Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer
By Karen Lavender

We all know about the important function that our lungs perform i.e. absorption of oxygen into our blood and the expelling out of carbon dioxide into air. Lungs are a very critical organ of our body and lung cancer (or development of malignant cells in lungs) can really be life threatening.

Causes of lung cancer

Most people would know the primary cause of lung cancer (after all there is so much propaganda about what increases the risk of lung cancer the most). Yes, smoking tobacco is the main culprit behind lung cancer (or behind increasing the risk of lung cancer). Even passive smoking can slightly increase the risk of lung cancer. Its unfortunate that even with all that propaganda and people knowing that smoking can cause lung cancer, people continue to smoke tobacco. People working in industries which involve extensive use of asbestos and other chemical substances/fumes are also at a greater risk of lung cancer.

Symptoms of lung cancer

Most of the symptoms of lung cancer are related to cough conditions. However, the difference is that lung cancer may lead to prolonged cough or blood coming out with cough. Chest infections, difficulty in breathing or a pain in breathing etc. are some of the symptoms of lung cancer. But again, the occurrence of such symptoms should not lead you to concluding that you have lung cancer. Only a qualified doctor through proper examination and tests can deduce whether you have lung cancer or not.

Diagnosis of lung cancer

When there are symptoms of lung cancer, the doctor might start with getting an x-ray and a sputum test done for you. CT scans and biopsies are other specialist means of diagnosing lung cancer. The diagnosis of lung cancer can be done quite definitively.

Treatment of lung cancer

As is the case with most types of cancer, the treatment of lung cancer is pretty much planned based on the type of lung cancer, its size, the stage of lung cancer and your general health. The main treatments of lung cancer include chemotherapy and radiotherapy (and the combination of both is usually used). Surgical procedures are also used in some cases but again the suitability of surgery is determined by the doctor on the basis of a number of other factors. So, the best thing to do is avoid smoking and cut down your risk of lung cancer.

Warren and Karen have been involved in the internet for a number of years and run several websites. They are most interested in providing opportunities for people to connect with information relating to business, health and creativity. Check out their Lung Cancer blog for more information.

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History of Lung Cancer

History of Lung Cancer
By Steve Valentino

Lungs are part of the body, responsible for breathing. Lung cancer is caused by abnormal cells that grow into a malignant tumor. The factors that cause lung cancer are many.

Personal and family history of a person are two aspects that may cause lung cancer. Smoking is one of the primary reasons for growth of cancerous cells. History of chain smoking may increase chances of contracting this dreaded disease. It is also possible to be at risk even if not a smoker. Passive smokers are also susceptible to this disease.

Persons above the age of 40 are more liable to be afflicted with cancer. Though it is not a rule and there are enough younger people also who have been afflicted by this disease. People who are exposed to air pollution have to be especially careful and observe for tell tale signs of lung cancer.

Family history of lung cancer increases risks to the disease. It is therefore important to keep updated about the symptoms and causes of the disease. Sometimes the symptoms can be as simple as a cough or fatigue. At times it can be more complicated as a swelling in the throat or difficulty in breathing or swallowing. It is essential to keep tab on personal medical history to help in early detection of the disease.

Lung cancer is a disease that is difficult to detect. Usually it is in the later stages that doctors can actually detect the seriousness of the disease. Treatment for lung cancer is a tedious process. Advanced stages of lung cancer may require a combination of treatments to cure it. Chances of total cure are reduced, if the disease spreads to other parts of the body.

Due to its hereditary factor, children or relatives of lung cancer affected patients should take extra care to get checked regularly and rule out possibility of getting the disease. Regular exercise and a diet with low fat with high fiber content can reduce chances of getting the disease. It would be beneficial to quit smoking and stick to moderate consumption of alcohol.

Lung Cancer provides detailed information on Asbestos Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer Stages, Lung Cancer Survival Rate and more. Lung Cancer is affiliated with Asbestos Exposure.

