Understanding The Viciousness of Lung Cancer

Understanding The Viciousness of Lung Cancer
By David Silva

Lung cancer is the result of malignant cells forming in the tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining the air passages. The cells in our bodies are constantly dividing and reproducing. Usually, there's an orderly pattern to this reproduction as cells develop and specialize to meet particular needs. Occasionally, however, a cell becomes damaged. There's a mutation in its DNA, and rather than maturing and dying as is normal, it continues to reproduce unchecked. In essence, this is cancer uncontrolled reproduction and growth of abnormal cells in the body.

Most lung cancers are believed to start in the epithelial lining of the lungs the linings of the large and small airways that perform the task of extracting oxygen from the air. Because of this, lung cancer is sometimes called bronchogenic carcinoma cancer arising from the bronchia. A smaller percentage of lung cancers begin in the pleura the thin tissue sac that surrounds the lungs. These cancers are called mesothelioma. The most common form of mesothelioma is linked to asbestos exposure.

Cancer of the lungs is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. While it may take a period of years to develop, the cancer often goes undetected until late in the process. In addition, it tends to metastasize (migrate to other parts of the body) early, which leaves fewer opportunities to fight the mutated cells with surgery or radiation. Once the lung cancer does metastasize, it quickly spreads to the most vulnerable and important organs of the body, particularly the adrenal glands, the liver, the brain and the bones.

There are two primary forms of lung cancer Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Small Cell Lung Cancer is less common, though far more deadly. It's directly linked to cigarette smoking less than 1% of SCLC is diagnosed in non-smokers. It's also extremely aggressive and fast-moving, metastasizing rapidly to other organs, and often undiscovered until it's already widespread.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, on the other hand, is far more common, accounting for nearly 80% of all diagnosed lung cancers. There are three main types of non-small cell lung cancer, generally characterized by the size, shape, and chemical composition of the cells that form the cancer:

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (also referred to as Epidermoid Carcinoma): accounts for around 25% - 30% of all lung cancers, and is associated with a history of smoking. This cancer is nearly always found in the central chest area, near the bronchus.

Adenocarcinoma (also referred to as Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma): accounts for around 40% of all lung cancers, and is found in the external region of the lung. Treatment for this form of lung cancer often leads to a more successful outcome than that of other lung cancers.

Large-Cell Undifferentiated Carcinoma: accounting for only 10% - 15% of lung cancers, this form may show up in any area of the lung. It tends to spread quickly, and often results in a poor prognosis.

Its also possible for lung cancer to be a combination of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer types.

There are other, less common types of lung cancer. For instance, bronchial carcinoids are small tumors often found in people under 40 years of age. They tend to grow slowly, and be amenable to treatment. Carcinoid tumors account for approximately 5% of lung tumors. Some are non-cancerous. The others are generally slow-growing and can be successfully treated with surgery.

Finally, some cancers discovered in the lungs arent lung cancers at all. Since the lungs are prone to metastatic cancers from other sites, its not uncommon for tumors from other primary cancers to find their way to the lungs. When this occurs, the tumors are often discovered in the peripheral tissues of the lungs rather than in the central tissues.

Please note that the information provided in this article is for information purposes only. It should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of lung cancer. Such situations should always involve the expertise of a physician or health care provider.

David Silva is the webmaster for Lung Cancer Insights, a site dedicated to the dissemination of information about lung cancer, mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancer, and their treatments.

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What You Need to Know About Lung Cancer

What You Need to Know About Lung Cancer
By Boone Swann

Lung cancer occurs when cancerous cells develop in the lungs tissue. Lung cancer is the most common fatal cancer among men and women, and it is the number one killer in the world. Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate out of all the cancers combined. People with risk factors for developing the disease should have regular checkups to determine if they are cancer free.

Family history of the disease can be a warning sign that lung cancer may run in your family and that you should be checked more often. Some risk factors for lung cancer can also include age, sex, or race and are called non-modifiable factors because the person cant change them. Some lesser-known symptoms to watch out for include:

Shoulder or upper back pain caused by a tumor pressing into the lung lining

Swelling of the face and neck caused by change in circulation brought on by the tumor

Having frequent bouts of pneumonia or other lung infections

When tumors press against blood vessels, the fluids cannot travel as well through the body, and these fluids build up in the neck and face and often times the hands and feet as well. Having frequent periods of lung infections or pneumonia can also be a sign of lung cancer as the cells of the tumor trap and hold bacteria.

