Lung Cancer is a disease that begins in the tissue of the lungs. The lungs are sponge-like organs that are part of the respiratory system. During breathing, air enters the mouth or nasal passage and travels down the trachea. The trachea splits into two sets of bronchial tubes that lead to the left and right lung. The bronchi branch off into smaller and smaller tubes that eventually end in small balloon-like sacs known as alveoli. The alveoli are where oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other substances are exchanged between the lungs and the blood stream.

 

The vast majority of Lung Cancer cases fall into one of two different categories:

 

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is the most common type of Lung Cancer, making up nearly 80% of all cases. This type of Lung Cancer grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is divided into three different subcategories. Squamous cell carcinoma originates in the thin, flat cells that line the passages of the respiratory tract. Adenocarcinoma begins in the cells that form the lining of the lungs. Large cell carcinomas make up a group of cancers that look large and abnormal under a microscope.

 

Small Cell Lung Cancer makes up nearly 20% of all Lung Cancer cases. It is associated with cancer cells smaller in size than most other cancer cells. These cells may be small, but they can rapidly reproduce to form large tumors. Their size and quick rate of reproduction allows them to spread to the lymph nodes and to other organs of the body. This type of Lung Cancer is almost always caused by smoking or second hand smoke.

 

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States among every ethnic group... 1 in every 3 cancer deaths.

 

Lung cancer will kill:

 

About 87% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. The lung cells of smokers go through changes that can lead to lung cancer. The longer people have been smoking, and the more packs per day they smoked, the greater their risk is of developing lung cancer.  Former smokers are also at elevated risk for lung cancer.

 

People exposed to radon, a radioactive gas that can be in houses, are at increased risk of lung cancer.

 

People who work with asbestos also have a higher risk of getting lung cancer and another form of cancer called mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs and stomach.  If they smoke as well, the risk is greatly increased.

 

Besides smoking and asbestos, there are other risk factors for lung cancer. These include certain cancer-causing agents in the environment, aging, and lung scarring from some types of pneumonia.

 

Some people whose parent or brother or sister had lung cancer are at increased risk of lung cancer, especially if the person smokes or smoked and the parent or brother or sister was young.  Some African-Americans with lung cancer in the family may be at higher risk.

 

Some people have never smoked and never worked with asbestos, nor ever been exposed to any known cancer-causing agents; yet, they still get lung cancer. There are unknown factors, and right now there is no sure way to prevent lung cancer.