The term?Cancer? is always fiery. Even after the improvements of our technology, this disease is yet to recover. People fight against it and eventually leave the beautiful world. There are very rare occasions where a person survives after this disease. ?Lung Cancer? is one of the varieties of this deadly disease. It is developed when genetic mutations occur in a normal cell within the lung, causing it to become abnormal in shape and behavior and to reproduce ceaselessly.
Such abnormal cells form a tumor that, if not surgically removed, invades neighboring blood vessels and lymph nodes and spreads to nearby sites. Eventually, the cancer can spread throughout the body. There are different types of?Lung Cancer?. The two major categories of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Most lung cancers are non-small cell cancers
*Lets see the root causes of this particular disease:
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Smoking: As everyone assumes, smoking is the primary cause of this disease. It?s the main reason to this. **Smoking causes 87% of all cases of lung cancer, accounting for 28% of all cancer deaths(about 157, 000 in 2001).
Chemicals formed during smoking trigger genetic mutations that lead to cancer. When people inhale cigarette smoke, they bring tar into their lungs that include 4, 000 chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic.
Other inhaled chemicals in cigarette smoke that may increase the risk for cancer include cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde, methanol(wood alcohol), acetylene(the fuel used in torches), and ammonia. Smoke also contains nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, both of which are harmful gases.
Nicotine itself may be a hazard. A 2000 laboratory study suggested that the human body might be converting inhaled nicotine into a chemical called aminoketone, which has been linked to the formation of tobacco-related lung cancer.
Radon: Radon is a gas produced naturally by the breakdown of uranium. It is often present in the soil and in water and can seep into any dwelling. Radon may be responsible for between 10% and 14% of lung cancer deaths.
Some other components: Toxic particles leading to precancerous changes in the lung are also found in marijuana. In one study, 53.8% of cigarette smokers, 66.7% of marijuana smokers, and all of those subjects who smoked both substances showed evidence of precancerous changes in the lungs.
Genetic mutations: The genes also cause Cancer. There are two types of genes, which are responsible for this disease. They are, tumor-suppressor genes, which prevent unlimited cell reproduction, and proto-oncogenes, which stimulate cell reproduction.
*Symptoms:
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The general ideas say that when the symptoms are seen, the disease is already spread. Well, it is true to some extent. The symptoms occurred only after the tumor develops. There are various symptoms, but we can consider those in two parts, early symptoms and later symptoms. The early symptoms include frequent bouts of pneumonia, coughing(particularly coughing up blood), weight loss, fever, shortness of breath and chest pain. Any of the troubles a patient after the tumor develops in his/her body.
At the later stage, the patient suffers from shortness of breath mostly. In some cases, tumor growth or metastasis presses against the superior vena cava, a large vein that returns blood from the upper part of the body to the heart. When this happens, a condition called superior vena cava syndrome may occur, leading to obvious swelling in the upper extremities and face.
The nerves that control the larynx(voice box) can be damaged and cause harsh or rough voice. Some lung cancers give out substances that remove calcium from bone and release it into the bloodstream, causing a condition called hypercalcemia. Patients with this disorder can experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, weakness, and fatigue. Some Lung Cancers(usually small cell cancer) cause the body to retain water, lowering the blood’s sodium levels. This condition, called hyponatremia, can produce confusion, weakness, and even seizures.
*Some facts that might stunt you:
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Before cigarettes became popular in the beginning of the 20th century, lung cancer was considered a rare medical phenomenon. Now, lung cancer is expected to harm 171, 900 Americans, and about 157, 000 are expected to die from it. The disease usually appears in people over 50 years old. Men have a significantly greater incidence of lung cancer compared to women. On the encouraging side, the rate in men has been declining significantly over the past decade. In addition, while, lung cancer and been increasing dramatically in women(by 600% from 1950 to 2000), it now appears to be stabilizing.
Smoking appears to be the primary risk factor in 85% to 90% of lung cancers. About 15% of all people who smoke develop lung cancer, with the risk varying depending on the duration of the addiction and the number of pack years.
An elevated risk for lung cancer can persist for more than 20 years after quitting smoking, although the risk drops significantly even in the first year after quitting. Moreover, there are benefits to quitting smoking even for people who are well into middle age.
African Americans face a risk that is two to four times higher than that in Caucasians, regardless of smoking status. It is not clear what factors are responsible for this higher risk. Some African Americans appear to have a genetic susceptibility to the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke.
In China, it is estimated that as many as a third of all young male smokers will eventually die because of a tobacco-related illnesses. Their risk for lung cancer, however, is much less than for chronic lung disease, a trend that is reversed in the West. A 2001 study reported that the lower rate of lung cancer among Chinese people may be due to a slow rate clearing nicotine, which results in fewer cigarettes smoked.
We are not responsible for our genes. Even we cannot do anything for the deadly gas or other components. So what could we do to be safe? We should quit smoking. Quitting improves lung function almost immediately. Some evidence suggests that the benefits for the lungs are even more significant for women who quit than for men. It should be noted, however, that it could take 20 years or longer, particularly in heavy smokers, for the lungs to be restored to a fully healthy condition. Quitting is extremely difficult. Everyone should keeping trying to quit. With continued efforts, many people succeed. Thus, the risk factors decreases and we might live a little longer.
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