Having the information right lung cancer can make it easier for patients and their families to cope with this disease. Knowledge can empower decisions and help those involved in the entire treatment process.Definition
Lung cancer starts in the tissues of the lung, the lining of the airways (squamous cell), or in the spaces between the organs in the chest cavity. They are grouped in non-small cell and small cell types (NSCLC and SCLC, resp.) Doctors diagnose the type and stage of disease based on test results from samples of throat culture, chest imaging and biopsies. This disease is the leading cause of cancer-related death of men and women around the world.
Risk Factors
Certain conditions and lifestyle habits increase the chances of developing either NSCLC or SCLC. Smokers have higher risk, such as cigarette smoke contains about sixty carcinogenic compounds. Being around secondhand smoke is also dangerous. Other contributing factors include obesity, physical inactivity and pipe and chewing snuff.
Many chemicals found in the environment and the air we breathe are also carcinogenic. Exposure to asbestos can cause a form of cancer called mesothelioma that often begins in the protective lining around the lungs. Radon, arsenic, nickel and chromium are cancer-causing agents. Radon is specifically for the National Institute of Health, and that is odorless, invisible and can be found in the home.