Side Green - Lung Cancer is the Primary Cause of Death of Cancer Patients - Lung cancer is a disease, characterized by the presence of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If not treated, the growth of these cells can spread outside of the lungs through a process called metastasis into nearby tissue or other body parts. Most cancers that begin in the lungs, known as primary lung cancer, are carcinomas derived from epithelial cells. The main types of lung cancer is SCLC (Small Cell Lung Cancer), also called grain cell cancer and NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer). The most common symptom is coughing (including coughing up blood), weight loss and shortness of breath.
The most common cause of lung cancer is exposure in the long term to tobacco smoke, which causes 80-90% of lung cancers. Non-smoker reaches 10-15% of lung cancer cases, and these cases are usually caused by a combination of genetic factors, radon gas, asbestos, and air pollution including passive smoking. Lung cancer can be seen through a chest x-rays and computed tomography (CT scan). the diagnosis can be confirmed with a biopsy is usually performed via bronchoscopy procedure or guided by CT. Care and long-term outcome depends on the type of cancer, the stage (the spread), and the patient's overall health status, measured by a common condition.
Treatment usually includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. NSCLC is usually handled through surgery, while SCLC generally provide a better response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Overall, 15% of the population in the United States are diagnosed with lung cancer achieve a life expectancy of five years after diagnosis. In general, lung cancer is the leading cause of death in cancer patients, both in men and women, which caused 1.38 million deaths each year, until 2008.
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer are:
- Respiratory symptoms: cough, coughing up blood, wheezing or shortness of breath.
- Systemic symptoms: weight loss, fever, mace on fingernails, or fatigue.
- Symptoms due to pressure in the local area: chest pain, bone pain, superior vena cava obstruction, difficulty swallowing
If the cancer grows around the respiratory tract, this situation can impede the flow of air, causing shortness of breath. These barriers can lead to the accumulation of secretions behind the blockage, and cause pneumonia.
Depending on the type of tumor, paraneoplastic phenomenon is interesting the first time the presence of lung cancer. In lung cancer, this phenomenon include Lambert-Eaton syndrome myastenik (muscle weakness caused by autoantibodies), hypercalcemia, or syndrome of instability of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Tumors in the uppermost part of the lungs, known as Pancoast tumors, may invade the local part of the sympathetic nervous system, causing Horner syndrome (fall eyelids and small pupil on the side), and also cause damage to the brachial plexus.
Most lung cancer symptoms (loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, fatigue) are not specific. In most people, the cancer has spread from its current location when the symptoms and come to the doctor. The general location of distribution, including the brain, bone, adrenal glands, lungs next, heart, pericardium, and kidneys. Approximately 10% of patients with lung cancer have no symptoms at diagnosis; The cancer was discovered accidentally on chest X-ray examination.
Cancer develops following the genetic damage in DNA. This genetic damage affects the normal functioning of cells, including cell proliferation, programmed cell death (apoptosis) and DNA repair. When more damage accumulates, the risk of cancer growing.