Lung Cancer and Its Causes

As well as other types of cancer, lung cancer is caused by the abnormal growth of body cells. In this case, lung cancer caused by the growth of cancer cells that are not controlled in the lung tissue in the body. Just like other organs, the lungs can receive the spread of cancer cells from other organs. This means that lung cancer is not just caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the lungs, but can also be caused by cancer cells originating from other organs that spread to the lungs.

What causes lung cancer? Here are some of them:

1. Smoke
The main cause of lung cancer is smoking. The risk of lung cancer will increase if smokers consume cigarettes in large numbers. Cigarettes contain more than 4 thousand chemicals and most of these chemicals are carcinogenic (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines) that can cause cancer.

2. Passive Smokers
If the passive smokers inhaling cigarette smoke come from smokers in a long time, then the passive smoker is likely to be stricken with lung cancer.

3. Asbestos Fiber
Asbestos fibers are silicate fibers that can settle in the lung tissue. If humans inhale asbestos fibers in the long term, these fibers will settle in the lungs and increases the risk of lung cancer.

4. Offspring
Although smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, but not all smokers develop this cancer. This is because there is a genetic barrier. The risk of lung cancer will increase in those who have families who suffer from lung cancer.

5. Lung Disease
Lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a close relationship with lung cancer. This risk is increased if the patient is a smoker.

6. Medical History
People who have suffered and been cured of lung cancer have a bigger risk of being attacked by lung cancer .

7. Air Pollution
Air pollution from vehicles, industrial plants and fossil power plants can increase the risk of lung cancer.

Source: Health Review

Symptoms and Treatment of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most dangerous type of cancer in the world. Lung cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth in lung tissue. As well as with other types of cancer, lung cancer also have some symptoms that can be detected. The symptoms of lung cancer depends on the size of the cancer and physical condition of the patient. Here are some symptoms of lung cancer that you should know:

1. Without symptoms
The symptoms of lung cancer will only occur when abnormal cell growth is getting worse. As many as 25% of lung cancer patients know that they are affected by lung cancer after they routinely perform X-rays and CT scans.

2. Symptoms according to the size of cancer
Cancer cells that grow abnormally can disrupt the balance of lung tissue. This will cause disruption of the respiratory system. The symptoms include shortness of breath, breath sounds, chest pain and coughing up blood. If the growth of cancer cells damage the nerve cells around the lungs, it will cause pain in the shoulder which spread to the hands and fingers. Cancer cells that spread to the esophagus will cause a swallowing disorder.

3. Symptoms associated with the spread of cancer
Lung cancer cells that spread to the bone will cause pain in the bones. If the cancer cells spread to the brain, it will cause neurologic symptoms such as headaches, blurry eyes, seizures, paralysis of limbs, stroke symptoms and disorders of taste sensation in some parts of the body.

4. Non-specific symptoms
Other symptoms of lung cancer is non-specific symptoms. Symptoms include weight loss, weakness, and fatigue. In addition, there are also psychological symptoms such as mood disorders and depression.

Lung cancer treatment depends on the size and spread of cancer cells in the body. The treatment of lung cancer can be done by several methods, such as removal of cancer cells by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and combination between the three methods.

Quitting smoking is the main thing in preventing lung cancer. Another thing that you can do to prevent lung cancer is by reducing contact with smokers.

Source: Health Review