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Higher Leverage Against Lung Cancer

Higher Leverage Against Lung Cancer
By Hendrick Wilbur

The fight against cancer has been progressively advancing through the years. Combined efforts from the government, civil society, and health advocacy groups have gained dramatic results. Cancer awareness is on the rise, alternative less cancer-prone lifestyles are arising, while medical researches and technological advancement have tremendously leveled up the fight against one of the world's leading killer. The classic chemotherapy has been modernized and combined with other treatments like radiation, laser, and even organic medicines.

In America alone, the National Health Institute of the US Department of Health and Human Services through its anti-cancer arm National Cancer Institute reported that the death rate due to cancer is still on the decline. In it's annual report to the nation, the NCI claimed that the cancer death rates are progressively declining and progress in cancer treatments are continuously on the rise. In men, study from 1993 to 2002 recorded a decline of 1.5 percent death rate from all cases of cancer. This is higher compared to women's 0.08 percent decline rate.

This report has put the US Department of Health and Human Services at a better position in achieving the goals of its Health People 2010 campaign. The statistics revealed that lung cancer is still consistently leading the nation's cancer death rates. Although a decrease in tobacco-related cancer cases is being achieved, the challenge to drastically reduce its death toll is still as hard as it has always been before. With more and more people puffing cigarettes, lung or bronco cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women.

Dubbed as he most common cancer, lung cancer is now the subject of numerous studies and experimentations in many countries with advance cancer research programs and facilities like the United Kingdom and Australia. A wider knowledge on lung cancer is now available. A classification has been made between Small Cell Lung Cancer and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Small cell lung cancer is the case where in malignant cancer cells grow in the tissues of the lungs. Three types of Small Cell Lung Cancer are known: small cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and combined small cell carcinoma. Smoking, second hand smoking, and exposure to asbestos and radon are the known causes of Small Cell Lung Cancer. Current treatments do not successfully cure cases of Small Cell Lung Cancer. However, studies in Germany revealed that surgery (removal of cancer cells or tumor), systematic post-surgery chemotherapy, and sustained local treatments (e.g. *radiation therapy*) have a higher probability of curing this type of lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, on the other hand, is the most common type of lung cancer. It accounts for four of every five deaths from lung cancer. There are several known types of Non-Small Lung Cancer, the three most common are the Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Large Cell Carcinoma, and Adenocarcinoma. The others are pleomorphic, carcinoid tumor, and salivary gland carcinoma. Like the other lung cancer type, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is mostly caused by smoking (first and second hand), high exposure to air pollution, and exposure to chemicals like asbestos, chromium, and arsenic.

In 2005, the New England Journal of Medicine reported a breakthrough in treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. It reported that current studies reveal that chemotherapy, after the traditional Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer treatment of surgery, can increase the survival rate among patients. In a study, an overwhelming 15 percent increase of survival rate was recorded among patients who had chemotherapy after surgery. Sixty-nine percent of those who had post-surgery chemotherapy's were reported to be still alive five years after the surgery compared to the 54 percent who did not.

Furthermore, a study in Switzerland suggested an even greater breakthrough for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer treatment. The study proposed that in addition to chemotherapy, a combination of the innovative cancer drugs Tarceva and Avastin can lead to higher survival rate for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients. Tarceva is approved in the US and across the European Union for patients with unsuccessful cancer treatments through chemotherapy. Also in US and Europe, Avastin is a popular effective medicine for colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and breast cancer. The proposed combination is seen to serve as a stronger combat against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, especially for the recurring cases.

In the US, the Health and Human Services Department clearly targets the habit of smoking as the main antagonist in the fight against lung cancer. A propaganda campaign is almost everywhere to make Americans, if not totally quit, slowdown on smoking.

