The Intricate Details of Lung Carcinoma

Lung cancer is by far more deadly than breast cancer. Many people are terrified by breast cancer but lung cancer claims more lives than breast annually does annually.

Actually, lung cancer is one of the world’s leading killer cancers .

The survival rate for people diagnosed with localized lung cancer (cancer that hasn’t yet spread outside the lungs) stands at 17%. That means, out of 1000 people with localized lung cancer, only 170 of them stand a chance of surviving 5 years ahead of the date of diagnosis.

Unfortunately, these digits reduce if the patient is diagnosed with regional lung cancer. This means that the cancer cells have already moved outside the lungs. When these cells move farther outside the lungs to the nearby blood vessels or lymph nodes, the survival rate stands at 35%. This means half of the number of people diagnosed with regional lung cancer will die in less than a year after diagnosis.

That’s how deadly lung cancer is.

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is the type of cancer that starts from the lungs. If not diagnosed and treated in its early stage, lung cancer can spread to other body parts or organs (metastasis)

Types of lung cancer

There are two main categories of lung cancer.

1. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: This is the most common type of lung cancer. 80-85% of all cancer cases are Non-Small cell lung cancer cases. For people diagnosed with Localized non small cell lung cancer, their survival rate stands at 65%. Well, for people with regional non small cell lung cancer, their survival rate stands at 35%

Small Cell lung cancer(SCLC): Also known as small cell carcinoma, small cell lung cancer is the second type of lung cancer. SCLC isn’t as popular as NSCLC. It grows rapidly but fortunately, it responds readily to chemotherapy. There is another subdivision of Small cell lung cancer called “combined small cell carcinoma”

Causes of lung cancer

1. Smoking

2. Second-hand smoke(equally deadly as active smoking)

3. Exposure to asbestos

4. Exposure to random as a chemical.

5. Family history(cancer record)

How does smoking cause cancer?

Cigarettes contain more than 7000 chemicals of which many are carcinogens. When you smoke, these chemicals are induced into the lungs hence they diffuse into the body through the blood and lymph systems. After diffusing into the body, they alter the orderly cell division process

When the process of cell division is altered, abnormal cells multiply uncontrollably hence forming cancerous tumors.

And since DNA is the genesis of life, anything that interferes with your DNA could be calling for a very fatal if not risky condition for your body as a whole. Chemicals found in cigarettes are very capable of altering your DNA.

How to avoid lung cancer

90% of lung cancer cases are associated with smoking. So, the best way to prevent lung cancer is to stop smoking. If you do not smoke yet, please do not start.

Just a summary for you;

What is lung cancer?

This is the type of cancer that starts from the lungs

What is the survival rate for people diagnosed with lung cancer?

The survival rate is for people diagnosed with cancer is 17% if discovered and medications start early enough.

What are the types of lung cancer?

Nonsmall cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer

Is lung cancer curable?

If diagnosed early, lung cancer can be highly curable

What is the treatment for lung cancer?

The treatment may be a chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or even a surgery

What are the signs of lung cancer

1. A cough with blood that gets intense

2. Pain in the thoracic area

3. Feeling extremely weak and tired.

4. Pain in the chest area when you laugh talk or walk.

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This article number 3 of the cancer series.