Lung Cancer

Lauryn Cox

Health

Professor Carrington

3 March 2016

Due: 5 April 2016

Lung Cancer

When the cells in your body tend to grow out of control you more than likely have a disease called Cancer. Lung Cancer is also called Bronchogenic carcinoma is known one of the most common cancers in the world. Lungs are a pair of organs in your chest that are part of the Respiratory System. Your lungs expand with air when you breathe in which is how your body gets oxygen. When air goes out of your lungs you are breathing out which is your body gets ride of Carbon Dioxide. Lung Cancer occurs most often between the ages of 55 and 65. According to experts an estimate of over 200,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed each year. Apparently there would be more cases in men than women. Over 150,000 Americans die of the disease each year. In the United States it is also known as the number one cause of cancer death in both women and men.

About 42 percent of all adults smoked in 1965, but as of 2012, it appears that less than 17 percent of people 18 and older smoked cigarettes. Cigarette smoking rates dropped steadily in the 1990s and started to level off at the start of the 21st century. Mainly in younger populations, other forms of tobacco use have shown some revival. Smoking has stopped declining in recent years. In young adults smoking has actually increased by 73 percent in the 1990s. On top of smoking, being exposed to high levels of radiation, pollution, and asbestos may also increase your risk of Lung Cancer. Just to list a few of the symptoms of lung cancer there is chest pain, wheezing, and shortness of breath. To reduce your risk of lung cancer you can avoid smoking, avoid second hand smoke, and get your home tested for radon. Low-dose computed tomography is the screening test recommended for lung cancer.

There are two main types of Lung Cancer; small cell and non-small cell which is referred to as what the cancer cells look like under a microscope. Non-small cell lung cancer is said to be more common than small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer grows quicker and spread to other organs in the body. The stages of small cell are Occult, Stage 0, Stage I, Stage II, Stage IIIA, Stage IIIB, and Stage IV. The two stages of non-small cell are the Limited-Stage and the Extensive-Stage. Staging test can show the stage of the lung cancer. Staging test could include CT scan, PET scan, MRI, and a Bone scan.

 Surgery, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are ways lung cancer can be treated. When surgery has taken place an operation where doctors cut out the cancer tissue. Depending on where the tumor is located the surgeon may remove part of the lung, the lobe of the lung, or even the entire lung. Cancer cells are blocked to keep from growing or spreading during targeted therapy. Medicines are used to shrink or kill the cancer during chemotherapy. Anti-cancer drugs are given by injection or pill form. A catheter is a long thin tube temporarily placed in a large vein which is used when injecting the anti-cancer drugs. High energy rays are used to kill the cancer cells or shrink the tumor during radiation therapy. Radiation may be used by doctors before surgery to shrink a tumor or after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that remain in the treated area. It is important to eat healthy before, after, and during cancer treatment. Follow up care is needed after treatment for lung cancer. The checkups will help ensure that any changes in your health are noted and then treated if necessary because cancer may come back after treatment.