INTRODUCTION TO LUNG CANCER:

Lung cancer also known as lung carcinoma, is the cancer of lungs. Cancer is characterized by excessive, uncontrolled cell division. Our body is composed of tiny building blocks called cells. The process of division and growth of these cells is highly controlled but this control can get upset due to some genetic  or environmental issues. During normal condition our cells grow when our body need them and die when our body does not need them.

 But in cancer, our body cells grow excessively without any control and form a mass of cells called tumor. This tumor can be benign (localized) or may invade to other parts of body and then grow there forming cancer there (metastasis), these are called malignant tumors.  In lung cancer, cancer originates in the epithelial cells and may invade to the other organs (such as lymph nodes, spleen, bones, brain or liver)  depending upon the type and stage of lung cancer.

 Lungs are a vital organ of our body and the lung cancer can cause serious problems in our body. Lung cancer is characterized by excessive, uncontrolled cell division in the tissues of lungs. Depending upon the types of cells of lungs where cancer occurs, lung cancer can be carcinoma or lymphoma.

The origin of lung carcinoma are the transformed, malignant cells that originate as epithelial cells or from the tissues which are composed of epithelial cells. Whereas sarcoma is the malignant transformation of the connective tissues such as nerve cells or fat cells which are mesenchyma cells. Lymphomas and melanomas (which originate in lymphoid and melanocyte cell lineage) also occurs rarely.

INTRODUCTION TO LUNGS:

 Lungs are our respiratory organs which are responsible for the exchange of gases in our body. Lungs are spongy, air filled and are present on the either side of chest cavity. They space between the lungs is called mediastinum  which comprises of other vital organs such as heart, spleen, thymus gland, liver and portions of trachea and esophagus etc.

CAUSES OF LUNG CANCER:

Following are the risk factors of the lung cancer:

•   Smoking
•  Passive smoking
•   Pollution
•  Radon gas
•  Radiation therapy to the chest
• Exposure to x-rays

SYMPTOMS OF LUNG CANCER:

The symptoms of lung cancer vary from person to person, but mainly symptoms include illness related to lungs. Some patients may have illness in the other parts of the body (in patients where lung cancer has been metastasized). The true symptoms do not come to light until lung cancer has get advanced. The detection of lung cancer at the early stages is rare. Followings are the symptoms of lung cancer:

•   Coughing that do not go away and get worse
•  Coughing with blood
•   Chest pain
•   Shortening of breath
•  Wheezing
•   Fever
•   Feeling tired most of the times without any reason
•   Weight loss

PREVENTIONS OF LUNG CANCER:

There are many preventions which are recommended to lower the risk of lung cancer.

·         Don’t smoke

·         Avoid passive or secondhand smoking

·         Take steps to avoid polluted air

·         Get your home tested for radon

·         Be cautious at your workplace if some kind of radiations are present there