Lung Cancer: The Root to Death “You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it”. In 2015, about 158,040 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer. This is about 27% of all cancer deaths. There are more than 200,00 cases of lung cancer per year. This cancer of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs is the reason for the death of men and women of all races today. The only option left is to stay strong and educate yourself on this horrendous disease before you become the next victim.
The Killer Ways According to Lung Cancer 101, there are two major types of ung cancer that people are mostly affected with today. They are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is about the leading case for about 85% of lung cancers. There are four stages to non-small cell lung cancer. The higher the stage gets, the most damage the cancer will do to your body. Stage 1 is when the cancer is located in the lung and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes. Stage 2 is when the cancer is in the lung and is located near the lymph nodes.
Stage 3 is when the cancer is in the lung and in the lymph nodes at the middle of he chest. This stage has 2 subtypes. Subtype 1 is if the cancer has spread to the lymph at the same area of the chest where the cancer started; this is called IIIA. Subtype 2 is if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes at the opposing side of the chest, it is called IIIB. Lastly, stage 4 is the most advanced stage of the cancer. The cancer has spread to both sides of the lungs and is detected at other parts of the body such as the liver or organ. It seems that stages 1 and 2 are the most difficult to detect.
This can be dangerous because if the cancer isn’t etected early on enough, it won’t be stopped in time before it reaches the other 2 stages. Most people usually have stages 3 and 4. Small cell cancer is the cause of the remaining 15% of lung cancers in the United States. It is caused from smoking and is affected by it more than non-small lung cancer. It grows more rapidly and spreads to other parts of the body faster than non- small cell lung cancer. There are two stages of small cell lung cancer. They are the limited stage and the extensive stage.
The limited stage is when the cancer is found on one side of the chest and is nearby lymph nodes. This is involving only one part of the lungs. The extensive stage is when the cancer has spread to other parts of the chest and body. Causes and Risks of the Horror Cancer Research UK states, there are many causes and risks of lung cancer. Smoking happens to be the largest cause of lung cancer. The more you smoke, the more likely you are of getting lung cancer. But, the length of how long you smoke is more important than how many cigarettes you smoke a day. If you start smoking at a young age, that is even more harmful than smoking as an adult.
Stopping smoking early enough reduces he change of lung cancer compared to continuing smoking. Also, breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke increases risks of lung cancer. But it is still much more dangerous if you smoke yourself. There are some other things that increase lung cancer risks. They are pollution (either air or in general), exposure to radon gas, exposure to certain chemicals, and lowered immunity. In air pollution, it depends on the amount or levels you are exposed to. The air we breathe in is filled with cancer-causing substances. There are some amounts of air that cause cancer more than other do, such as polluted air.
When exposed to radon gas, tiny amounts of radioactive gas presented in all rocks and soils is find in the air you breathe. This gas can build up gas in homes and other buildings. Radon is one of the biggest causes after smoking of lung cancer. Living in a radon gas area is even more dangerous than smoking. When exposed to certain chemicals is when the chemicals include asbestos, silica. Exposure to asbestos in the construction industry and shipbuilding is much lower and dangerous than it was in the 1960s. But asbestos is still a cause of lung cancer because cancer takes long to develop.
Silica is used glass making which may cause a condition that heightens the risk of lung cancer. Lower immunity can be lowered by HIV and AIDS. So do drugs that people take after their organ transplants. People with AIDS and HIV have a higher risk of lung cancer that is 3 times higher than people without HIV and AIDS. People who also take drugs that lower their immunity after their organ transplant doubles the usual risk of lung cancer. Myths and Legends: The Truth Unfolds There are many beliefs and myths that people think about lung cancer. According to Lynne Eldridge from Lungevity, here are a ew that have been proven wrong.
Myth 1: Only smokers get lung cancer. That isn’t quite true. The majority of people that develop lung cancer are people who used to smoke or non smokers. Myth 2: People believe that they are too young to receive lung cancer. Although Ilung cancer is mostly common in older people, it can occur in younger people and even children. Myth 3: There is nothing that can be done to lower risks of lung cancer. Avoiding smoking can lower your risk of lung cancer but also being aware of the causes of lung cancer can lower your risks of lung cancer. Myth 4: Surgery causes lung cancer to spread.
