Lung cancer

Lung cancer also referred as pulmonary carcinoma or carcinoma of the lung; characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If not treated, the growth can spread by the process of metastasis to nearby tissue and other parts of the body.

TYPES OF LUNG CANCER.

Small Cell Lung Cancer; makes up to about 15-20% of all cases of lung cancer. It’s a type of neuroendocrine tumor; cells are smaller in size than other cancer cells. It’s fast-growing cancer that spreads rapidly to other body parts.

Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer; making up for about 80-85% of all cases of lung cancer. It grows and spreads much more slowly than the small cell lung cancer. Also staged based on the size of the primary tumor and if and whereby cancer spreads in stages; phase I, phase II, phase III, and phase IV.

Lung Carcinoid tumor; fewer than 5% of lung cancers. Also referred as neuroendocrine lung tumors. It’s a tumor which forms in hormone-releasing cells. The hormones deliver the messages to the organs, and the neuroendocrine tumors creates an overabundance of the hormones, that causes symptoms not found in other cancers.

CAUSES;

Smoking (active and passive smoking) of cigarettes, shisha. 

Exposure to pollution, for instance near industries emitting harmful gasses.

Radioactive materials such as radon when breathed may lead to lung cancer.

Lack of appetite, weakness and weight loss.

Clubbing fingers.

High calcium level in the blood.

Reduced red blood cells.

SYMPTOMS;

Prolonged coughing.

Hemoptysis, blood in sputum.

Dyspnea, shortness of breath.

Wheezing (due to difficulties in breathing)

Pain chest

PREVENTION.

Avoid smoking.

Taking healthy diets.

Regular exercise, lower the risk of not only developing lung cancer but also other types of cancer.

TREATMENT;

Treatment mainly depends on the kind of cancer, how fast it spreads and general health of the patient.

Early diagnosis, whereby the cancerous cells confirmed to a small area, surgery is usually recommended to eliminate the affected area of the lung.

In case surgery is unsuitable due to the general health, radiotherapy is preferred whereby it destroys the cancerous cells.

But if cancer has spread at a fast rate where neither surgery nor radiotherapy can be effective, chemotherapy is usually used instead.