What You Need To Know About Lung Cancer

Cancer is a disease in which certain body cells don't function right, divide very fast and produce too much tissue that forms a tumor. A leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women is probably lung cancer. This is the number one cause of cancer deaths surpassing breast cancer as the leading cause of deaths in women. Cancers that begin in the lungs are divided into two major types, the non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer depending on how the cells look under a microscope.

Cigarette smoking is known to be a cause of lung cancer. The risk of developing the disease increases with the number of cigarettes smoked particularly if the person starts to smoke at a young age. The person's risk of developing lung cancer may be reduced slightly if you smoke filtered and low tar cigarettes, but it is still far greater than that of a non-smoker. Lung cancer has always been more common in men, particularly those over the age of 40, as more men used to smoke than women. Considerably, there are a growing number of women having lung cancer since women have started smoking. About 90% of all lung cancer deaths among women are from smoking. The risk of lung cancer goes down quite quickly if the person stops smoking and after about fifteen years, the person's chances of developing the disease are similar to that of a non-smoker. Passive smoking or the breathing in other people's cigarette smoke, slightly increases the risk for lung disease and lung cancer, although the risk is still much less that if you smoke yourself.

Usually, the symptoms of lung cancer do not appear until the disease is in an advanced stage. Some are diagnosed early because they are found as a result of tests for other medical conditions. Screening examinations are done to detect a disease in people without symptoms of the disease. And since lung cancer usually spreads beyond the lungs before causing any symptoms, an effective screening program to detect the cancer early could save many lives. So far there is not screening test that has been shown to prevent the ill person from dying of the cancer. It has been concluded that the tests could not find many lung cancers early enough to improve a person's chances for a cure. Because of this, lung cancer screening is not a routine practice for the general public or even for people at increased risk like smokers.

Symptoms of lung cancer could be continuing cough or change in a long-standing cough; a chest infection that does not get better; increasing breathlessness; coughing up blood-stained phlegm; a dull ache or a sharp pain when coughing or taking a deep breath; and loss of appetite and loss of weight. If you think you are having any of these above stated symptoms, then it is important to have your condition checked by your doctor even if you know that any of these symptoms may be caused by illness other than cancer.

Treatment for lung cancer could be through surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy which may be used separately or together depending on what your physician requires you to undergo with. Basically, the doctor will plan your treatment, taking into account your general health condition, the type of lung cancer you have and the size of the tumor as well as its stage. There are differences in the treatment for different people depending on their needs. You should not be afraid to ask your doctor and it often helps making a lot of queries about the disease and your condition from your doctor.

For more information please goto the lung cancer resource center.

---

Mesothelioma

Tragically the word mesothelioma is becoming more and more well... Read More

Lung Cancer: The Bad and the Worse

In terms of deaths caused by various forms of cancer,... Read More

Mesothelioma - The Largest Man Made Epidemic

It is documented that Australia had the highest per capita... Read More

Asbestos - Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral found in the... Read More

What Are The Risk Factors For Mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma... Read More

Is Replacing the Lungs the Answer to Lung Cancer?

Late stage lung cancers are some of the hardest to... Read More

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare disease. The tissue lining the... Read More

Mesothelioma Cancer and Asbestos

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which occurs in thin... Read More

Who is at Increased Risk For Developing Mesothelioma?

Since the late 1800's Asbestos has been mined and used... Read More

Mesothelioma - Cancer that Strikes 40 Years Later

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant... Read More

Lung Cancer 101 What You Need to Know About

Accounting about for 14% of all cancers and 28% of... Read More

Lung Cancer Discoveries

There is a new way to treat lung cancer with... Read More

Asbestos Killed My Husband

He was only a child when it begun -and he... Read More

Mesothelioma or Asbestos Cancer

Mesothelioma: What is it?Mesothelioma is a malignant cancerous disease of... Read More

Does It Pay to Get a Mesothelioma Attorney?

Mesothelioma is a serious form of rare cancer. There is... Read More

Mesothelioma Attorneys and Asbestosis Treatment Data

Mesothelioma attorneysIt is very important to work with specialized mesothelioma... Read More

Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease... Read More

Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosed- Questions to ask

Following diagnosis, uppermost amongst a patient's thoughts will be these..."Am... Read More

Knee Deep in Asbestos

When I was 17 old I started working at an... Read More

Frequently Asked Questions About Mesothelioma

Many people have never heard of Mesothelioma and are unaware... Read More

What You Need To Know About Lung Cancer

Cancer is a disease in which certain body cells don't... Read More

The Asbestos Disaster - Who Is To Blame

The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians were all aware of... Read More

Wittenoom Graveyard

Despite the known fact that Wittenoom is responsible for many... Read More

Mesothelioma Research

Research offers hope of cure for mesothelioma. A laboratory mouse... Read More

Beryllium The New Asbestos?

It was American workers on the world's first atomic bomb... Read More

Mesothelioma Book - Review

"Lean on Me" Cancer through a carer's eyes Lorraine Kember... Read More

Mesothelioma Help

According to the National Cancer Institute, mesothelioma is a malignant... Read More

Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosed: Dealing With Emotions

People deal with and react to having cancer in different... Read More

Protect Against Mesothelioma by Avoiding Asbestos

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that attacks the body's mesothelial... Read More

Your Mesothelioma Case

Your Mesothelioma case is important to you. You have been... Read More

Mesothelioma Cancer - What to Tell Children

The amount of information you should give them depends on... Read More

Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer involving mesothelial tissues of... Read More

How to Treat Mesothelioma from Asbestos Exposure

There are many forms of treatment for Mesothelioma. Their effectiveness... Read More