Lung Cancer

What is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is a cancer that forms in tissue of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. This growth may lead to metastasis, which is the invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs.

The main types of lung cancer are:

• Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC); is a more aggressive lung disease and often more advanced by the time it is diagnosed. Treatment usually involves chemotherapy and radiation.
• Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC); involves adenocarcinoma, squamous cell and large cell cancer. Surgery is the primary option for early stages of this type.

These two types of lung cancer behave differently and are evaluated and treated differently.

Who are at risk?

Studies have found that 90% of lung cancer cases are related to smoking. Risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoke each day and number of years smoked. And even if someone does not smoke, risk of lung cancer increases if exposed to secondhand smoke.

Exposure to air pollution, radiation, industrial chemicals, asbestos, arsenic, chromium, nickel, soot, tar, and other substances can cause lung cancer. The risk is highest for those with years of exposure. The risk of lung cancer from these substances is even higher for smokers.

What are symptoms of Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer may be found as a mass or tumor on patient’s chest X-ray with no symptoms. But as the cancer grows, common symptoms may include:

• A cough that gets worse or does not go away.
• Breathing trouble, such as shortness of breath.
• Rib or shoulder pain, bone pain.
• Coughing up blood.
• A hoarse voice.
• Pneumonia.
• Loss of appetite and weight loss.
• Facial swelling.
• Headache.

Most often these symptoms are not due to cancer. Other health problems can cause some of these symptoms. Anyone with such symptoms should see a doctor to be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.