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Overlooked Abnormal Cell Lung Cancer Has Its Pluses or Shall I Say Managable Cures

Overlooked Abnormal Cell Lung Cancer Has Its Pluses, or Shall I Say Managable Cures
By Jamie Quaranta

My grandfather recently discovered an enormous lump on the right side of his neck and above his collarbone.

He is a retired assembly manager, and he was exposed to radon gas, mustard gas, asbestos, and other notorious carcinogens during his three-decade-long tenure at an aviation manufacturing company in Connecticut.

He went to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist for an adequate prognosis, as well as a thoracic oncologist for a biopsy. Both physicians removed a sample of his lung tissue for medical examination. The resulting diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma, an unusual form of small cell cancer located in the bodys respiratory and tracheal system.

However, when he underwent further testing at the world-renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer in the heart of New York City, his thoracic oncologist there said he was stricken with adenocarcinoma of the lungs, a rare type of large cell lung cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung adenocarcinoma is, ironically, the most common form of lung cancer among people over the age of 45, regardless of ones smoking habits or ones own history of working in industrial environments. In a simple twist of fate, BioImmune, Inc., an online health directory, reports that the same illness accounts for only 40 percent of all cases of lung cancer.

I really dont understand why I have lung cancer altogether, my grandfather says. I wasnt really exposed to that many chemicals in the workplace as frequently as my employees believed, nor was I ever considered an addicted smoker.

The good news behind lung adenocarcinoma is that, no matter what dire statistics are provided by health care organizations or universities, it can be treated effectively as long as its detected at an early stage.

Nowadays, primary care physicians are using computed topography (CT) scans to confirm the size and location of any malignant tumor. If cancerous cells prove to be prevalent in the lungs, the CT scan determines if they had spread to the brain or other places in the body. In addition, a tiny needle is inserted into the most suspicious areas of the lungs so that a small sample of removed abnormal tissue is examined in a laboratory for further analysis.

Another diagnostic tool frequently used by cancer specialists in todays health care industry is a PET scan. A three-dimensional picture of the entire body from the knees up to the head lights up to show suspicious areas that test positive for cancer.

Less common practices for treating this form of lung cancer are bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy, according to Dr. Edward J. Benz, Jr., the director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in Boston, MA. Both diagnostic tools involve tube-like instruments. However, bronchoscopy is used to obtain a small piece of lung tissue for a biopsy, whereas mediastinoscopy obtains both lung tissue and lymph nodes for the same test.

Its ultimately up to the patient as to what medical procedure he or she feels is necessary, Benz, Jr. says. Still, I believe that a regular biopsy proves more effective than a biopsy used with an unusual-looking tubular device.

Depending on how far the large cancer cells in the lungs have spread, many doctors recommend chemotherapy or radiation, or a combination of both, for a hopefully successful recovery.

Chemotherapy, with or without radiation, can benefit all lung adenocarcinoma patients, said Dr. Harvey A. Weitzman, a thoracic oncologist practicing in Bridgeport, CT. The growth of any cancer cells can be eradicated if this specific form of treatment does what its supposed to do: Decrease coughing, wheezing, and other symptoms while prolonging life at the same time.

To Find Out More About The Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Mentioned in this Enlightening Article, Please Visit the Following Comprehensive Sites for Possible Forms of Treatment:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/LRN/LRN0.asp?dt=15

http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/376.cfm

http://www.dana-farber.org/pat/adult/treatment-centers/Default.aspx?disease=Lung

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Effective Treatments For Lung Cancer

Effective Treatments For Lung Cancer
By Logan Pallas

Considered the most deadly of cancers, Lung cancer does not present any symptoms until it is well advanced. This reduces the success rate of treatments. In the United States, over 170,000 Americans are diagnosed annually. Smoking, along with other environmental exposures, is a causative agent in contracting lung cancer. Surprisingly, causes more cancer deaths in women than even breast cancer.

The traditional approaches to the treatment of lung cancer include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. One or more of these treatments are often used in combination. There are an increasing number of new approaches in development, as well.

