Everything You Need To Know About Lung Cancer

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Although our knowledge of cancer is improving, and technology is advancing, fewer than one in five people are alive five years after a lung cancer diagnosis. The earlier that lung cancer is detected, the better one’s chances are of recovering. Scheduling regular check-ups with your doctor will increase your chances of detecting the disease, and thus increase your prognosis if you’re diagnosed.

There are also preventative measures you can take to minimize your risk of developing lung cancer. Not smoking, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet are measures you can take to reduce your risk of acquiring lung cancer. Search online and read on to learn more about this life-threatening disease.

What is Lung Cancer?

Cancer is the uncontrollable growth and division of abnormal cells in the body. Cells become abnormal if their DNA gets damaged. This in itself is not an unusual event, and our immune system is equipped to rid our body of defunct cells. It becomes a concern however, when the cells don’t know when to stop replicating or when to die. This forms lumps or growths in our body known as tumors.

Lung cancer is when this uncontrollable cell growth begins in the lungs. If not detected early, there is a risk of the cancer spreading (metastasizing) into other organs.

Types of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is separated into two groups: Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). From here the cancers can be broken down further into sub-categories.

The main difference between the two cancers is the size of the cells that are duplicating. NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 90% of lung cancer diagnoses. Typically, NSCLC grows at a much slower rate than SCLC, which usually begins in the bronchi but can spread quickly to other parts of the lung.

Both cancers can be caused by tobacco smoking, but SCLC is almost exclusively activated by tobacco.

Early Signs and Symptoms

Most lung cancers don’t cause any symptoms until they begin to spread throughout the lungs. Once metastasis has occurred, the following symptoms may appear:

Treatment Options

The earlier that lung cancer can be detected, the better the chances are for effective treatment. Treatment options depend on the type of cancer, in which stage it is detected, and the health of the individual.

Prevention is one of the most important treatment options. Avoiding tobacco smoke, exercising regularly, eating healthy with a high intake of fruits and vegetables, as well as avoiding contact with radon are some of the things you can do to minimize your risk of developing lung cancer.

Once the cancer is present, treatment options include:

Knowing what you can do to minimize your risks of developing lung cancer is vital. Taking preventative measures is the best thing you can do to reduce the likelihood that you will need to explore treatment options. If you think you may already have lung cancer, consult your doctor as soon as possible.