| Lung cancer is one of the most fatal cancers | | | | with non-smokers. |
| worldwide, causing up to three million deaths annually. | | | | In the U.S. an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths that |
| Only one in ten patients diagnosed with this disease will | | | | occur each year are attributed to passive smoking. |
| survive the next five years. Although this was an | | | | Exposure to asbestos fiber, silicate fibers that can |
| illness that previously affected predominantly men, lung | | | | persist for a lifetime in lung tissue following exposure to |
| cancer rate for women has been increasing in the last | | | | asbestos, also increases the risk of the disease. |
| few years because of the rising ratio of female to | | | | Radon gas is also a known cause of the disease with |
| male smokers. In many developing countries, public | | | | an estimated 12% of lung cancer deaths. Familial |
| education about the dangers of cigarette smoking and | | | | predisposition or genetic susceptibility is also one cause |
| effective cessation programs has contributed to the | | | | of this cancer, studies have shown that the disease is |
| slowly falling rate of incidence of lung cancer. | | | | more likely to occur I n both smoking and non-smoking |
| Nevertheless, lung cancer still remains to be the most | | | | relatives of those who have had this disease than in |
| common form of cancer in men worldwide and the | | | | the general population. The presence of certain lung |
| fifth most common form of cancer in women. | | | | diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary |
| Like all other cancers, results from abnormality in the | | | | disease (COPD) is associated with a slightly increased |
| body's basic unit of life, the cell. Normally, the body | | | | risk for development of this disease. Air pollution from |
| maintains a system checks and balances on cell | | | | vehicles, industry, and power plants, can raise the |
| growth so that cells divide to produce new cells only | | | | likelihood of developing the disease in exposed |
| when needed. Interruption in the balance of this system | | | | individuals. |
| causes an uncontrolled division of cells that eventually | | | | What are the signs of this cancer? The early stages |
| forms a mass known as a tumor. Any of the tissues in | | | | of the disease may not have any symptoms, but as |
| the lung can become cancer, but most commonly, lung | | | | the tumor grows in size, it can produce a variety of |
| cancer comes from the lining of the bronchi. Since this | | | | symptoms that includes: |
| disease tends to spread very early in its course, it is | | | | * cough (especially one that doesn't go away or gets |
| very life-threatening and one of the most difficult | | | | worse in character) |
| cancers to treat. Although it can spread to any organ | | | | * chest pain |
| in the body, the adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bone, | | | | * shortness of breath |
| are the most common lung cancer metastases. | | | | * coughing up blood or bloody phlegm |
| Recent research point to the factor with the greatest | | | | * new onset hoarseness or wheezing |
| impact on risk of lung cancer is long-term exposure to | | | | * recurrent problems with pneumonia or bronchitis |
| inhaled carcinogens. Most common of which is | | | | * weight loss |
| exposure to tobacco smoke. The occurrence of lung | | | | * loss of appetite |
| cancer is strongly linked with cigarette smoking, with | | | | * fatigue |
| about 90% of the disease arising as a result of | | | | * bone pain |
| tobacco used. The numbers of cigarettes smoke over | | | | * dizziness or double vision |
| time increases the risk of lung cancer. Among those | | | | * numbness or tingling in your arms or legs |
| who smoke two or more packs of cigarettes per day, | | | | * turning yellow (jaundice) |
| one in seven will die of lung cancer. Passive smoking | | | | Treatment of this disease can involve a combination |
| or inhalation of tobacco smoke from other smokers | | | | of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy as |
| sharing or working quarters, is also an established risk | | | | well as newer experimental methods, but prevention of |
| factor for the development of the disease. | | | | the development of the disease through smoking |
| Non-smokers who reside with a smoker have 24% | | | | cessation is most important. |
| increase risk for developing lung cancer compared | | | | |