Information and Often Submitted Inquiries About Lung Cancer

For answers to your questions and facts about lung cancer, read on for details about causes of the disease, how it’s treated and how it can be prevented.

Is there more than one type of lung cancer?

There are two types of lung cancer – non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. The two types are distinguishable because of how the cancer cells expand, grow and spread throughout the body.

There are three types of non-small cell lung cancer (the most common form of lung cancer). They are adenocarcinoma, squamus cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma. Though rarer, small cell lung cancer occurs in approximately a quarter of all people diagnosed with lung cancer.

Can I prevent lung cancer?

There are three ways to prevent lung cancer – quit smoking, avoid second-hand smoke and stay away from air-borne carcinogens at work. If you’re concerned about your risk of developing lung cancer, avoiding tobacco smoke is typically your best defense.

What are the major causes of lung cancer?

The primary cause of lung cancer in most cases is smoking tobacco products. Of all the facts about lung cancer, this is the most critical and apparent. The carcinogens in tobacco smoke will damage cells. Other causes include exposure to carcinogens like asbestos or radon. Genetics may also play a role in the prevalence of the disease.

How do doctors detect lung cancer?

The early stages of lung cancer typically don’t exhibit any symptoms. The only sure-fire way to detect the disease is with a chest X-ray.

For a confident diagnosis, a biopsy is required. When a doctor performs a biopsy, he or she removes a small amount of tissue from the lung to test it for cancerous cells.

Does lung cancer have any symptoms?

Most lung cancer symptoms don’t appear until after the disease has reached the later stages. That said, the symptoms include constant coughing or wheezing, loss of appetite, chest pains, upper abdomen pains, bronchitis or pneumonia, blood being coughed up, general fatigue, a persistent hoarse voice and a dry, sore throat.

Can lung cancer be treated and how?

Lung cancer can be treated, but the treatments will depend on how far advanced the disease has progressed, the patient’s strength and the type of lung cancer. Lung cancer is typically treated with one of – or a combination of – chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

Is mesothelioma a type of lung cancer?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer that is typically caused by asbestos exposure. The disease attacks the delicate skin lining of the lungs, and tumors form.

Are men or women more at risk?

Female smokers are twice as likely to develop lung cancer than male smokers.

I’m older and a smoker, will quitting really help me?

Yes, quitting at any age can help prevent lung cancer. The risk of developing lung cancer is reduced dramatically each year a person smokes – whether that person is 20 or 70. Of all the facts about lung cancer, probably the most saddening is that the majority of cases are preventable.

About the Author:For helpful information on various cancers, please visit cancerinfotips.com, a popular site providing symptom and treatment insights, such as a kidney cancer symptoms, immune system supplements, and many more!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Information and Often Submitted Inquiries About Lung Cancer

Related articles by Cancer Treatment Pro
lung cancer

Cisplatin: Product review for lung cancer chemotherapy

Cisplatin these drug are mostly used in the initial lung cancer treatment. Efficiency of this drug in combination with other drugs is being explored by a few of scientist these past few years. In year 2008, United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the combination of cisplatin and alimta as a first line lung cancer treatment. In combination with other drug that against of advance non small cell lung cancer especially maligant pleural mesothelioma.

In year 2007, based on Journal of National Cancer Institute has stated that cisplatin has more effective response rate than carboplatin in the advance non small cell lung cancer treatment. Carboplatin is a form lung cancer chemotherapy agent and used for treatment many types of cancer especially ovarian and non small cell lung cancer. Another similar finding from Science Daily, in year 2008. Andrea Ardizzoni, M.D., of University Hospital in Parma, Italy, he and his colleague conducted a review of nine randomized trials comparing the survival of 2,968 non small cell lung cancer patients who received either cisplatin or carboplatin, finding showed that patients who under treatment with cisplatin lived longer than those treated with carboplatin.

Cisplatin chemotherapy is usually given as a course of several sessions (or cycles) of treatment over a few months. The length of your treatment and the number of cycles you have will depend on the type of cancer for which you are being treated. Cisplatin is sometimes given alongside other chemotherapy drugs as part of a combination regimen. Your nurse or doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.

These results suggest that cisplatin produces slightly better response rates than carboplatin and may also improve survival in some patients.

About the Author:Author Tony Koay, Malaysia. More info please visit www.earthrises.net
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Cisplatin: Product review for lung cancer chemotherapy

Related articles by Cancer Treatment Pro
lung cancer

Cancer Treatment | Best Cancer Treatment

www.YourGoodHealthInfo.com — Cancer Treatment Suggestions for successful search on cancer treatment. Offers a single source on cancer treatment related issues, topics and guide. If you would like to learn more about cancer treatment, you can do so by visiting us at: www.YourGoodHealthInfo.com

New Test May Reveal An Otherwise Undectable Sign Of Lung Cancer

Early detection improves chances of survival in lung cancer patients. So any form of detection that can amplify a sign of lung cancer can lead to earlier treatment and better success of eradication.

British scientists are developing a “breathalyzer” which may revolutionize the detection of lung cancer in its early stages. The device works by detecting ethane, which is released by cancerous cells in the lungs and is sensitive to one part per billion. The technology for this early detection device was developed for oil prospecting.

Dr Kenneth Skeldon, of the University of Glasgow, said “Early detection and monitoring of cancer and other serious diseases hugely improves the effectiveness of treatment and the possibility of cure. People can produce a higher trace of ethane in their breath when cancer strikes.”

Lung cancer has very low survival rates, making early detection of any sign of lung cancer big news. Only about 5% of people who get lung cancer live for more than five years after it is diagnosed. The main reason lung cancer has such a low survival rate is that it has been so difficult to detect in early stages.

What are the causes of Lung Cancer?

As much as 80% of lung cancer occurs in active or ex-smokers and an additional 5% of cases are estimated to occur because of passive exposure to tobacco smoke. Exposure to asbestos or radon are also risk factors, through not as common.

How serious is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women and the incidence continues to grow worldwide. It is responsible for more deaths than breast and prostate cancer combined.

How is Lung Cancer treated?

Treatment depends on the size, type and stage of the tumor and on your own personal health. In general, there are three types of treatment used in the management of lung cancer:

Surgery: Removing the tumor by surgery is the most common form of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer, if the cancer has not spread. If the cancer has spread and surgery is not possible, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used to control symptoms by reducing the size of the tumor.

Radiation Therapy: is a general term for the treatment of cancer using x-rays. It is done by directing high-energy beams at the areas of the lung that need treatment. Radiotherapy works by killing cancerous cells and can be used either on its own or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Improvements in Radiation Therapy technology involves

Chemotherapy: is the general term for the treatment of cancer using drugs. The drugs that are used are designed to kill off cancer cells while causing less damage to normal cells. There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs which can be used on their own or, more commonly, in combination.

Some dietary factors are also being studied in how they may impact the survivability of lung cancer. However, no form of nutrition provides for a “proven treatment” for any cancer. Because of this, diet should be considered an important complementary aspect to standard therapy, but should not be viewed as an alternative cancer cure. As a form of complementary care, many case studies have been written showing improvement to quality of life during standard care. When we consider the typical diet consumed by people prior to dealing with cancer, a diet of fresh, whole, unprocessed foods is likely to provide benefit to anyone. If you are dealing with cancer, consult with your doctor or a trained nutrition professional to determine what improvements you may make in your diet and support the nourishment needs of the cells.

About the Author : Read more about cancer research news at http://www.cancerresearchnewsonline.com This original of this article is found at this link on Lung Cancer. Source: www.isnare.com
Article Source: http://articles.smashits.com/articles/health-medical/77890/new-test-may-reveal-an-otherwise-undectable-sign-of-lung-cancer.html

The Use of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer may be treated by a variety of therapies including surgery, but chemotherapy and radiation treatments are used extensively to treat the disease whether surgery takes place or not.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves drug medication which is designed to kill fast growing cells in the body – cancer cells are fast growing and it is this uncontrolled growth which causes tumors to develop. Unfortunately, the medications which are administered are unable to differentiate between cancer cells and other fast growing cells, such as the red blood cells and hair. As a consequence, there are side effects involved in receiving chemotherapy which includes hair loss and other debilitating symptoms.

Many patients do not like the idea of receiving chemotherapy because they have heard of the side effects usually associated with receiving the treatment. Management of the side effects has come a long way and in many instances, patients do not experience them to as great an extent as they originally anticipated.

Typically, chemotherapy will involve a combination of drugs which will target specific types of cancer cell – not all cancer cells are fast growing, and different drugs will attack different types of cancer cell depending on the stage it has reached.

Radiotherapy or Radiation Treatment

Radiation treatment uses ionizing radiation such as gamma rays to kill cancer cells. The radiation can be targeted very precisely at the area where the cancer has occurred within the body and in some instances is capable of being delivered so that it affects only the tumor and not healthy tissue.

Radiation treatment may also be used to reduce the size of a tumor so that it becomes operable.

Radiation stops cells from undergoing division and forming new copies of the DNA which they contain. If a cell is reproducing quickly, it is likely to be susceptible to radiation which will interfere in its development and as cancer cells are fast growing, they are especially vulnerable to the treatment. Unfortunately, cancer cells are not the only cells which are fast growing as we have already seen, and radiation therapy affects blood cells, hair and skin.

Side effects include hair loss, redness of the skin, itching, loss of skin through the outer layers sloughing off, pain and heightened sensitivity, skin pigmentation and swelling (known as “edema”).

Both therapies may cause a loss in appetite, changes in how your sense of taste and heart issues as well as nausea and vomiting. Patients undergoing these treatments tend to become tired very easily while receiving treatment and there is an increased risk of infection as the white blood cells are also adversely affected by the treatment.

We have already noted that radiation treatment may be used to shrink a tumor so it may be removed, but they also are used to tackle cancers which do not lend themselves to surgery in the first instance. Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is usually inoperable and is treated by these joint therapies while operable lung cancers use these treatments both before and after surgery to ensure that any cells which have not been removed by surgery are killed off to prevent recurrence of the condition.

Find the right lung cancer doctors or mitral valve repair surgeons. Early diagnosis can lead to successful results.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_L_Perkins

Related articles by Cancer Treatment Pro
lung cancer treatment
 Page 2 of 2 « 1  2