Facts About the Incidence of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the 2nd most frequent cancer that women and men suffer from. It is also the 2nd most common cancer-related cause of death among both sexes. These statistics are based on data from the population from SEER and are adjusted for age.

Most cases are non-small lung cancers, which include adenocarcinomas (adenocarcinomas) and squamous cells carcinomas. These are a result of smoking cigarettes.

Smoking

Smoking causes cancerous cells within the lungs to multiply uncontrollably leading to tumors which can make it difficult for a person to breathe. Cancer can also spread to different parts of the body. Other factors can trigger lung cancer, but the majority of cases are caused by cigarette smoking or other tobacco use, such as pipe-smoking and chewing tobacco.

The cancerous cells that reside in the lungs that make up the majority of the 230,000 newly diagnosed lung cancers discovered in America each year are classified as non-small cell lung cancer lung cancer (NSCLC) or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The majority of smokers develop a type NSCLC known as Squamous Cell Carcinoma, whereas non-smokers are more likely to develop Adenocarcinoma.

Researchers in the 1950s linked lung cancer to cigarettes smoking, which prompted international health campaigns to stop smoking. However lung cancer continues to be a major cause of death in a number of countries with the highest levels of deaths and incidence for those who smoke or have had a habit of smoking. Strong Memorial Hospital and affiliates offer low-dose CT scans to identify those who are deemed to be eligible. These scans offer more precise images of the air tubes and lungs than chest x-rays while using less radiation. Studies show that those whose cancers are detected by this method are 20 percent less likely to die from their disease than those whose tumors were not found.

Exposure to second-hand smoke

Secondhand smoke is the smoke smoky residue left by smokers, which is emitted into the air when they exhale or diagnosed with lung cancer light up. It is a source of many of the same harmful chemicals as the tobacco smoke that a person breathes. Some of these chemicals can cause irritation to your airways and can cause damage to your lung right away. They also increase your risk for blood vessel problems by making your blood more likely to clot.

You may be exposed to secondhand smoke in a variety of ways, including at work or at social events where people smoke, living with smokers or by visiting people who smoke. Inhaling secondhand smoke from tobacco can increase the risk of lung cancer by 30 percent and worsen respiratory ailments like asthma. It also affects unborn babies which can cause preterm birth and low birth weight, and increasing the chance of miscarriage stillbirth, and ectopic pregnancy. Smoking secondhand smoke makes your blood vessels more prone to clot, increasing your chance of having a heart attack. It can cause strokes or heart attack more likely.

Genetics

Certain types of lung cancer are caused by genetic factors. A family history of lung cancer lawsuit from smoking cancer is a factor that increases the risk of developing it in smokers and non-smokers alike. Studies have identified genes associated with lung cancer risk such as ERCC6 as well as the nicotinic-acetycholine-receptor cluster of genes on chromosome 15.25.1.

Many people are born with defective mechanisms for DNA repair, making them more susceptible to developing cancer-causing mutations. These mutations can occur in DNA that is either inherited or acquired during life.

These mutations could lead to different types of cancer lung, such as small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC includes squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.

Most gene changes that raise the risk of lung cancer develop during the course of a person's entire life. However, some can be inherited from one's parents, and around 8% of lung cancer cases are passed through families. A first-degree relative who was diagnosed with lung cancer may raise one's risk for developing the disease. Certain gene mutations can cause lung tumors to grow or spread more rapidly. Tumor profiling is a way to determine which genes have been mutated within the cancerous lung of a patient. This could help determine treatment options.

Environmental factors

Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer. However there are many other environmental factors that could contribute to the development of the disease. This includes exposure to chemicals such as arsenic, certain organic chemicals, asbestos and radon. It also includes air pollution from fumes and dust. Furthermore, nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased chance of developing lung cancer than those who don't.

Radon is a gas that may build up in buildings and homes. It is naturally found in rocks and soil. It can escape into the air by cracks or holes in foundations, walls, sump pumps, drains, pipes, and vents. People who have lived for many years in homes with high levels of radon are at risk of lung cancer.

Primary prevention is the elimination or reduction of risk factors among populations at risk. This is done by engaging the public, encouraging health initiatives, and making behavioral changes. Media should play a major role in distributing information about lung cancer and its causes to the population.

Symptoms

The symptoms of lung cancer can differ based on the type and stage. Early stages of lung cancer case cancer may not show any symptoms. However, once the cancer has spread to your spine and ribs it can cause breathing problems or back pain. Other symptoms include a continuous cough that gets worse or continues to persist or subsides, chest pain, and hoarseness.

The lung is a pair of cone-shaped organs located in the chest. They release carbon dioxide (a waste product produced by the cells) and then release oxygen to the body. The lungs are comprised of two tubes, called bronchi, which connect to the trachea (windpipe), and a series of small air sacs referred to as alveoli. Cancers that begin in the lung are referred to as nonsmall cell lung cancer, or NSCLC. Metastatic cancer, or second-line NSCLC, diagnosed with lung cancer is the name for cancers that start in other locations before progressing into the lungs.

A health care provider can determine whether you have lung cancer by taking a look at your lungs using a stethoscope. He or she will then conduct an exam, and asking questions about your history of smoking. The doctor will also ask about any other health problems you have.