Lung Cancer

What Is Lung Cancer?

Cancer within the human body occurs when there is an abnormal growth of cells. Lung cancer is associated to any kind of malignant tumor that begins in the lung alone. Even though lung cancer can take several years to develop, once it occurs, cancer cells have the ability to pull away and advance to various areas of the body. The nature of this disease is indeed life-threatening due to its ability to spread before it can be detected.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer include, but are not limited to the following:

• Variations in patterns of breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Continuous chest pains
• Persistent coughing
• Anemia

Types of Lung Cancer

• Small Cell Lung Cancer

An aggressive (fast-growing) cancer that forms in tissues of the lung and can spread to other parts of the body. The cancer cells look small and oval-shaped when looked at under a microscope.

• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

A group of lung cancers that are named for the kinds of cells found in the cancer and how the cells look under a microscope. The three main types of non-small cell lung cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common kind of lung cancer.

Lung Cancer, An Asbestos-Related Disease

The most frequent form of cancer found in people who have endured extended exposure to asbestos is lung cancer. The period between exposure to any form of asbestos and the onset of lung cancer is typically in the range of twenty to thirty years, sometimes even longer. What's worse is that if you are a smoker as well as having been exposed to asbestos, the chances of become susceptible to lung cancer are multiplied. Recent studies have indicated that workers who have been routinely exposed to asbestos while on the job have seen a rise in their chances of contracting lung cancer by nearly ten times that of everyone else.

Lung Cancer Diagnosis

One who is in the early stages of lung cancer related to asbestos exposure will not commonly experience any symptoms. However, early symptoms related to asbestos lung cancer include persistent coughing, chest pain, voice hoarseness, weight decline, and bloody phlegm. Any combination of these symptoms, along with the knowledge that you have been exposed to asbestos, should be looked at by a medical professional immediately. Diagnosis and early treatment is crucial when attempting to stop this deadly cancer.

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