There are two types of lung cancer Non-small cell and small cell. Non-small cell cancer is usually associated with people who smoke and is the most common form of diagnosed cancer. Small cell lung cancer - or oat cancer - is rarer, but is also caused by smoking. Non-small cancer is more common and spreads much slower than small cell cancer. Three main types of this cancer are named for the cells where they tend to develop. These are Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Small cell lung cancer tends to grow and spread much more quickly than non-small cancer and can quickly spread to other areas of the body. Both types of cancers react to treatments in different ways.

Some substances that can cause lung cancer are familiar to you while others may come as a surprise. Cigarette smoking causes lung cancer. How often have you heard that over the years? It is far more likely that someone who smokes will develop lung cancer than someone who doesnt smoke. The age at which the person began smoking, and the length of time theyve been smoking are also factors in the development of the disease. Even people who dont smoke themselves can be exposed to the second-hand smoke and develop lung cancer over time. Some other substances that can cause lung cancer include Radon exposure and Asbestos exposure.

Its very important to follow up with your doctor if you suspect that you may have some symptoms of lung cancer. The sooner the disease is discovered and treatment is begun, the sooner youll be well again. Regular checkups can make sure that any cancer is caught in the early stages and can be treated quickly and effectively with a variety of treatments. Physical exams, x-rays, and blood or urine tests may be required to check thoroughly.

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Can Lung Cancer Be Prevented?

Can Lung Cancer Be Prevented?
By Jon Stout

Lung cancer is the most fatal form of cancer in the US, and other developed countries, today. And the fact is, that most of the cancer treatments that work well on other forms of cancer often dont work well on lung cancer. Add to that the fact that lung cancer is often not diagnosed until it is far advanced, and its easy to understand why this disease is so often fatal.

So, preventing lung cancer is even more important than preventing many other types of cancer simply because the prognosis is often so poor. And, for most victims of this disease, it is entirely preventable simply by not smoking. Eight out of ten people diagnosed with lung cancer each year are smokers.

Six out of ten people who are diagnosed with lung cancer will die within one year. Between seven and eight will die within two years. Treatments are improving, and today there are some long term lung cancer survivors. But, as we focus on better treatments, we cannot lose focus on prevention.

Of course the simplest way to prevent lung cancer is not to smoke. But, there are some other things you can do to help reduce your risk of lung cancer, whether or not you smoke.

The first is to eat a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables. Some studies have shown that people who eat a diet lacking in fruits and vegetables have a higher risk of lung cancer than those whose diet offers a wide variety of such foods.

In addition to not smoking, its important to stay away from others who smoke. Secondhand smoke is just as dangerous as smoking yourself. The American Cancer Society reports that non-smoking spouses of smokers are 30% more likely to get lung cancer than spouses of non-smokers. In addition, exposure to asbestos, arsenic and radon increase your risk of lung cancer.

Add Green Tea to Your Diet

Another little known trick for helping protect your body from many types of disease, including many forms of cancer, is drinking green tea. Green tea has been shown in many studies to be effective at protecting health and preventing disease. This is because green tea is filled with anti-oxidants some of the most powerful available.

Anti-oxidants are very effective at combating free radicals that are created in our bodies as we process food. The free radicals produced by our bodies damage our cells and our DNA, and eventually lead to disease if we dont combat them. Anti-oxidants, however, combat these free radicals before they can cause damage. If were getting our fair share of anti-oxidants each day, were keeping these free radicals under control.

Above I mentioned that scientists believe that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps prevent lung cancer. This is also likely due to the fact that fresh fruits and vegetables are good anti-oxidant sources. Some vegetables and fruits are better than others, so for optimum benefit, be sure to include some of the most powerful in your diet on a regular basis.

The best food sources of anti-oxidants include:

Artichokes
Asparagus
Red Beans
Blueberries
Pomegranates
Dark Chocolate
Tomatoes

And, green tea. One of the most important anti-oxidants is EGCG, which is found in abundance in the Camilla sinensis (tea tree) plant. Green tea is the best form of this anti-oxidant because its not fermented during processing. Black tea is fermented, which changes some of its anti-oxidant compounds. Black tea is still healthy, but your best anti-oxidant source is green tea.

