Lung Cancer Awareness

Lung Cancer Treatment | Lung Cancer Information

This is why people with a lung tumor often do not develop symptoms until the cancer has reached an advanced stage.

Only about 10% of all lung cancer patients are eventually cured since most lung cancers are diagnosed at a relatively late stage. There is a 50% chance of death in less than a year if the person with lung cancer cannot be cured by surgery at the time the cancer is found.

Who's at Risk of Lung Cancer?
There are several risk factors, which can make you more likely to develop lung cancer. Different types of cancers have different risk factors. Even though there are several causes of lung cancer, researchers have found most of them are related to smoking.

Risk factors for small cell lung cancer include: Smoking cigarettes. This is the most well-known cause of lung cancer. This includes the smoking of cigarettes, cigars, or pipes in the past; Exposure to second hand smoke; Exposure to asbestos or radon.

Up to 90% of lung cancer patients are or have been smokers. Many of the 10% left have been exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke. Carcinogens in tobacco are dangerous substances that damage the cells in the lungs. These damaged cells can then become cancerous. The damaged cells in the lung tissue gradually return to normal if a person stops smoking before a cancer starts to develop.

The probability of a smoker developing cancer is difficult to predict, but in general developing cancer depends on: The age they began smoking; How long they have smoked; How many cigarettes per day they smoke.

Cigars and Pipes
Several factors also have to be taken into consideration as cigar and pipe smokers have a higher risk of lung cancer than non-smokers: The number of years someone smokes; The number of pipes or cigars they smoked per day; How deeply they inhaled. Even cigar and pipe smokers who don't inhale are at increased risk for lung, mouth, and other types of malignancy as well as the risk of developing lung cancer.

Marijuana
Marijuana contains more tar than cigarettes. In addition, Marijuana is inhaled very deeply and the smoke is held in the lungs for a long time. Many of the cancer-causing substances in tobacco are also found in marijuana.

A person who has had lung cancer once is more liable to develop a second lung cancer than a person who has never had the disease. Stopping smoking after lung cancer has been diagnosed helps prevent the development of a new lung cancer.

Gender
A gene called GRPR causes unusual cell growth in people exposed to cigarette smoke. This gene is more active in women than in men. This may explain why females are more prone to lung cancer than men.

Diet
Some evidence shows fruit and vegetables may protect against lung cancer. Research has shown a diet low in fruit and vegetables may increase the chances of developing cancer if exposed to tobacco smoke.

Disease
Certain lung diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB) can increase a person's chance of developing lung cancer. Lungs scarred from TB seem to develop adenocarcinoma lung cancer.

Some More Facts about Lung Cancer: Lung cancer kills more people than any other form of cancer. Only 10% of all lung cancer patients are eventually cured as most lung cancer is diagnosed at a relatively late stage. Eight out of ten lung cancers are due to tobacco smoke. The American Cancer Society estimates 164,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed yearly in the United States and an approximate 157,000 people die from the disease each year. This is a good reason to keep up with lung cancer awareness.