Surgery does not cause lung cancer to spread and in some cases, if you are in an early stage of lung cancer, surgery can offer a chance to cure the disease. Myth 5: More women die from Breast Cancer than from lung cancer. Nearly half of lung cancer cases occur in women and more women die from lung cancer than any other form of cancer. Also, in 2005 69,078 women died from lung cancer while 41, 116 from breast cancer. Effects of Disaster Lung Cancer 101 also states, the signs and symptoms of lung cancer take many years to develop and they are usually found fter the cancer is advanced.
The cancer usually starts in the chest then spreads to other parts of the body. Symptoms in the Body: coughing (especially if it becomes intense) pain in the chest shoulder or back pain usually unrelated from coughing a change of color of sputum shortness of breath changes in the sound of voice or it becoming hoarse harsh sounds with each intake of breath recurrent lung problems like bronchitis or pneumonia coughing up phlegm especially if it’s tinged with blood coughing up blood Common places for the cancer to spread include parts of the ungs and lymph nodes, bones, brain liver, and adrenal glands.
Symptoms elsewhere in the body: Unexplained weight loss Muscle wasting Fatigue Headaches Bone or joint pain bone fracture not to accidental injuries Unsteady gait or memory loss neck or facial swelling general weakness bleeding blood clots What is the Treatment for Lung Cancer? There are 4 treatments for non-small cell cancer. They are surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy, and Targeted treatments. Each of these of treatments have different side effects. Most stage 1 and 2 non-small lung cancer cancers are treated with urgery. A surgeon would remove the section of the lung that is containing the tumor.
Chemotherapy is required after the tumor has been removed. This helps stop the cancer from returning. People with stage 3 cannot get the tumor removed. So doctors recommended Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments. In stage 4 lung cancer, Chemotherapy is the main treatment. Radiation is only used to lessen or relieve the cancer but doesn’t cure it. Sometimes, they do not work. They may only stay away for a while and the the cancer comes back. In this case, doctors uggest a second course of drug treatment or referred to second-line Chemotherapy.
Targeted therapies are designed to specially attack cancer cells by attaching to blocking targets that appear on the surface of the cancer cell. People with advanced non-small lung cancer receive Target therapies and Chemotherapy together. The treatments are Tarceva, Avastin, and Xalkon. Tarceva blocks a specific kind of receptor on the cell’s surface which is the epidermal growth factor receptor. Avastin is a substance that stimulates blood vessels to penetrate tumors, and supply oxygen, minerals, and other utrients to feed the tumor.
Lastly, Xalkon stops the growth of the tumor and stops mutations of the tumor. Small cell cancer also use Chemotherapy, Radiation, and surgery. Regardless of the stage lung cancer, Chemotherapy is part of the treatment. Radiation is used depending on the stage of cancer. For people with limited stage small cell lung cancer, a combination of Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy given at the same time is the recommended treatment. For people with extensive stage small cell lung cancer, Chemotherapy alone using EP regimen is the right treatment.
Radiation therapy of the brain may be used before or after Chemotherapy for some people where the cancer has reached their brains. A very small percentage of people with limited-stage small cell lung cancer and no lymph nodes may mostly benefit from surgery. Treatment Side Effects The body’s reaction to Chemotherapy, Radiation, or Targeted treatment depends on the length of the treatment, dosage prescribed, and a person’s health history. Some side effects are short term while others can last throughout your treatment and even some time afterwards. Doctors now have ways to lessen and prevent sides effects from treatment.
Blood Issues: Cancer that starts in or spreads to the bones can to bone pain and increase risk complications including weakening of the bone, fractures, and high calcium levels in the blood. Cancer treatments may also affect your bones. Dental Issues: Some effects from cancer treatment may include tooth decay and other mouth issues including dry mouth and mouth sores. Pain: If you are experiencing pain as a result of your cancer, or its treatment, you should know that managing this pain is an important part of your overall care and should be brought to the attention of your physician.
Rash: a type of Targeted treatment can often cause rashes and other bothersome skin conditions. These are a few of the many effects of treatments. Others include bone disease, blood clots, Diarrhea, and hair loss. This deadly disease has cause pain and grief in the lives of others. not many realize how bad this can get before it’s too late. ” Remember, there are still some people out there who are supporting the fighters, admiring the survivors, and remembering the take and and never, ever giving up hope. “