By way of definition, the major treatments for lung cancer are; chemotherapy, treatment with strong medication and one of the major procedures used today; Surgery, indicated when cancer is localized, used to prevent its spread (metastasis); radiation, or high-energy x-rays, which are sometimes used in combination with surgery or chemotherapy, to kill cancer cells.A somewhat newer treatment Immunotherapy is used to boost the individuals own immune system to fight the disease more naturally.

Among the alternative therapies showing promise, Controlled Amino Acid Therapy (CAAT) has been developed and studied at the A.P. John Institute for Cancer Research. This procedure involves carbohydrate and protein deprivation. Dr. Marco Rabinwitz at the National Cancer Institute and Dr. Albert Lorincz of the University of Chicago have conducted research to support CAAT and its effectiveness in treating cancer. Briefly, CAAT has specific diet protocols and amino acid supplements which are scientifically formulated. This combination works to impair development and proliferation of cancerous cells.

In chemotherapy treatment, there are some new medications which work differently than traditional chemical agents. A treatment approved over 4 years ago, Gefitinib is administered in pill form. Specifically, it targets and blocks an enzyme which stimulates tumor cell growth and spreading. Another new chemotherapy treatment involves a combination of two chemical/biochemical agents - Bevacizumab and Erlotinib. Still in the study phase, this treatment is demonstrating promising results. Erlotinib works inside the cancer cell. It inhibits signals which trigger cancer cell growth. Bevacizumab, an antibody, functions outside of the cancer cell, prohibiting growth of blood vessels which would feed the tumor.

Photodynamic Therapy or PDT is yet another new treatment. In PDT a phototoxic drug (photosensitizer) is administered and followed by light exposure, either conventional or laser, targeting the cancerous tumor. An FDA approved method, its current application is for solid cancerous lesions. Within the PDT treatment, various immune cells play a critical role in effectiveness of tumor reduction and eradication, facilities, such as the BC Cancer Research Centre are examining the use PDT and immunotherapy in concert, using immunotherapy to catalyze the PDT.

With lung cancer being the most deadly and affecting such a broad spectrum of the population, the search for new and more effective treatments continues. Most promising are those that target more specific mechanisms of cancer cell growth. Basic research, conducted over the years, is now providing the background for development of more effective and less devastating lung cancer treatments.

Logan Pallas explores various lung cancer therapies on his Cancer Breakthroughs website. He is a medical researcher, cancer expert and proponent of alternative lung cancer treatment.

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Radiation May Perform Better Than Surgery For Late Stage Lung Cancer

Radiation May Perform Better Than Surgery For Late Stage Lung Cancer
By Tim Edwards

A new European study found that after the initial treatment for chemotherapy, radiation treatment may be a better solution than surgery for patients suffering from advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small lung cancer accounts for about 80 percent of all lung cancer cases reported.

The new study was reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, examined 579 patients suffering from late stage, non-small lung cancer that had advanced to the point where surgery could not effectively remove all of the cancer. All of the patients had received three cycles of chemotherapy.

After chemo, 165 received radiation treatment and 167 received surgery for the remaining cancer. On average, the patients receiving the radiation survived 17.5 months compared to 16.4 months for those who received the surgery. According to HealthDay, the five-year survival rate was 15.7 percent for those who had surgery compared with 14 percent for those treated with radiation. While the survival rates were similar, radiation was the preferred treatment because of its lower rates of complications and death.

The studys authors wrote, these results are important, because several centers routinely use chemotherapy followed by surgery to treat patients with this stage of disease based on small randomized studies that showed that surgery alone in inferior to chemotherapy and surgery in stage IIIA patients.

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Tim Edwards is the author of many health related articles as well as the owner of a consumer advocacy website. Visit this Consumer Advocacy website for more information on ordering medication from online with no prescription.

