What is Lung Cancer?
It is also known as lung carcinoma. Which is a malignant lung tumor is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in the tissues of the lung. In the body, it maintains a system of checks and balances on cell growth. So that, these cells divide to produce new cells only when new cells are needs. However, wrecking off this system of checks and balances on cell growth results in an uncontrolled division and proliferation of cells that eventually form a mass which is known as a tumor.
Lung carcinoma can arise in any part of the lung, but (90-95)% of cancers of the lung arise from the epithelial cells, the cells lining the larger and smaller airways (bronchi and bronchioles). Over the age of 65 years, almost 70% of people are clinical diagnosed with lung cancer, while less than 3% of lung cancers occur in people under 45 years of age. And, the median age at clinical diagnosis is 70 years.
What Causes Lung Cancer?
Some possible causes of lung cancer may include:-
Smoking
Tobacco smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. However, tobacco causes about 90 percent of lung cancer causes. In the same kind, smoking tobacco contains many chemicals that are known to cause lung cancer.
In the case of nonsmokers, they also can be affected by smoking. Because breathing in second-hand smoke puts you at risk for lung cancer or other illness.
Hazardous Chemicals
High exposure to certain hazardous chemicals poses a lung cancer issue. Working with these hazardous materials such as uranium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and some other petroleum products is especially dangerous. If you may think you may be breathing in chemicals at your job, talk to your employer and health consultant to find out to protect yourself.
Genes
In the human body, genetic factors may also play a vital role in one’s chances of developing lung cancer. In your family, they may have a history of lung cancer that means you are at a higher risk of getting the diseases. And, if they have or ever had lung cancer, it’s important to mention this to your health consultant.
What are Lung Cancer symptoms and signs?
Major signs and symptoms of lung carcinoma are varied depending upon where and how widespread the tumor is. However, warning symptoms of lung cancer are not always present or easy to identify. A person who has a lung cancer problem may have the following kinds of symptoms:-
Symptoms related to lung cancer:
The growth of cancer and surrounding lung tissues may interface with breathing, leading to signs like cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood. If cancer has attacked the nerves, for instance, it may cause shoulder pain that travels down the outside of the arm.
Symptoms related to metastasis:
In this case, the lung cancer that has spread to the bones may produce excruciating pain at the sites of bone involvement. However, lung cancer that has spread to the brain may cause several neurological symptoms such as blurred vision, headaches, or symptoms of a stroke like weakness or loss of sensation in parts of the body.
Paraneoplastic symptoms:
Paraneoplastic symptoms that obtain from the production of hormone-like substances by the tumor cells frequently accompany lung cancer. These symptoms may occur commonly with SCLC but may occur with any tumor type. However, these symptoms that may be associated with SCLC are the production of a hormone called adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) by the cancer cells.
Non-specific symptoms
These symptoms seen with many cancers, including lung cancers, include weight loss, weakness, and fatigue problems.
How to prevent lung cancer issue?
- Don’t use tobacco
- Eat a healthy diet
- Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active
- Protect yourself from the sun
- Get vaccinated
- Avoid risky behaviors
- Get regular medical care etc.
