What is Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer, though largely preventable, claims the lives of at least 150,000 people in the United States each year. While approximately 87 percent of victims develop lung cancer from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, the remainder of victims-an alarming 19,500 people-develop and die from lung cancer not from tobacco but rather from exposure to dangerous substances, such as asbestos, silica dust, radon, and environmental pollutants.
These lung cancer figures, however, don’t even account for victims whose cause of lung cancer may have been misidentified: experts believe that thousands of people who were told their lung cancer was caused by smoking in fact developed the disease because of exposure to a toxic substance.
Nor do these lung cancer figures take into consideration people who both smoked and were exposed to the disease. According to the Mesothelioma Information and Research Group, studies have shown that smoking increases one’s risk of asbestos-related lung cancer by a factor of 10, while asbestos exposure alone increases the risk of lung cancer by a factor of five. But when a smoker is exposed to asbestos, he increases his or her lung cancer risk factor by about 50 times! Thus, if you have developed lung cancer, smoking alone-or at all-might not be to blame.
About Lung Cancer and Lung Metastases :
Lung cancer is similar to many other forms of cancer. Cancer, which is the uncontrollable division and replication of cells, usually originates in one part of the body. If left untreated most cancer, including lung cancer, may spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. This spread of lung metastases makes the cancer much more difficult to treat. Even if other organs are affected by lung metastases, the lung cancer is still considered to be cancer of the organ where it was first found. For example, if the disease initially develops in the lungs but lung metastases spreads it the brain, lymph nodes, or pancreas, it is still considered to be lung cancer.
As cancer cells replicate, they form growths called tumors. These tumors are malignant, meaning that they invade and destroy surrounding healthy cells and tissue. Once lung metastases of cancer cells spread, they can overpower the healthy or non-cancerous tissue in the body, ultimately resulting in death if not properly treated.
Tumors in the lungs are divided into two types: non-small lung cancer (including large cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma) and small cell lung cancer. Non-small lung cancer is by far the most common type of lung cancer. It spreads slowly and surfaces as one of three varieties: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. These types tend to remain isolated in the lungs, meaning lung metastases are less common among them. Conversely, small cell lung cancer is much more aggressive than non-small lung cancer and rapid formation of lung metastases in other organs in the body is likely. Both types are treatable if caught early, but neither is curable.
Lung Cancer Symptoms
The most common symptoms of lung cancer are as follows:
* Persistent cough that worsens over time
* Continual chest pains
* Coughing up or expectorating blood
* Shortness of breath, hoarseness, tightening in the chest
* Recurring pneumonia or bronchitis
* Inflammation of the face and neck
* Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
* Extreme exhaustion
The lung cancer symptoms mentioned above are the most common experienced by lung cancer patients. If you or a loved one is experiencing similar symptoms, or anything abnormal, it is important to visit a physician for testing. The symptoms of lung cancer can mimic those of other illnesses so it is important to report lung cancer-like symptoms to your doctor as soon as possible. It is also possible that lung cancer symptoms can fall outside of those outlined above. If you experience any symptoms of lung cancer, it is imperative to detect the disease quickly, as lung cancer can spread rapidly.
Lung Cancer Treatment Options:
Lung cancer treatment is currently not utilized as a cure. This is because there is currently no cure for any type of cancer, so doctors instead emphasize the importance of bringing about remission. Remission is the state in which there is no evidence of cancer cells left in the body. Since there are many different lung cancer treatments available to bring about this remission, lung cancer treatment is usually chosen based on location of the cancer, size and amount of tumors, and the patient’s overall state of health. Lung cancer treatments have proven effective in many cases, especially in those in which the lung cancer is detected early. Therefore, for effective lung cancer treatment, the symptoms of lung cancer must be detected as soon as possible.
If you have developed lung cancer (including asbestos-related lung cancer) or another lung disease and have been exposed to asbestos, silica dust, radon gas, and benzene, smoking may not be the cause of your illness. Contact a lung cancer attorney or asbestos attorney to discuss your legal rights.