Lung cancer is a very serious form of cancer. It is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States. It can cause more deaths than any other cancer among men and women. Lung cancer makes up fourteen percent of the total cancer records and twenty-eight percent of cancer deaths in America.

This is because lung cancer is usually diagnosed when it is already in its advanced stage, thus controlling the disease becomes almost impossible.

The reason for this is that coughing, which is the most common early symptom of lung cancer is being neglected. Smokers associate coughing with mere itchiness in the throat.

Lung cancer involves uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs. This may cause the formation of mass called tumor.

Two types of lung cancer tumor are benign or non-cancerous and malignant or cancerous. Treatment of this disease depends on the status of the tumor whether it is benign or malignant. However, lung cancer generally has no cure; you can only lessen the symptom, which is the goal of the treatment for this serious health problem.

Even if all evidences points to smoking as the major cause of this disease, non-smokers may develop it as well. In other words, not all lung cancer patients are smokers. This is because breathing impure air is the real reason behind the disease.

Additionally, those non-smokers who receive cigarette smoke from nearby smokers may also develop lung cancer, this is known as second hand smoking.

Another cause of the disease is the exposure to asbestos ashes. Asbestos ashes may cause Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdominal cavity.
Two major types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer, or oat cell lung cancer as other doctors call it, accounts for twenty to twenty-five percent of cancers around the United States. This cancer is strongly linked to smoking.

The second type is non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer has three sub-divisions depending on the type of cell affected.

The three types of non-small lung cancer are Squamous cell carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma and large cell lung cancer.

Studies show that non-small cell lung cancer grows and spreads slower than its small cell counterpart, and like small cell lung cancer, the major cause of this is smoking.

There are various treatments for lung cancer, however the treatments are mainly dependent on the type of cancer, the stage of development and the condition of the patient.

If it is diagnosed in its early stage, lung cancer tumor may be removed and the disease can be brought into remission.

However, because symptoms of this cancer only show when the disease is already on its advanced stage, it is thus difficult to control its growth.

Additionally, as mentioned earlier treatments on lung cancer especially on its advanced stage are merely to lessen the symptoms, bringing it down to remission may be impossible at this stage. This is because other tumor cells may already be developing in other organs of the body.

Surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be helpful but it is actually not cure, it is merely to lessen or halt the growth and development of the cancer.

Avoiding smoking and too much exposure to impure air will help you avoid lung cancer. Reinforcing your immune system by regular exercise, well-balanced diet and taking vitamins will help you avoid the scare of lung cancer.

Always be aware of the condition of the air around you to make sure you will not develop this deadly disease.

Lung cancer is the result of malignant cells forming in the tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining the air passages. The cells in our bodies are constantly dividing and reproducing. Usually, there’s an orderly pattern to this reproduction as cells develop and specialize to meet particular needs. Occasionally, however, a cell becomes damaged. There’s a mutation in its DNA, and rather than maturing and dying as is normal, it continues to reproduce unchecked. In essence, this is cancer – uncontrolled reproduction and growth of abnormal cells in the body.

Most lung cancers are believed to start in the epithelial lining of the lungs – the linings of the large and small airways that perform the task of extracting oxygen from the air. Because of this, lung cancer is sometimes called bronchogenic carcinoma – cancer arising from the bronchia. A smaller percentage of lung cancers begin in the pleura – the thin tissue sac that surrounds the lungs. These cancers are called mesothelioma. The most common form of mesothelioma is linked to asbestos exposure.

Cancer of the lungs is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. While it may take a period of years to develop, the cancer often goes undetected until late in the process. In addition, it tends to metastasize (migrate to other parts of the body) early, which leaves fewer opportunities to fight the mutated cells with surgery or radiation. Once the lung cancer does metastasize, it quickly spreads to the most vulnerable and important organs of the body, particularly the adrenal glands, the liver, the brain and the bones.

There are two primary forms of lung cancer – Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Small Cell Lung Cancer is less common, though far more deadly. It’s directly linked to cigarette smoking – less than 1% of SCLC is diagnosed in non-smokers. It’s also extremely aggressive and fast-moving, metastasizing rapidly to other organs, and often undiscovered until it’s already widespread.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, on the other hand, is far more common, accounting for nearly 80% of all diagnosed lung cancers. There are three main types of non-small cell lung cancer, generally characterized by the size, shape, and chemical composition of the cells that form the cancer:

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (also referred to as Epidermoid Carcinoma): accounts for around 25% – 30% of all lung cancers, and is associated with a history of smoking. This cancer is nearly always found in the central chest area, near the bronchus.

Adenocarcinoma (also referred to as Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma): accounts for around 40% of all lung cancers, and is found in the external region of the lung. Treatment for this form of lung cancer often leads to a more successful outcome than that of other lung cancers.

Large-Cell Undifferentiated Carcinoma: accounting for only 10% – 15% of lung cancers, this form may show up in any area of the lung. It tends to spread quickly, and often results in a poor prognosis.

It’s also possible for lung cancer to be a combination of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer types.

There are other, less common types of lung cancer. For instance, bronchial carcinoids are small tumors often found in people under 40 years of age. They tend to grow slowly, and be amenable to treatment. Carcinoid tumors account for approximately 5% of lung tumors. Some are non-cancerous. The others are generally slow-growing and can be successfully treated with surgery.

Finally, some cancers discovered in the lungs aren’t lung cancers at all. Since the lungs are prone to metastatic cancers from other sites, it’s not uncommon for tumors from other primary cancers to find their way to the lungs. When this occurs, the tumors are often discovered in the peripheral tissues of the lungs rather than in the central tissues.

Please note that the information provided in this article is for information purposes only. It should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of lung cancer. Such situations should always involve the expertise of a physician or health care provider.