Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United

States. Over the past twenty-five years the number of people dying from lung cancer has

risen. According to research records, “During 2006 the estimated amount of people who

will die from lung cancer will be approximately 162,500 (Pass 288).” Lung cancer is a

deadly disease researchers have long been interested in finding ways to detect the early

stages of the disease in order to keep more people from dying. The most important way

for lung cancer victims to avoid death is having early detection screening.

There are four major types of lung cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma takes up

twenty to thirty percent of lung cancers and form in the lining of the bronchial tubes.

Adenocarcinoma consists of thirty to forty percent of lung cancers and are found in the

mucus glands of lungs. Large cell carcinoma is ten percent of lung cancers and form near

the surface of the lungs. Small cell or “oat cell” carcinoma is twenty percent of lung

cancers and are usually formed near air sacs in the lungs. The first three types of lung

cancer are called non-small cell lung cancer. These tumors behave in the same manner

whereas small cell lung cancer tends to grow and spread quickly and form large tumors.

These tumors can spread and multiply throughout the body. According to most all

studies “smoking is almost always the cause of small cell lung cancer (Lung USA)”.

Many symptoms of lung cancer can be confused or misdiagnosed by Doctors.

Some of the symptoms of lung cancer include: shortness of breath, coughing up blood,

chronic cough, chest pain, fatigue and loss of appetite, and difficulty swallowing. In

most patients, lung cancer has already spread beyond the original site before they have

symptoms and seek medical help. Some lung cancers do not cause any noticeable

symptoms until they are...