One study recently reported by the UK Tea Council shines light on green teas ability to prevent lung cancer. In particular, this study showed that green tea appears to have two major functions that prevent cancer.

Green tea appears to cause apoptosis of abnormal cells. Apoptosis is the orderly process of cell death. Cell death due to apoptosis is good, because it is a process of killing off damaged or unneeded cells. Green tea seems to help the body rid itself of potentially harmful cells by inducing the process of apoptosis.

Green tea also seems to help prevent lung cancer by inhibiting the growth of the abnormal lung cells. So, green tea keeps the cells from growing and spreading until the apoptosis can kills the cells off. These two powers help to rid the body of abnormal cells before they can replicate and cause a problem.

Of course, more research is needed to pinpoint exactly how green tea works, and how we can use it best to prevent lung cancer and many other diseases. However, in the mean time, theres no reason not to make green tea part of your daily life.

Green tea is an absolutely safe beverage to consume. It has no side effects, and even those who are caffeine sensitive can usually tolerate green tea quite well, because its caffeine content is very low compared to coffee and sodas. So, do something good for yourself drink some green tea!

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.

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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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Asbestos Asbestosis Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

Asbestos - Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer
By Michael Russell

Asbestos has many appealing qualities for builders. It is strong, flexible and corrosion resistant. It is also burn resistant and a good insulator. There are not many substances with these qualities and may explain why it was so widely used. It becomes hazardous when asbestos containing materials are disturbed or damaged. Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers. When the materials become disturbed or damaged, these fibers separate and may become airborne. These fibers may get into the lungs and that may lead to serious and even fatal diseases. Some of these diseases include:

Asbestosis is a non-cancerous lung disease. Inhaling asbestos fibers for an extended period of time causes it. This disease takes twenty five to forty years to develop. As asbestos fibers become trapped in your lungs, the body will produce an acid to try to eliminate these fibers. The continued production of the acid can eventually scar the tissues in your lungs. An excessive amount of scarring may cause the lungs to function improperly. This can lead to serious breathing difficulties. If asbestosis is left untreated, it may cause cardiac failure. At this time, there is no effective treatment for this disease. People who renovate or demolish buildings that contain asbestos have the greatest risk of getting asbestosis. The chances of getting this disease through physical contact with a person who works with asbestos are minimal. People who worked in naval shipyards were the first ones diagnosed with asbestosis.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the pleura (the outer membrane that encloses the lung and chest cavity) and/ or the peritoneum (the membrane lining the walls of the abdominal cavity). In the United States, there are only about 3000 new cases of this disease annually. Exposure to asbestos has been the cause in all of the cases. The exposure in these cases lasted anywhere from fifteen to thirty years. Unlike other forms of cancer, there is only one known cause of mesothelioma. Studies indicate that people who work in areas that contain asbestos, such as mines, mills, factories, or shipyards, or who manufacture and install asbestos installation are at the greatest risk of getting mesothelioma. You are also at risk if you live with a worker exposed to asbestos or near any area containing asbestos. Studies also indicate that younger people are more likely to contract mesothelioma when they inhale asbestos. This is the reason why people are going to great lengths to protect school children from asbestos exposure.

Many cases of lung cancer can also be attributed to asbestos exposure. Lung cancer is actually the leading cause of death among all of the illnesses caused by asbestos exposure. You can aggravate the effects of lung cancer by about fifty percent if you start smoking. People who work in occupations where they are directly involved in the handling of asbestos are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer. Exposure to both asbestos and another carcinogen, such as cigarette smoke, puts you at greater risk of contracting lung cancer than exposure to asbestos alone. There was a study that indicated that exposure to asbestos and smoke makes you ninety times more likely to contract lung cancer than a person who is not exposed to either. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer include coughing, breathing irregularities, chest pains and anemia. It usually takes fifteen to thirty years of exposure to asbestos to contract lung cancer.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Asbestos

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Are You At Risk Of Developing Lung Cancer?

Are You At Risk Of Developing Lung Cancer?
By Michael Russell

It is estimated that a non-smoker's lifetime risk of lung cancer is 1 in 100 while a smoker's risk is 1 in 12. Among which group of people do you belong? Are you worried that your risk of developing lung cancer is high?

