LUNG CANCER

Definition
-Type of cancer that begins in the lungs, caused by the the uncontrolled division and growth of cells in the lungs.
Two Types:
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

SYMPTOMS

• A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse
• Constant chest pain, coughing up blood
• Shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarsness
• Weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite
• Swelling of the neck and back

Causes
-Cigarettes, exposure to pollution, radiation, and asbestos
-Damage from repeated exposure to carcinogens causes cells to act abnormally and eventually develop cancer.

DIAGNOSIS

• X-rays, CT Scans, Sputum Cytology, and Biopsys
• After diagnosis they diagnose the stage
• Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4
• Stages are diagnosed by CT, MRI, & PET scans
• Cancer can be limited or extensive

TREATMENT

• Surgery (4 different surgeries)
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted Drug Therapy
• Palliative Care
• Can only be cured by surgery if cancer has not spread

PROGNOSIS

• Live with difficulty breathing
• Can't walk far distances or excersise
• Use of oxygen tanks to assist breathing
• Pain due to growth of cancer around nerves
• 50% survive 1st 5 years, only 15% survive after 5 years

INTERESTING FACTS

• Occurs more often in men that women
• #1 leading cause of cancer deaths
• African Americans are more prone to long cancer
• Number if deaths increased 3.5% 1999-2012
• Non-smokers can develop cancer from second-hand exposure

Sources
-"lung cancer." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
-"Lung Cancer." Human Diseases and Conditions.Ed. Miranda Herbert Ferrara.2nd Ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2010, 1022-1028. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 21 Nov. 2014