According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2014), lung cancer begins in lungs and may spread to lymph nodes or other organs in the body, lung cancer is categorized into two main types, but the most common type is non-small cell lung cancer. This type’s name is based on how the cancer cell shapes under a microscope. Lung cancer is considered a deadly disease for both genders. According to the American Lung Association (n.d.), in this current year, 13% of all cancer diagnoses and 27% of all cancer deaths in the United States have been because of the lung cancer disease. In addition, in this year, approximately 158,040 people in America, both men and women, are estimated to die from lung cancer. The principal reason that …show more content…
Radon is a natural gas that comes from rocks and dirt and gets trapped in houses or buildings. It cannot be detected (CDC, 2014). The United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO) says that radon is a worldwide health risk in homes. Dr. Maria Neira of WHO said that "Most radon-induced lung cancers occur from low and medium dose exposures in people's homes. Radon is the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking in many countries." According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2015), radon causes approximately 20,000 cases of lung cancer each year. Nearly 7% of the houses in the U.S is considered to have high radon levels.
Another factor to lung cancer is substances that are used at workplaces. They also can increase the potential of getting lung cancer. Examples of those substances are, asbestos, arsenic, diesel, exhaust and forms of silica and chromium, such as crystalline silica and inhaled chromium (CDC, 2014), (EPA,
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CDC (2014) explains that if the patient has a cancer growth in lungs, there are several kinds of treatments that contingent upon the type of the lung cancer whether it is Non-small, which is the most common, or small cell lung cancer. However, when lung cancer is diagnosed, additional tests are done to know how far the cancer has spread through the lungs, lymph nodes, or the other organs. These tests or process are called staging. The type and stage of lung cancer clarifies to the doctor what kind of treatment is
Lung cancer has always been more common in men, particularly those aged over 40. However, as fewer men smoke now rates have fallen, and deaths due to lung cancer continue to drop. Meanwhile lung cancer rates increased among women until the 1980s as more took up smoking. Although rates among women have stabilised, deaths due to lung cancer tare higher than a decade ago and the disease now claims more lives than breast cancer.
What are lung cancers? Lung cancers are the abnormal cells which grow in uncontrolled manner in one or both lungs. They do not function as normal lung cells and do not develop into healthy lung tissue. The abnormal cells can grow, form tumours and interfere with the normal functions of the lung (Lungcancer.org, 2015). Lung cancers can be divided into two major types, namely non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancers (SCLC). NSCLC can be further classified into three main subtypes, namely adenocarcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma and large-cell carcinoma (Longo & Harrison, 2012). Lung cancers can be diagnosed by chest X-ray, computerised tomography (CT) scan, positron emission tomography-computerised tomography (PET-CT) scan, bronchoscopy and biopsy (Nhs.uk, 2015). Unfortunately, lung cancers are often diagnosed at the later stages. This is due to the unrecognisable symptoms and warning signs at the earlier stages. NSCLC are often diagnosed at stage IV which accounts for 30-40% of cases whereas 60% of SCLC is diagnosed at stage IV. Lung cancer usually originates from the cells lining the bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. Carcinogens especially tobacco smoke will alter the gene expression of the normal human lung cells, resulting in cell mutation. The proto-oncogenes will be converted to mutated form, oncogenes. Mutation leads to the decreased expression of the tumour suppressor genes. This results in uncontrolled cell proliferation, cell
A doctor can diagnose lung cancer through many tests. The doctor can have x-rays and CAT scans done to see what the inside of the lungs look like. By doing this that doctor is able to see what stage the cancer is in. A doctor may also do a test called a bronchoscope. This test allows the doctor to look inside the bronchial tubes and biopsy the tumor. The doctor then can take a small amount of the cells to study them to determine if the unusual cells are cancerous. If the cells turn out to be cancerous then the patient is in for many months even years of harsh treatment.
A common form of cancer that is very popular today is lung cancer. Lung cancer is a very dangerous form that can cause problems in simple body functions. These simple body functions are short breath and general fatigue. Lung cancer is commonly formed from smokers that has been exposed to that activity for numerous years. Lung cancer can also be spread by being exposed to asbestos or other pollutants. This form of cancer has many risk factors to it. These risk factors are high levels of air pollution, arsenic drinking water, and radon gas. Radon gas is a gas that is highly radioactive and is very sensitive to the body. Once radon is exposed to the body, it has a very high respiration rate which initially divide its radioactive cells- causing more significant damage to the body.