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Lung Cancer: Not Just a Man's Killer

Lung Cancer: Not Just a Man's Killer
By Tina Seay

Lung cancer has long been associated as a killer of men but now it has passed breast cancer as the number one killing cancer of women. The American Cancer Society states that women are 1.5 times more likely to get lung cancer than men. Studies also show that African American women are more likely to get lung cancer than white women.

While smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer to smokers, secondhand smoke also causes lung cancer and coronary heart disease to nonsmokers. There are about 20% of the women diagnosed with lung cancer who have never smoked (American Cancer Society). Some factors besides secondhand smoke includes: exposure to radon or asbestos, inhaling toxic chemicals or minerals, or just being genetically predisposed to getting it. However, the upside is that nonsmokers do generally respond positively to the treatments given for their cancer.

Lung cancer is caused by certain cells in the body malfunctioning and dividing abnormally. These cells end up producing excessive tissue that turns into a tumor. There are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Both types are treated differently.

So, how do you know if you may have lung cancer? Some signs include: labored breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, excessive, persistent coughing, an increase in phlegm, a change in the phlegm's color or bloody phlegm, pain in the back, chest, or shoulder area, and swelling in the face and neck. If you have any of these signs, see a doctor immediately.

If you are a smoker, your chances of getting lung cancer are greatly reduced when you quit smoking. The American Cancer Society states that in the last 30 years, the cure rate for lung cancer has doubled.

While the stakes are higher for women smokers, quitting today will lower your chances of getting lung cancer. However, if you should still get lung cancer, quitting smoking would greatly increase your survival rate. Be aware of changes you can make in your lifestyle and environment to help keep yourself safe from this disease.

Tina Seay is the author, webmaster of http://www.LearnSomethingToday.com a great resource website with health articles, fitness tips, recipes, financial advice and so much more.

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Asbestosis Asbestos and Types of Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

Asbestosis, Asbestos and Types of Mesothelioma Lung Cancer
By Todd Going

The three main types of malignant mesotheliomas are epithelioid, sarcomatoid and mixed/biphasic. Epithelioid is the most common kind as around 50-70% of all mesothelioma cases reported are this type. Epithelioid also has the best chances of survival. It affects the internal organs and internal surfaces coverings. Sarcomatoid is a much more serious condition as it affects the secondary tissues in the body such as cartilage, muscles, bone and fat. However, this cancer is much rarer, as it only occurs 7-20% of the time. Mixed/biphasic is having both types of the cancer at once, and this makes up 20-35% of the occurrences.

Like all other types of cancer, mesothelioma is incurable. Although doctors and scientists have made a great deal of progress for diagnosing and treating these malignancies, there is still no current way to completely get rid of it.

The affected areas from mesothelioma cancer are the lining of the internal organs in the body. Because of the location of the infected cells, mesothelioma does not respond well to conventional treatments unlike most other forms of cancer. In addition, there are no blatant symptoms of the disease, so doctors cannot properly diagnose the illness until its significantly advanced. Because of these factors, the effectiveness of many conventional treatments are limited.

Even the best doctors in the world mistake early symptoms of asbestos related diseases with lesser conditions. Detection of mesothelioma relies mostly on associating proper symptoms with proper diagnosis because it is so subtle. If you have had exposure to asbestos, then you should alert your doctor of your medical history so they know what tests to look for and what tests to use.

High risk groups such as asbestos and construction workers must undergo frequent check-ups to monitor any conditions leading to mesothelioma. Because this cancer is so deadly, early diagnosis and treatment can help prolong life, but the mortality rate is usually 100% within five years.

Regardless of the type, mesothelioma is fatal. Survival rates are usually only 1-5 years after diagnosis. If you or a loved one has been affected by mesothelioma, you may have the legal right to seek compensation for your suffering.

To learn more about mesothelioma cancer centers, cancer cell types and pericardinal mesothelioma, please visit our website. This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all links stay intact as hyperlinks.

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