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Last Updated: Aug 6th, 2008 - 09:50:39 |
Understanding the Cancer Process
All types of cancer develop in our cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand cancer, it is helpful to know how normal cells become cancerous.
Lung and Bronchus: U.S. Racial/Ethnic Cancer Patterns
Cancer of the lung and bronchus (hereafter, lung cancer) is the second most common cancer among both men and women and is the leading cause of cancer death in both sexes. Among men, age-adjusted lung cancer incidence rates (per 100,000) range from a low of about 14 among American Indians to a high of 117 among blacks, an eight-fold difference. Between these two extremes, rates fall into two groups ranging from 42 to 53 for Hispanics, Japanese, Chinese, Filipinos, and Koreans and from 71 to 89 for Vietnamese, whites, Alaska Natives and Hawaiians.
Understanding Lung Cancer
Cancers that begin in the lungs are divided into two major types, non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, depending on how the cells look under a microscope. Each type of lung cancer grows and spreads in different ways and is treated differently.
Staging the Disease
Staging the Disease
If the diagnosis is cancer, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging is done to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body. Lung cancer often spreads to the brain or bones. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.
Treating Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer
Patients with non-small cell lung cancer may be treated in several ways.
Lung Cancer: Who's at Risk?
Researchers have discovered several causes of lung cancer -- most are related to the use of tobacco.
Treating Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancer spreads quickly. In many cases, cancer cells have already spread to other parts of the body when the disease is diagnosed.
Lung Cancer Prevention
The lungs are part of the respiratory system. Their function is to supply oxygen to the blood while removing carbon dioxide.
Diagnosing Lung Cancer
To help find the cause of symptoms, the doctor evaluates a person's medical history, smoking history, exposure to environmental and occupational substances, and family history of cancer. The doctor also performs a physical exam and may order a chest x-ray and other tests. If lung cancer is suspected, sputum cytology (the microscopic examination of cells obtained from a deep-cough sample of mucus in the lungs) is a simple test that may be useful in detecting lung cancer.
Treatment for Lung Cancer
Treatment depends on a number of factors, including the type of lung cancer (non-small or small cell lung cancer), the size, location, and extent of the tumor, and the general health of the patient. Many different treatments and combinations of treatments may be used to control lung cancer, and/or to improve quality of life by reducing symptoms.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (PDQ®): Treatment
The lungs are a pair of cone-shaped breathing organs in the chest. The lungs bring oxygen into the body as you breathe in. They release carbon dioxide, a waste product of the body’s cells, as you breathe out. Each lung has sections called lobes. The left lung has two lobes. The right lung is slightly larger and has three lobes. Two tubes called bronchi lead from the trachea (windpipe) to the right and left lungs. The bronchi are sometimes also involved in lung cancer. Tiny air sacs called alveoli and small tubes called bronchioles make up the inside of the lungs.
Lung Cancer (PDQ®): Screening
Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread.
Cigarette Smoking and Cancer: Questions and Answers
Tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking alone is directly responsible for approximately 30 percent of all cancer deaths annually in the United States (1). Cigarette smoking also causes chronic lung disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis), cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cataracts. Smoking during pregnancy can cause stillbirth, low birthweight, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and other serious pregnancy complications (2). Quitting smoking greatly reduces a person¡¯s risk of developing the diseases mentioned, and can limit adverse health effects on the developing child.
The Importance of Followup Care
Followup care after treatment for lung cancer is very important.
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