Lung Cancer, like any other type of cancer, is the uncontrollable growth of cells in the lung tissue. The main causes that contribute to lung cancer include inhaling carcinogens (basically, smoking), exposure to ionizing radiation, viral infections and even air pollution. These factors basically damage the tissues lining the bronchi in the lung, leading the cancer to develop further (Vaporciyan & Nesbitt JC, 2000). Primary lung cancers that develop in the epithelial tissues of the lung are known as carcinomas and claim the top spot in terms of leading cancer-related death causes. As of 2004, lung cancer
Lung Cancer Staging is a way of describing a cancer, such as the size of the tumor and where it has spread. Staging is the most important tool doctors have to determine a
Preventative Measures: The main way to avoid having lung cancer is not to smoke and to avoid taking in second hand smoke, but also stay away from radon gas and asbestos. Certain types of mining and farming can cause exposure to harmful asbestos and radon. It is best to stay away from these kinds of fumes, dust and other dangerous chemicals. A certain nutrient called phytoestrogen which is found in legumes, whole grains, soy products and vegetables reduces the risk of developing lung cancer. Coal products,
Lung cancer can be caused by multiple factors and many factors can work together to cause someone to have lung cancer. Besides smoking, radon, secondhand smoke, the environment and someone’s occupation can all cause lung cancer. As we already know smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer cases worldwide and over forty-three million people just in the United States smoke cigarettes. There are more than fifty chemicals in tobacco smoke that are ingested each time someone smokes. Some of these chemicals include benzene (which can be found in pesticides and gasoline), Formaldehyde (which preserve dead bodies), pesticides (which are found on lawns and gardens) and Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (Martin, 2012). When a person inhales the chemicals in cigarettes, they inhale thousands of poisons, toxic metals, and
There are clinical trials that are working through new chemotherapy regimens, precision medicine or targeted therapy, ALCHEMIST, AGFR, angiogenesis inhibitors, cryotherapy, and IGRT. Surgery includes pneumonectomies, segmentectomies, lobectomies, and thoractomies. A pneumonectomy is the removal of the entire lung; a segmentectomy is the removal of a small segment of the lung; a lobectomy is the removal of a lobe of the lung; and a thoracotomy is the removal of cancerous lung tissues. In some cases, chemotherapy will follow up a surgery for lung cancer. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat a disease. With cancer, there is adjuvant chemotherapy and preoperative chemotherapy. Adjuvant is after surgery while preoperative is before surgery. If a patient is of advanced age, or has other medical conditions that will make it harder for the patient to undergo surgery, they can have radiation done. Radiation uses high energy particles or waves to damage cancer cells. Lastly there is a combination of these techniques. A patient can have radiation before a surgery, chemotherapy before a surgery or after, or a patient can have a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. A patient can pick any way they would like, but the choice needs to look at how the patient is doing, what stage they are in, any other medical problems, and how they want to feel going through all of
Lung cancer is a very common to be diagnosed with and harmful to anyone who is exposed to many resources around the world: smoking (first hand and second hand) and pollution. Any resource that is made up of chemicals that are exposed into the air that people breathe, give the risk of affecting others with lung cancer. However, since smoking is the most popular way to cause lung cancer, many people are exposed to it from either firsthand or second hand. First hand smoking is when the person being affected is indirect contact with the source that is giving off the toxins, while secondhand is when the one being affected is not directly connected to the main source. Either way the chemicals and toxins that come from harmful resources soon will build up and affect one’s normal body
For this assignment, I have decided to speak on the harmful environmental health effects of radon exposure. Despite the fact that EPA considers Chicago counties at moderate risk of radon toxicity, 42% of homes tested throughout Illinois showed dangerously elevated levels (Chicago parent, 2009). Radon is a natural radioactive gas without odor, color or taste. Its detection can only be made using special equipment. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer related deaths in the US. Lung disease is a main source of tumor death
With more than 1.61 million cases recognized annually lung carcinoma is that the leading cause behind cancer connected loss of life among men and second main cause in the back of loss of life in women worldwide [Jemal et al., 2011]. Morphologically the lung cancer is divided into small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and adenocarcinoma (AC), with non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) accounting for 80% of all cases. [Brambilla et al., 2001]. The medical accomplishment in two decades has provided least effect on the treatment of the most cancers, the overall five year survival rate of NSCLC is roughly 15%.
Radon Gas is a rising issue in our daily lives, as it is emerging to become a problematic issue globally. Radon is an odorless, colourless gas that can be harmful to both adults and children. The gas enters your house through the ground and it is made from the breakdown of uranium in the soil (Health Canada). The gas has a concentration in the winter compared to other times in the year (Government of Canada). The amount of radon in your house also depends on 3 other factors. These 3 factors are how much uranium is in the ground near your house, how well your home is ventilated and the amount of entry points(Government of Canada). However, there are ways to prevent it from entering your home. The gas emerges from the ground and enters your body when you
Stage 2 and Stage 3 cancer has invaded the chest (if large tumors are present its stage 3)
It was one thought that lung cancer was strictly caused by lifestyle choices, but over the past years, it has been shown that lifestyle isn’t the thing that can potentially allow one to contract lung cancer. The environment along with tobacco use and genetics can also play a role in contracting lung cancer. In an industrial world, pollution has been a reoccurring problem. With emissions from vehicles and industrial power plants, air pollution and/or smog has been hovering over us. In places like China who are thriving in the industrial world, are being greatly affected by air pollution. According to Brody, “In Asia, lung cancer is alarmingly