Facts about lung cancer

Cells are the building blocks of life. We understand very well that cells grow, divide, and multiply with the need of the body to keep it hale and healthy. Occasionally the cells will divide among themselves even though there is no need to multiply, and the mass of extra cells forms tumor or cancer. An unchecked and rapid growth of lung cells is called lung cancer. Lung cancer can be caught in two forms, non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is categorized on the basis of the morphology of cells as seen under a microscope. Each type of lung cancer has spreads in different ways, and has its own method of treatment.

Non-small cell lung cancer, the more regularly occurring form of the disease, grows and spreads slowly. In this class there are three major kinds of cancer: large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Instances of small cell lung cancer are not so common as that of non-small lung cancer. This type of lung cancer spreads rapidly and may affect different organs of the body. This type of lung cancer is also known as oat cell cancer.

Recently, lung cancer was recognized as the deadliest form of cancer in many developed nations. It's estimated that 170,000 people die from the disease each year in the United States. Changes within the lung can begin almost immediately upon exposure to carcinogens, but lung cancer can take years to develop.

Inhaling the carcinogens found in cigarette smoke is the main cause of the lung in smokers and non-smokers alike. When there is an environmental exposure to radon compounded with smoking, the risk of lung cancer greatly increases. There is another type of lung cancer, known as mesothelioma, an occupational hazard among people who work around asbestos.


Lung cancer mostly affects people over fifty and who also had the habit of smoking for a quite long time. The lung cancer symptoms vary based upon the location of the tumor in the lungs. You may suspect lung cancer if you are experiencing chronic cough, chest pain, wheezing, and recurring lung infections.

An experienced health care professional can diagnose lung cancer based on symptoms, smoking history, medical history, earlier family history of lung cancer, and exposure to occupational and environmental materials. After the initial tests, an X-Ray can be used to make an affirmative diagnosis. Different tests are available to diagnose small cell or non-small lung cancer and to gauge the stage of the cancer. Medical professionals are also able to confirm whether the cancer is localized within the lung or has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment of lung cancer may be done by chemotherapy (cancer cells can be eliminated by medications), radiation therapy (eliminating the cancer cells by high-dose X-rays or other high-energy rays), or surgery (cancer removal). Treatment of advanced stage lung cancer is considered difficult with moderate success rate in early stage treatment.


As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you smoke, protect yourself from lung cancer by butting out for good. If you quit smoking now, you can gradually decrease your risk of cancer over the next 10 to 15 years as your lungs recover.