Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the lungs The lungs are a pair of organs, located in the chest cavity, involved in the exchange of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide.
Lung cancer is generally responsible for the majority of cancer deaths in both men and women. More people die from lung cancer each year than colon, prostate, ovarian, and breast cancer combined.
Smokers have the highest risk of developing lung cancer The risk of lung cancer increases with the duration of smoking and the amount of tobacco If you quit smoking, even after years of smoking, your risk of cancer will be significantly reduced
Smoking is the cause of most cases of lung cancer, both in smokers and from second-hand smoke in non-smokers. Lung cancer sometimes develops in people who have never smoked or inhaled secondhand smoke. In such cases, the cause of lung cancer is unknown
How does smoking cause lung cancer Doctors think that smoking causes lung cancer by damaging the cells When you inhale cigarette smoke, the carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) in it cause changes in lung tissue. Changes are starting very soon
Initially, the body is able to "repair" the damage, but with long-term damage, normal cells become more damaged over time, degenerate, and cancer develops.
Types of lung cancer Doctors divide lung cancer into two main categories based on the microscopic types of cells involved The treatment plan is determined according to these types The two main categories are:
- Small cell lung cancer This type of cancer occurs mainly in smokers and is rarer than the second category
- Non-small cell lung cancer This type of cancer includes several subtypes: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Subtypes are united because they share similar characteristics
Lung cancer is rarely symptomatic in its early stages Signs and symptoms usually appear as the cancer progresses
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer include:
- Cough that won't go away
- Cough change (unlike "smoker's cough")
- Blood sputum, even in small amounts
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
If you smoke and cannot quit, consult your doctor It recommends certain strategies to quit smoking, such as counseling, nicotine replacement products
