Essay, Research Paper: Lung Cancer

LUNG CANCER Cancer is a disease marked by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. The abnormal cells may no longer do the work of normal cells and in turn crowd out and destroy the healthy tissue. Most of the victims of cancer die from lung cancer. Many of these cases could have been avoided because it most often occurs in people over the age of 50 with a history of smoking. There are different types of lung cancer involving different parts of the lungs. They have different symptoms and are all treated differently. If the cancer is located in one of the bronchi it can irritate the lining of the bronchus and cause a chronic cough. Otherwise known as "smokers cough". In serious conditions of this cough some might actually cough up blood. If the cancer spreads it may fill up the bronchus so air cannot easily pass in or out. Repeated lung infections and pneumonia are common with this condition. The leading cause of lung cancer is smoking. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, many of which are carcinogens (may cause cancer). The three of the most damaging toxins are nicotine, tars, and carbon monoxide. Second-hand smoke inhaled by both smokers and nonsmokers is another important cause of lung cancer. Smoking is responsible for 90% of lung cancer deaths among men, 79% among women. Also smoking accounts for about 30% of all cancer deaths. Smokers that inhale two or more packs of cigarettes a day, have a cancer mortality rate 12-25 times greater than a nonsmokers. It has been estimated that if all the smokers in America stopped smoking, lung cancer would be virtually gone. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It is a radioactive gas found in the earth's rocks and soil, formed by the natural breakdown of radium. Excessive exposure of radon in the home may increase the risk of lung cancer especially in smokers. If the radon levels are found to be to high, remedial actions should be taken. Another cause of cancer is on the job exposure to carcinogens. The best known carcinogen is asbestos. Others include nickel, chromate, and vinyl chloride. Risk of lung cancer is greatly increased when combined with smoking.
Oat cell lung cancer (or small cell) is the most deadly form of lung cancer there is. It has been estimated that people diagnosed with oat cell lung cancer have an 8% chance of living 5 years. This cancer is not generally treated by surgery because there is a microscopic disease that lies deep beneath the cancer. Although some patients have done well with surgical treatments, it isn t very common. In the early nineties, almost 6 million new cancer cases were reported. Nearly 4 million cancer deaths were reported worldwide each year. My grandmother has small cell lung cancer. They just found it about 6 months ago. They said she would die if they tried to operate and probably would anyway, but she got a little better and was able to leave the hospital. Last week she started getting sick again. They said that the cancer has spread to her brain. There is little chance she will recover. The doctors say that her cancer was caused by a combination of smoking and carcinogens from her job. If she had quit smoking earlier then she would have had a chance against the cancer. The oat cell lung cancer has pretty much taken over her body. She is very weak. She isn t even strong enough to feed herself. Finally, to help prevent lung cancer in your body a smoker should quit as soon as possible, and if your already a nonsmoker you should make sure to stay in smoke-free environment. Also, if you live in an area that is known for high levels of radon you should have your house checked. To everyone that is fighting lung cancer, in the words of the late Jimmy Valvano, "Don't give up, don't ever give up." He was just one of the many cancer victims that always tried his hardest. BIBLIOGRAPHYLederman, Gil. "Prophylactic Brain Radiation for those with Oat Cell Carcinoma." Http://www.interstat.net/siuh/radoncology/otarticle11.html Gerson, Charlotte. "Cure of Small Cell Lung Cancer." Http://www.gerson.org/lungcure.html Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc. "cancer (disease)".