According to the Mayo Clinic, lung cancer causes the most cancer-related deaths in the United States each year. However, this deadly cancer is preventable in many cases, because 90 percent of lung cancer deaths are related to smoking. According to the National Cancer Institute, 219,440 new cases of lung cancer have been diagnosed and 159,390 people have died from lung cancer in 2009, as of September.
Definition
Lung cancer forms in the lung tissue, particularly within the cells that line the air passages. There are two main forms of lung cancer: non-small cell and small cell. The diagnosis is made by how the lung cells and cancer cells appear under a microscope.
Causes and Risk Factors
The majority of all lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. The carcinogens in cigarette smoke cause damage to lung tissue. If a person smokes for a prolonged period of time, the damage can cause the cells in the lung tissue to act abnormally, which can develop into cancer over time. Small cell lung cancer is most often seen in heavy smokers. Non-small cell is most often seen in smokers and includes several types of lung cancers. The risk factors for lung cancer include smoking, being a female, being exposed to second-hand smoke, a family history of cancer (especially lung cancer), excessive use of alcohol and having been exposed to asbestos, radon gas or other chemicals.
Symptoms
In many cases, the symptoms of lung cancer do not occur during the early stages. Most patients do not experience the symptoms of lung cancer until the cancer is in an advanced stage. The symptoms of lung cancer include persistent cough, hoarseness, wheezing, coughing up blood, chest pain and shortness of breath.
Diagnosis
Several different tests can be done to diagnose lung cancer. A chest X-ray and a CT scan are the most common imaging techniques used to diagnose lung cancer. A CT scan can reveal small lung lesions, so it is often used first when lung cancer is suspected. Those who are coughing up sputum can have their sputum analyzed to see if any lung cancer cells are present. A biopsy of lung tissue can also be obtained and analyzed to check for the presence of cancer cells.
Treatment
Treating lung cancer ultimately depends on the patient. When choosing the best treatment method, the patient's overall health, type of lung cancer, stage of cancer and the patient's personal preferences are taken into consideration. The most common treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery, targeted drug therapy and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is a type of treatment in which cancer-fighting drugs are administered to the patient through an IV. Surgery can be used to remove tumors and nodules. Radiation can be used to destroy and shrink tumors and nodules. Targeted drug therapy is similar to chemotherapy and is used to kill cancer cells.
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