In the Uk 38,000 population are diagnosed with lung cancer every year. There are two types of lung cancer; small cell which occurs in 20% of cases and non-small cell which occurs in 80% of cases. Small cell lung cancer is the most risky as it travels straight through to other parts of the body early on and can get into the bloodstream or lymph law quite quickly. Non small cell lung cancer travels more gradually and if caught early can be successfully cured.
Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer although 10% of population with the disease have never smoked. The risk of lung cancer increases with the estimate of cigarettes smoked and the age of the smoker. If a person stops smoking the risks sell out swiftly and after 15 years the chances of developing lung cancer are the same as a non-smoker. Breathing in other people's cigarette smoke, known as passive smoking, increases the chances of getting lung cancer but the risks are far less than if you smoke yourself. Those who smoke cigars, pipes or cannabis have a lower risk of lung cancer than cigarette smokers but a far greater risk than non-smokers.
Radon gas in high concentrations is believed to add to the risk of developing lung cancer, this is a plainly occurring gas in some areas and you can get a radon detector to check the levels in your home. In rare cases caress with some chemicals and substances such as uranium, chromium and nickel can also cause lung cancer.
The symptoms of lung cancer can include:
A persistent or long standing cough
Chest infection
Increasing breathlessness
Coughing up blood
Loss of appetite and weight
Difficulty swallowing
Excessive tiredness and lethargy
It is important to get any of these symptoms checked out by a physician but any could be caused by an illness other than lung cancer.
Diagnosis starts with an exam by a Gp who may arrange for x-rays and tests to be conducted at a hospital. The hospital doctors may also do a Ct scan or spiral Ct scan which is a series of x-rays that build up a three-dimensional photograph of the inside of the body and can help find the site and size of the cancer; or a Bronchoscopy which is where the inside of the lung airways are examined with a bronchoscope. This is a thin flexible tube which is passed via the nose or mouth into the airways, the physician can then look straight through the bronchoscope to check for abnormalities. Photographs and biopsies can be taken at the same time.
Small cell lung cancer is ordinarily treated with chemotherapy which enables the patient to live longer with great operate of the symptoms. Unless small cell lung cancer is found very early surgical operation is not ordinarily done because the cancer will have spread to other parts of the body before being diagnosed. Sometimes radiotherapy is given to the head to prevent the cancer spreading to the brain and in industrialized cases of small cell lung cancer it is used to effectively relax symptoms such as pain.
Non small cell lung cancer is treated differently depending on the stage of the cancer; at an early stage surgical operation can be used to take off the cancer and is often followed up with chemotherapy. Radiotherapy may also be used on patients not fit sufficient or selecting not to have surgery. In industrialized stages chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used, sometimes a blend of the two. These are used to say a good ability of life for as long as potential and relive pain.
Lung Infection Symptoms:Lung Cancer - Symptoms, Diagnosis, rehabilitation and Care
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