Lung cancer like any other forms of cancer is a much-dreaded disease. Because it doesn't have visible symptoms during the early stage, it is often diagnosed during the later stage of the disease when the cancer has already spread to other organs and when treatment becomes difficult and survival rate is low.

People who are likely to develop lung cancer are those who have one or more of the following risk factors.

1. Women are more prone to develop lung cancer than men are. One study shows that a gene associate with abnormal cell growth was found to be more active in women than in men whether these women smoked or not. Some research also shows that smoking women are more susceptible to the cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarettes than their male counterparts.

2. Smoking is one of the greatest risk factor of lung cancer. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. A person's risk of developing lung cancer increases with the number of years he or she has smoked. The longer the person has been smoking, the higher is his or her risk of developing lung cancer.

3. Sad news for people who have not even puffed a single cigarette but are continually exposed to cigarette smoke; your risk of developing lung cancer rises as much as 30 percent especially if you are exposed daily to second-hand smoking.

4. Exposure to radon, an odorless gas found in water and the ground, increases a person's risk of developing lung cancer. Radon is considered to be the second most common cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking.

5. Our workplace can sometimes increase our risk of developing lung cancer. People who are exposed to carcinogens like arsenic, asbestos, chloromethyl ether and chromium compounds in their workplaces have higher risk of developing lung cancer. It is estimated that about 9,000 men and 900 women develop lung cancer annually due to workplace exposure of known carcinogenic compounds. The risk becomes even greater for people who smoke.

6. Women who undergo estrogen replacement may be at higher risk of developing lung cancer. According to researchers from the University of Pittsburg, the growth of non-small-cell lung cancer may be fueled by estrogen.

It is important that lung cancer be detected early. The symptomless early stages often mislead lung cancer patients into believing that there is nothing wrong with his or her health. Often it is already late and cancer has already spread to other areas before diagnosis is being made. Those who are well informed about the possibility and the level of their risk of developing lung cancer will be able to seek for medical check-up and professional opinion early before the disease can even spread.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Lung Cancer

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An Overview of Lung Cancer

An Overview of Lung Cancer
By Ajishnu Sharma

General Information on Lung Cancer

Lung cancer, or carcinoma of the lung, is one of the most common forms of cancer today. It is one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related mortality in the United States today. In the United States, another form of cancer that is becoming increasingly common is breast cancer, which is the development of malignant tissue in the breast. Breast cancer is seen mostly in women, though this does not mean that men are immune to it. A small percentage of men too contract breast cancer. The numbers are small, 1 man with breast cancer against a 100 women with it, but its there. However, there is one major difference between breast cancer and lung cancer. One can see the symptoms of breast cancer at an early stage, while in the case of lung cancer, the symptoms are not detected early, primarily because they match the symptoms of other lesser ailments. In this article, we will discuss lung cancer.

A person is said to suffer from lung cancer when a growth of malignant cancer cells is detected in the lungs. Depending on the stage at which lung cancer is detected, it can be classified as being in the:

Early stages
Mid-stages
Advanced stages

Today, there is a vast amount of information on lung cancer available. Patients or relatives of patients can access information over the Internet, which has an almost limitless number of websites dedicated to different aspects of lung cancer types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, etc. For example, if you are from the United Kingdom and want to research information on lung cancer treatment, facilities, etc in your country, you can simply log onto the website of Cancer Research UK, UKs leading cancer charity, and collect whatever information you want from their site.

Earlier on, treatment of lung cancer was not an easy thing to do, owing to the huge amount of expenses in the form of medical bills, hospital stays fees, etc. However, nowadays with the availability of insurance, things have become easier. Lung cancer insurance is available easily, as is insurance covering other forms of cancer.

Types of Lung Cancer

Two main types of lung cancer exist today. Both of these are seen in the epithelial cells of the lungs. They are:

Small cell lung cancer (SLCC)
Non-small cell lung cancer

There is another type, called mixed small cell/large cell lung cancer. In this type you can find both kinds of cells in the cancerous tissue.

Besides these two types, there is another form of cancer of the lung area, called mesothelioma or mesothelioma cancer or cancer of the mesothelium. However, this is not considered a primary form of lung cancer, as its target area is not the lobes of the lung, but the pleural membrane covering the lung.

Small Cell Lung Cancer
This is the rarer of the two basic forms of lung cancer. One out of every five lung cancer patients suffer from small cell lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer, or non-small lung cancer, is the more common of the two basic forms of lung cancer. Four out of five lung cancer patients suffer from this type of cancer.

