Lungs Cancer

To exchange gases between the air we breathe and the blood is the function of lungs. It is the function of the lungs to remove carbon dioxide from the blood and oxygen from the inspired air that enters the bloodstream. There are three lobes in right lung where the left lung has two lobes and lingula (a small structure equivalent to middle lobe). Bronchi, arising from the trachea, are the major airways that enter into the lung. Bronchi divide into smaller airways known as bronchioles that lead to alveoli, tiny sacs where exchange of gases takes place. Pleura are the tissues making a thin layer that covers the chest and the lungs.

The cancer is free to evolve in any part of the lung but mostly, about 90 to 95 per cent of lungs cancer is considered to arise from epithelial or in the lining cells of bronchi and bronchioles. This is the reason of often calling lungs cancer bronchogenic carcinomas or bronchogenic cancers. Cancer can also develop in pleura and is named mesotheliomas. It also happens in tissues within the lungs like the blood vessels.

• It is estimated that 90 per cent of lungs cancer arises from the use of tobacco. The risk factor multiplies with the increased number of smoked cigarettes. Pack years of smoking history is the term by which doctors refer to the risk factor. The number of cigarette packs smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked is the formula to get the pack year of smoking history. If you have smoked 22 packs of cigarette a day for 10 years it means you have a 20 pack year smoking history. The risk of cancer increased with only a 10 pack year smoking history. One in seven of those who smoke 2 or more packs a day will die of lungs cancer. Pipe an dcigar smoking is also injurious.
• Not only direct smoking but also passive smoking, to inhale the smoke of other’s cigarettes with whom you live or work is also risk of developing lungs cancer. When compared with on-smokers, passive smokers have 24 per cent increased risk of developing the lungs cancer.
• The silicate fibers that can preserve in the lungs for even a lifetime after one’s exposure to the asbestos are called asbestos fibers. In thermal and acoustic insulation, asbestos was used in the past and is present in your working place. In countries like United States, asbestos is now banned as it is the cause of both mesothelioma and lungs cancer.
• The natural decay product of Uranium is radon, a natural and inert gas. Radon emits ionization radiation. About 12 per cent of deaths by lungs cancer are associated with the exposure to the radon. About 15,000 to 22,000 deaths in United States are caused by radon thus it is the second largest cause of lungs cancer. The gas can easily travel in soil and can sweep in homes through drains, pipes and other openings.
• A major role is played by individual’s genetic susceptibility. Lungs cancer is not bound to appear in smokers. It also victimizes non-smokers. Research has shown that an area on the long (q) arm of human chromosome number 6 is probable to have a gene that increase the susceptibility of getting lungs cancer.
• The air pollution badly affects lungs and habitants of third world where pollution is excessive are more vulnerable to develop lungs cancer as toxic material and smoke is directly inhaled into the lungs. One per cent of deaths by lungs cancer are due to exposure to pollution.

There are no hard and fast rules to diagnose that a person will be a cancer patient or not. Cancer hides in veil until it matures. A tumor may be benign or malignant so it is again not possible to distinguish cancerous growths. However, keen observation can cure one from inevitable disaster.

Treatment of Lung Cancer

Alike with other types of cancer, treatment cannot be suggested for the lungs cancer before time. The treatment resides upon the stage on cancer, its placement and many other relevant factors. At times more than one therapy or a combination of various therapies is suggested to cure the patient. Most common methods of treating lung cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and brain prophylactic radiation. In case one has been a lung cancerian and the cancer is again appearing than the patient can under go targeted therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Lungs cancer affects both men and women however smokers are at enhanced risk. The overall survival rate of lungs cancer is just 16 per cent which reflect poor prognosis of the cancer. It is revealed by American Cancer Society that 215,020 new cases of lungs cancer diagnosed and 161,840 deaths occurred due to lungs cancer in United States during 2008. There are least chances of surviving lungs cancer however reducing the risk factors can save one.

 

Share with others if you like this :