Lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and women, is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually, as of 2004.
What is lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease which consists of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth may lead to metastasis, which is the invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs. Lung cancer may be seen on chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT scan).
What is the cause of lung cancerThe most common cause of lung cancer is long-term exposure to tobacco smoke.
Cigarette smoke contains over 60 known carcinogens, including radioisotopes from the radon decay sequence, nitrosamine, and benzopyrene. Additionally, nicotine appears to depress the immune response to malignant growths in exposed tissue.
Women who smoke (former smokers and current smokers) and take hormone therapy are at a much higher risk of dying of lung cancer.
Radon exposure is the second major cause of lung cancer in the general population, after smoking.
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas generated by the breakdown of radioactive radium, which in turn is the decay product of uranium, found in the Earth's crust.
Asbestos can cause a variety of lung diseases, including lung cancer. There is a synergistic effect between tobacco smoking and asbestos in the formation of lung cancer.
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals exploited commercially for their desirable physical properties.
Viruses are known to cause lung cancer in animals, and recent evidence suggests similar potential in humans. Implicated viruses include human papillomavirus, JC virus, simian virus 40 (SV40), BK virus, and cytomegalovirus. These viruses may affect the cell cycle and inhibit apoptosis, allowing uncontrolled cell division.
Particulate matter Studies of the American Cancer Society cohort directly link the exposure to particulate matter with lung cancer. For example, if the concentration of particles in the air increases by only 1%, the risk of developing a lung cancer increases by 14%. Further, it has been established that particle size matters, as ultrafine particles penetrate further into the lungs.
Symptoms The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing (including coughing up blood), and weight loss.
Symptoms that suggest lung cancer include:
What is lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease which consists of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth may lead to metastasis, which is the invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs. Lung cancer may be seen on chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT scan).
What is the cause of lung cancerThe most common cause of lung cancer is long-term exposure to tobacco smoke.
Cigarette smoke contains over 60 known carcinogens, including radioisotopes from the radon decay sequence, nitrosamine, and benzopyrene. Additionally, nicotine appears to depress the immune response to malignant growths in exposed tissue.
Women who smoke (former smokers and current smokers) and take hormone therapy are at a much higher risk of dying of lung cancer.
Radon exposure is the second major cause of lung cancer in the general population, after smoking.
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas generated by the breakdown of radioactive radium, which in turn is the decay product of uranium, found in the Earth's crust.
Asbestos can cause a variety of lung diseases, including lung cancer. There is a synergistic effect between tobacco smoking and asbestos in the formation of lung cancer.
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals exploited commercially for their desirable physical properties.
Viruses are known to cause lung cancer in animals, and recent evidence suggests similar potential in humans. Implicated viruses include human papillomavirus, JC virus, simian virus 40 (SV40), BK virus, and cytomegalovirus. These viruses may affect the cell cycle and inhibit apoptosis, allowing uncontrolled cell division.
Particulate matter Studies of the American Cancer Society cohort directly link the exposure to particulate matter with lung cancer. For example, if the concentration of particles in the air increases by only 1%, the risk of developing a lung cancer increases by 14%. Further, it has been established that particle size matters, as ultrafine particles penetrate further into the lungs.
Symptoms The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing (including coughing up blood), and weight loss.
Symptoms that suggest lung cancer include:
dyspnea (shortness of breath)
hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
chronic coughing or change in regular coughing pattern
wheezing
chest pain or pain in the abdomen
cachexia (weight loss), fatigue, and loss of appetite
dysphonia (hoarse voice)
clubbing of the fingernails (uncommon)
dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
Prevention and treatmentStandard treatment for patients with lung cancer is of limited effectiveness in all but the most localized tumors.
Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy (used alone or in various combinations) are the standard methods used to treat lung cancer.
The choice of treatment depends on many factors, including the type of tumor, the extent of the disease when it is diagnosed, the age and general health of the patient and other variables.
hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
chronic coughing or change in regular coughing pattern
wheezing
chest pain or pain in the abdomen
cachexia (weight loss), fatigue, and loss of appetite
dysphonia (hoarse voice)
clubbing of the fingernails (uncommon)
dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
Prevention and treatmentStandard treatment for patients with lung cancer is of limited effectiveness in all but the most localized tumors.
Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy (used alone or in various combinations) are the standard methods used to treat lung cancer.
The choice of treatment depends on many factors, including the type of tumor, the extent of the disease when it is diagnosed, the age and general health of the patient and other variables.