Based on the cell type/area in which the carcinogenic cells proliferate in the lungs, non-small cell lung cancer is further categorized into three types. They are:

Squamous cell carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Large Cell Carcinoma
Bronchioalveolar Carcinoma (BAC)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This is the most common type of lung cancer. It occurs in the cells lining the airways inside the lungs. This form of cancer occurs mostly due to nicotine ingestion through smoking.

Adenocarcinoma
This form of cancer is seen in the mucus cells within the airways in the lung.

Large Cell Carcinoma
This is also called undifferentiated lung cancer. In large cell carcinoma, the proliferating cells are round and much larger than the cells seen in adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

Bronchioalveolar Carcinoma (BAC)
This form of cancer is seen in the bronchioalveolar region of the lung.

What Causes Lung Cancer?

The main cause of lung cancer is exposure to tobacco. This is primarily through smoking. About 80% of lung cancer patients are smokers. Smokers may be cigarette smokers, cigar smokers, or pipe smokers; it doesnt matter. The risk of contracting lung cancer is equal in all the three cases.

A person may inhale smoke directly. A person can also inhale smoke passively or involuntarily. This smoke is also called secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is of two types:

Mainstream This is the smoke exhaled by the smoker, and amounts to more than 50% of all secondhand smoke.
Sidestream This is the smoke emanating from the burning end of a cigarette/cigar/pipe/hookah.

Passive smokers too stand a high chance of contracting lung cancer. The chances of passive/secondary smokers contracting lung cancer is 30% higher than people who do not inhale smoke either actively or passively.

However, there have been instances of even total non-smokers suffering from lung cancer. This indicates that smoking is not the only cause for lung cancer. It is the primary cause, yes, but not definitely the only cause. The following are some of the other causes of lung cancer:

Air pollution
Inhalation of asbestos fibers
Exposure to radon, a radioactive substance formed by breaking down uranium
Inhalation of marijuana fumes by smoking
Exposure of the chest area to radiation therapy during cancer treatment
Hereditary reasons
Presence of arsenic in drinking water
Diet with low fruit and vegetable content (this increases the risk of lung cancer in smokers)

A combination of exposure to tobacco along with any of these causes greatly increases the chances of a person contracting lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

The following are some of the common symptoms of lung cancer. They do not usually manifest in the early stages. Even if they do, they are usually mistaken for some other ailment. These symptoms are:

Persistent coughing
Reddish or muddy brown spit
Loss of breath
Loss of appetite
Persistent or repetitive infections of the bronchial tract
Hoarseness of voice
Renewed wheezing

In its later advanced stages, when the lung cancer is said to be in metastasis, the symptoms are:

Numbness in the arms or legs
A jaundiced appearance
Tumorous growths near the skin surface
Seizures
Bone pain
Dizziness

Lung Cancer Detection and Diagnosis

It is very rare to be able to detect lung cancer in its early stages. There are no specific symptoms of early stages of lung cancer. This is one of the reasons why lung cancer is usually detected in its later stages.

The use of a proper screening technique would greatly increase the chances of early lung cancer detection. However, there is no such proper and totally effective screening technique yet. Research is on to see if one can be formulated soon. As of now, a new technique called spiral CT seems to be the best option for early detection.

Once lung cancer is detected, the next step is to determine the stage it is in. This is done using the AJCC system. Roman numerals are used to mark the different stages of lung cancer, numerals from 0 to IV. Sometimes the stages are further divided into substages, using denotations A and B. The general rule of thumb is that the lower the denomination, the less serious the condition.

Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer treatment options are usually the same as prostate cancer treatment options or colon cancer treatment options. What I mean is that all forms of cancer have the same treatment options. However, lung cancer tests may be different from colon cancer tests. The standard treatment options for lung cancer are:

Surgery
Radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy

What matters is the combination of methods being used. The more serious the cancer, the more chances that different treatment options will be used in tandem, or one after the other.

References

http://www.aacr.org
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/colon-and-rectal
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Lung/General/Typesoflungcancer
http://www.cancer.org
http://www.lungcanceronline.org

The writer does freelance writing work. Primary areas are keyword-rich articles (especially in healthcare, insurance, credit), creative writing, blogposts, etc.

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