As the name suggests, this is the cancer that forms in the tissues of the lungs, usually in the cells that line air passages. The grown cells cause metastasis, the invasion of the nearby tissues and spread to other organs. According to an estimate, there were 222,520 new cases recorded in United States and they caused 157,300 deaths in total.
In metastatic stage, the cancer can spread to other organs such as bone, brain, adrenal glands, liver, kidneys, contra lateral (the opposite) lung and the pericardium of the heart. Sympathetic nervous system may also be invaded, causing eye muscle problems and changed sweating problems.
What causes lung cancer?
The major causes are:
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Signs and symptoms
Lung cancer has these signs:- Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
- Breathlessness(dyspnea)
- Wheezing
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Fatigue and weakness
- Chronic coughing
- Abdominal pain or chest pain
- Hoarse unclear voice (dysphonia)
- Difficulty swallowing food (dysphagia)
- Clubbing of the fingernail. This is not so common in patients.
- Bone pain
- Fever
Consequences (side-effects)
The cancer that grows in the airway can cause a difficult breathing by obstructing airflow. This obstruction causes the secretions to get accumulated behind the blockage and thus lead to pneumonia. Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and hypocalcaemia are the pneumonia that can occur in patients suffering from lung cancer.In metastatic stage, the cancer can spread to other organs such as bone, brain, adrenal glands, liver, kidneys, contra lateral (the opposite) lung and the pericardium of the heart. Sympathetic nervous system may also be invaded, causing eye muscle problems and changed sweating problems.
What causes lung cancer?
The major causes are:
- Carcinogens such as tobacco smoke
- Viral infection
- Ionizing radiation
- Radon gas
- Increased concentration of certain particles in the air
- Asbestos
Diagnosis
Lung cancer can be diagnoses with a chest radiograph that reveals a mass or enlarged lymph nodes inside. In case, the radiographic findings do not suggest the presence of this cancer but the suspicion is there, then bronchoscopy or CT scan gives necessary information about the disease. Sputum cytological examination in combination of other screening tests can help to detect the cancer at early stage.Related Stories:
