All over the world, every year 1.2 million people are newly affected with lung cancer. One person is dying in every 30 seconds, due to lung cancer. This disease is increasing alarmingly and becoming a health problem not only in developed but also in developing countries.

Lung cancer appears in two types:

1. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

2. Non – small cell lung cancer: Out of all the lung cancers 80% are of this type.

It is divided into three categories.

i. Adeno carcinoma: It is very common type in this category and is more commonly occurs in women.

ii. Spuamous cell carcinoma: It is a rare type and occurring more in men and in aged people.

iii. Large cell carcinoma: It is also a rare type and grows very rapidly when compared to other types of cancers. It involves the entire lung.

Source: Medicine World.
 

Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer:

Continuous cough
Hoarseness of the throat (voice)
Vomiting of the blood (Hemoptysis)
Loss of weight
Pain in the chest
Loss of appetite without any reason
Shortness of breathing
Fever without any specific known cause
Wheezing noises in the breathing.

Causes of the lung cancer:
 

1. Tobacco smoking: It is the main cause in more than 90% of cases. It depends on for how many years the individual is in this habit and the number of cigarettes or cigars he is smoking daily.
2. Industrial pollution: Smoke coming out from the factories.
3. Vehicle pollution: Due to the use of petrol or gasoline containing lead, as fuel in vehicles.

First of all, a change takes place in structure and function of some cells and these cells grow very rapidly than the neighboring normal cells. The rapidly grown cells become abnormal in size and appearance and form a hard mass or growth by sticking to each other.
If there is only one growth at the site in the lung, it is called ‘’Primary Growth or Nodule.’’

If the nodule breaks in to small particles and spreads to other parts of the body through blood circulation and these small particles begins to grow in those parts (other than lungs), then this growth is called ‘’Secondary Growth’’. This process of spreading to new sites is known a ‘’Metastasis.’’

Lung Cancer Survival:
If it is diagnosed in the early stage and the treatment is provided at the earliest, the patient lives for more than five years. But it often diagnosed in the late stages and the treatment becomes very difficult and the person lives only for short period. By this time the cancer is already spread to other parts of the body.
 

Governments should ban Tobacco smoking in public places.
How does lung cancer develop?

Related posts:

1. FDA approved Wyeth drug Torisel for renal cell carcinoma   Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Wyeth drug, Temsirolimus (Torisel), for the treatment of advanced kidney cancer, renal cell carcinoma. According to company research, it has shown better results...