Transcript Lung Cancer - cellswikiquest

Lung Cancer
By Ella Mason.
Causes of Lung Cancer.
The main cause of lung cancer is smoking. Smoking causes cancer
because there is substances within tobacco that are known to
cause Cancer. These substances are known as carcinogens (which
means "cancer-causing agents"), and it is these carcinogens that
cause the actual damage to the cells in the lungs. A cell that is
damaged may become cancerous over a period of time. One
cannot predict which smoker is at greater risk of developing lung
cancer. In general, though, a smoker's chances of developing
cancer depends on: The age that the person began smoking; How
long the person has smoked; How many cigarettes per day the
person smokes; Passive smoking; breathing in someone else's
smoke; may also increase the risk for developing lung cancer.
To more causes
Causes of Lung Cancer
There are other causes of lung cancer not related to smoking. People who smoke
and who also are exposed to these other causes have an even higher risk for
lung cancer. These other causes include: Exposure to cancer-causing agents
through a person's job. This includes exposure to asbestos, either in the mining
or construction industries. Inhaled asbestos particles may remain in the lungs,
damaging lung cells. It also includes exposure to certain industrial substances
like coal products, vinyl chloride, nickel chromate, arsenic, and exposure to
some organic chemicals like chloromethyl ethers. Exposure to radiation, either
through one's occupation or for medical reasons, such as repeated x-rays,
though this is quite uncommon. Radon gas, which occurs naturally in rocks and
soil in certain areas, may cause lung damage and may eventually result in lung
cancer if it seeps into your home. The presence of radon in the home can be
measured using an inexpensive kit that can be purchased at department or
hardware stores. Research suggests that some people are more at risk for
developing cancer if their body is not as easily able to deal with certain cancercausing chemicals. This inability to neutralize cancer-causing chemicals is
believed to be inherited.Researchers also believe that in some people, when
they come into contact with certain cancer-causing agents, their immune
system, instead of neutralizing them, will actually make these agents more
aggressive within the body. Such people, therefore, would be more sensitive to
tobacco smoke and chemicals known to cause cancer.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer.
General symptoms of
lung cancer.
Less common symptoms of
lung cancer.
･Having a cough most of the time
･A change in a cough you have had
for a long time
･Being short of breath
･Coughing up phlegm (sputum)
with signs of blood in it
･An ache or pain when breathing or
coughing
･Loss of appetite
･Fatigue
･Losing weight
･A hoarse voice.
･Difficulty swallowing.
･Changes in the shape of your fingers
and nails called finger clubbing.
･Swelling of the face caused by a
blockage of a main blood vessel
from the head (SVCO) .
･Swelling in the neck caused by
enlarged lymph nodes.
･Pain or discomfort under your ribs on
your right side (from the liver).
･Shortness of breath caused by fluid
around the lungs (called pleural
effusion).
Cures of this disease.
Surgery can cure lung cancer, but only one in five patients are
suitable for this treatment. If the tumour has not spread
outside the chest and does not involve vital structures such as
the liver, then surgical removal may be possible, but only if
the patient does not also have severe bronchitis, heart disease
or other illnesses. These additional complications put too great
a strain on the patient for them to be able to stand surgery.
Small cell lung cancer is treated with chemotherapy. This is
given either by an oncologist (a specialist in cancer treatment)
or sometimes by a physician in chest diseases with special
experience in chemotherapy. It is given in courses which
means that the patient has to stay in hospital for about 48
hours approximately every three weeks. Popular
misconceptions about chemotherapy are common and there is
often concern about its perceived difficulties and usefulness.
However, there is no doubt that chemotherapy is effective and
that it both prolongs and improves the quality of survival in
small cell lung cancer.
Continuing
More cures for this disease.
The number of courses required will depend on how well the individual
patient responds.Chemotherapy does have side effects, particularly
nausea, vomiting and hair loss. However there are very good drugs to
control these side effects. Hair always grows again about three
months after the chemotherapy courses have finished. There is scope
for improving the results of chemotherapy and many research trials
are going on. Patients who are asked for their consent to take part in
a trial should not be frightened. Hundreds of patients take part in
trials to detect any benefit between one treatment regime and
another. This research must be done if cancer chemotherapy can
continue to improve. Non-small cell cancer may be treated with
radiotherapy, chemotherapy (as part of a research trial), or with
supportive care. Radiotherapy is either 'radical' or 'palliative'. Radical
is used in selected patients with localised tumors who are inoperable,
and involves using high doses of radiation.Palliative radiotherapy is
widely used. It involves using lower doses of radiation - often in just
one or two doses. It is very good for relieving symptoms, such as
blood in the sputum (haemoptysis), bone pain, and also for helping
obstruction to the airway or large veins in the chest.
BY ELLA MASON