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What is Lung Cancer?

Cancer is caused when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably. The risk of developing lung cancer is high. when you smoke cigarettes or inhale smoke from secondhand smoke. It can also be caused by exposure to certain chemicals or radiation.

Lung cancer can start in your windpipe (trachea), main airway (bronchus) or lung tissue. It could also begin elsewhere in your body and then spread to your lungs.

Risk factors

Lung cancer happens when abnormal lung cells expand beyond their limits and form a tumor. There are many risk factors that can increase a person's likelihood of developing lung cancer. Some of these risk factors are things that an individual can alter, such as smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke or air pollution. Certain risk factors are beyond the ability to control, like age and whether or if other family members have cancer.

The primary risk factor of lung cancer is smoking tobacco. The risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the length of time the person has been an avid smoker. Smoking secondhand cigarettes also increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

The risk of lung cancer is also elevated if someone has certain medical conditions like chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) tuberculosis or Emphysema. These conditions could increase the risk of getting cancer in many ways such as through inflammation, fibrosis, as well as genetic changes.

The likelihood of a person developing lung cancer is affected by their socioeconomic status (SES). A lower SES is linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, diagnosed with lung cancer like lung cancer, due to the fact that people with lower SES are more likely be smokers and less likely to try to quit smoking.

Signs and symptoms

Lung cancer happens when cells grow out of control and form a cancerous tumor in the lungs. It may spread to other parts of the body, including the bones and organs. Smokers and those with a smoking history are at greater risk of lung cancer.

Early lung cancer case cancer symptoms are often not visible. This is because the cancer can continue to grow for years prior to the time it causes any problems. The majority of patients diagnosed with lung cancer are those who are over 50.

The first symptom of a chronic cough is an ongoing cough that gets worse with time. It could be accompanied by chest pain or breathing problems (dyspnea). Sometimes, the cancer may develop to block the airways of the lungs. This may cause fluid to build up around the lung. This can also cause an increase in breathlessness and cough.

Sometimes, the cancer can spread to the lymph glands of the lung. They are part of a system of glands and tubes that filter the body's fluid and fight infections. When cancer spreads to these glands, they get bigger (enlarge). This can result in a lump in your neck or an impression that your lymph nodes are stuffed.

Sometimes, the cancer may be found in a particular region of the lungs, known as the upper lobe. This can cause a feeling of pressure on the chest or shoulders and pain that can spread to your arms. It may cause changes in your vision and swollen fingers and hands (finger clubbing). This type of cancer could produce hormone-like compounds that get into the bloodstream. These substances may affect other tissues and organs. This is known as paraneoplastic syndrome.

Diagnosis

A sample of cancerous tissue or a tumor in the lung can be examined in a lab to identify lung cancer. This can be done with bronchoscopy, or a CT scan. A Sputum sample (mucus) is able to be examined under a microscope for cancer cells, can also taken.

It is crucial to get it right early because cancer can grow for a long period of time in the lungs prior to producing any symptoms. The type of cancer and the place it is located within the lungs will determine the symptoms. Smokers are at greater risk of developing lung cancer, as are those who have a family history of lung cancer and those who have been exposed to second hand smoke, radon or industrial pollution.

A healthcare professional or a GP might refer you to specialist tests when they are concerned about symptoms. You could be tested for lung cancer in a routine health check-up or in the past due to a diagnosis.

Staging is the process by which medical professionals use the results of tests to determine the extent to which cancer has spread in your lungs or to other parts of your body. This allows them to decide the best course of action for you. The goal of treatment is to eliminate the cancer or prevent it from spreading.

Treatment

A diagnosis of lung cancer is based upon a variety of tests. The results of these tests allow doctors to determine the kind of lung cancer they are looking for and the extent of its spread to the lungs and other parts of the human body. This process is referred to as staging. The type of treatment that you receive is dependent on the stage of your illness.

X-rays and CT scans are commonly used to detect lung cancer asbestosis tumors. If a doctor suspects the tumor is cancerous, he might require a tissue sample (biopsy) to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor can conduct the biopsy in several ways for instance, bronchoscopy. This involves inserting a thin, lighted tubing down the throat and into your lung.

Certain mesothelioma lung cancer cancers can be cured in the early stages if they are detected and haven't spread. If a patient has no symptoms or indications of cancer for five years or longer, they might be deemed "cured." But experts say it is important to keep in mind that even with treatment success it is possible that cancer will return.

The most popular treatment for lung cancer is surgery. Other options include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Certain patients with lung cancer can also receive biologic therapies, which target specific genes in the cancer cells, without harming normal cells. The research is ongoing to discover better ways to treat lung cancer, especially among smokers.