| Lung cancer is a respiratory disease. It is the | | | | are found in nearby lymph nodes. |
| leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and | | | | - Drugs |
| women in the United States with more than | | | | - Radiation and chemotherapy Radiation is used to |
| 170,000 cases being diagnosed each year. The | | | | treat localized lesions and malignancies not |
| level of occurrences for women is rising rapidly. | | | | treatable by surgery. Chemotherapy is especially |
| Unfortunately, early treatment for the disease is | | | | prescribed for oat-cell carcinoma. |
| rare because early detection is rare. | | | | Prevention and recommendation |
| Risks factors: What are the causes. Facts about | | | | Early detection of the symptoms is rare. Even |
| this disease. How do you get it? | | | | though it is highly recommended that proper |
| - Cigarette smoking is the main cause of this | | | | screening for cancer symptoms be done regularly |
| disease and is believed to be responsible for over | | | | because early recognition of their symptoms is |
| 80% of the occurrences. Cigarette smoking is not | | | | crucial for successful treatment and recovery, |
| only the chief cause of this cancerous growth in | | | | generally, by the time lung cancer symptoms are |
| the lung, it is also the single biggest cause of | | | | evident, metastasis has already taken place. |
| cancer deaths. Ironically, it is one of the most | | | | The symptoms for this disease, unfortunately, |
| preventable causes of cancer deaths in our | | | | are usually detected when the disease is already |
| society. | | | | advanced. It is of absolute importance, therefore, |
| - Other causes of malignancy in the lung include | | | | that serious efforts at prevention be undertaken. |
| over exposure to asbestos, arsenic, beryllium, | | | | Preventative efforts that should be undertaken |
| chromium, coal products, ionizing radiation, iron | | | | include the following: |
| oxide, nickel, petroleum, uranium, and various | | | | - Quit smoking. Since cigarette smoking is the |
| other chemicals. | | | | single biggest cause of cancer deaths and the |
| Detecting lung cancer early is difficult. The | | | | most preventable cause of cancer death in our |
| symptoms of this malignancy include: | | | | society, cessation of smoking is the single biggest |
| - Persistent cough | | | | preventive action in combating this lung disease. |
| - Breathing difficulty | | | | - Another good practice is to start getting |
| - Wheezing and fatigue | | | | educated about the dangers of not only cigarette |
| - Chronic upper respiratory tract infections | | | | smoking but also about the dangers of over |
| - Pus or blood-streaked sputum | | | | exposure to asbestos and environmental irritants. |
| - Chest tightness or chest pain | | | | - Adopt a healthy life style |
| - Repeated attacks of bronchitis or pneumonia | | | | In reiteration, prevention is one's best defense |
| Dealing with the effects of lung cancer and finding | | | | against this disease. By the time the symptoms |
| a cure for it is rather illusive especially given the | | | | are noticed, the prognosis is usually poor and the |
| fact that early detection is difficult. | | | | long term survival rate is not good. The statistics |
| Traditional treatment | | | | for this malignancy are not promising. Even if the |
| - Surgery Surgery is the most effective | | | | disease is localized, the survival rate is only 35% |
| treatment, but only one-half of the cases can be | | | | and the overall average survival rate for all |
| treated by surgery by the time the disease is | | | | persons afflicted with the disease is only 13%. |
| detected. Surgery is not performed if cancer cells | | | | |