An overview of lung cancer
There are few diseases out there that are more serious than full blown lung cancer. Lung cancer is a plague that tends to kill the majority of people who are diagnosed with it. Full blown lung cancer is also terribly painful and requires treatments that are themselves rather painful. Because the disease affects so many people, it is important to learn some basic facts about it and to be ready for it if you are at risk for the disease. If you or a loved one has been recently diagnosed you should know some of these basic facts:
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- Lung cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth in the lungs. This is dangerous by itself, but when the tumor spreads beyond the lungs, when it metastisizes, it moves to other tissue and is potentially very dangerous. Believe it or not, but lung cancer leads to one point three million deaths world wide every year. The primary symptoms of the disease are things like shortness of breath, coughing and coughing up blood, and weight loss.
- There are two types of lung cancer and it is important that you know the difference between them. There is small cell lung carcinoma and non-small cell lung carcinoma. Small cell lung carcinoma is generally treated with radiation or chemotheraphy, while non-small cell carcinoma is treated with surgery.
- The most common causes of lung cancer are smoking and exposure to cerrtain pollutants. There are over four hundred different substances found in tobacco smoke that cause lung cancer. The vast majority of cases are clearly linked to lung cancer or to exposure to secon hand smoke. Other causes are genetic problems, exposure to radon gas, asbestos, and air pollution. The longer the exposure, as well as the greater the intensity of the exposure to these substances the more likely the occurrence of cancer will be.
- Primary methods for treating the cancer are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Surgery is usually performed when the disease has not progressed too far and when the tumor is small. When the disease is fairly far along chemotherapy and radiation are utilized, although a combination of all the different treatments can be used.
- With the appearance of symptoms certain tests can be conducted to confirm the presence of lung cancer. X-ray and computed tomography can reveal the disease, but a biopsy is necessary to confirm. When treated, the recovery rate for lung cancer over five years is about fourteen percent. As you can see, the disease is quite serious and difficult to treat.
- There are various alternative treatments for lung cancer but none of them really treat the disease itself. Instead, things like acupuncture, yoga, massage, and therapy help to relieve the symptoms of the disease. Lung cancer is quite painful, so anything that can relieve the suffering of those who deal with the disease is a major benefit. Do not rely on these treatments as some sort of miracle cure-they can help you feel better and develop some good habits, but your primary care should be entrusted to a physician.
Just knowing these basic facts about lung cancer should not lead you to give up hope but it should help to educate you about the disease and to help prevent it. Most lung cancer simply does not need to happen, and with more information about the disease we are better able to understand it and prevent it. However, the decision to avoid lung cancer mostly rests with you, and especially if you smoke or choose to smoke.
