds violations, which require testing and surgery, but should not be cancer. It is unclear when and how often these tests should be done. Hopefully the national trial of screening for lung – planned for late 2009 – will provide answers to the ultimate test of whether this is an appropriate way to detect lung cancer early. Until then, talk to your doctor about this test for you.
Do not diet affects the risk of lung cancer?
Although some studies have alluded to the relationship between risk of lung cancer and diet, the association remains unproven. He was arrested by the most rigorous of these studies compared high-risk individuals taking vitamin A for those who do so soon because those who took vitamin A (beta carotene), is actually more advanced lung cancer.
I will explain more detail these frequently asked questions (FAQ) about lung cancer in the next article, hopefully with a more detailed explanation will make us more alert and aware of the meaning of lung cancer description, lung cancer prevention, lung cancer care and treatment lung cancer for patients.
Lung Cancer Frequently Asked Questions Part 1
These are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Lung Cancer, you can read it step by step and it will expain more details at next articles.
What is lung cancer?
In its simplest form, lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells and cancer in one or other of the lungs. Groups of these cells form tumors, which make it difficult for the lungs to function properly.
Who gets lung cancer?
It is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women in United States. More people die from lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be about 215,020 new cases of lung cancer in 2008, including 114,690 males and 100,330 females. Lung cancer is rare in people under 45 years of age. The possibility of life that the average man has a lung cancer is about 1 in 13. For women is 1 in 16. These figures include both smokers and nonsmokers, the risk is higher for smokers, the lowest for non-smokers. Lung cancer is one of the most deadly disease in United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, China, France, Italy, Spain, etc.
What are the risk factors for lung cancer?
In summary, the risk factors for lung cancer are smokers, snuff and smoking. The CDC reports that smoking is the major risk factor for lung cancer. In the United States, approximately 90% of lung cancer deaths among men and almost 80% of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking. Smokers are 10 to 20 times more likely to have lung cancer or death from lung cancer than nonsmokers. Snuff smoke is also linked with lung cancer. Other risk factors for this cancer are exposure to asbestos and radon, and family history of lung cancer.
What are the most common symptoms of lung cancer?
This is difficult because sometimes there are no symptoms of lung cancer. A quarter of people do not even have symptoms when their cancer is advanced lung cancer, the CDC reports. In other cases, symptoms that suggest lung cancer may include:
- Shortness of breath
- A cough that does not disappear
- Wheezing
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Spitting blood
- Chest pain
Can lung cancer gets to non-smokers ?
March 2006 of lung cancer not smoking for the death of Dana Reeve, widow of Superman actor Christopher Reeve, shed light on this issue. It turns out that over 60% of patients with new lung cancer have never smoked or have quit, says the Alliance of lung cancer. In some of these people, exposure to secondhand smoke May in fact be a culprit. Reeve, for example, a cabaret singer, performed in clubs with a lot of smoke. So, in summary, if non-smokers can get lung cancer. Some cases of lung cancer develop after long-time smoker has left, although the risk decreases with time.