February 1st, 2011 by Peter
Smoking is one of the surest ways of developing lung cancer. Cigarette smoke contains so many carcinogens that it is a wonder it is still being sold legally all across the world. Because of conscious efforts from different groups and organizations all over the world, cigarette consumption has dropped in most first world countries.
Unfortunately, cigarette companies have refocused their attention to developing nations and because of this, smoking is on the rise among the youth in third world countries. More active measures should be taken in order to help the youth curb this harmful and addictive habit.
December 29th, 2010 by Peter
Cancer is a well known disease to almost all of us. Every year many victims are falling prey to this deadly disease. Up to now no such medicine has been discovered that can cure cancer disease. Cancer develops in the form of a tumor and slowly and steadily these cancer cells increase in number. The reason because of which cancer is a deadly disease is that it shows no external symptoms in the victim’s body. It is said that if cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, it can be cured. There are many forms of cancer which affect the lives of thousands of people. One of the forms is lung cancer. Lung cancer is still affecting the lives of thousands of people. There are many different causes of lung cancer. The top most factor of causing lung cancer is smoking. The harmful substances of smoke destroy the lung cells. It is not necessary that a person who does not smoke can’t get lung cancer. If a particular person is regularly exposed to the tobacco smoke, the risk of lung cancer is higher.
There are many other factors too which are responsible for cancer. These include some natural factors too which are not in our control. These things include radon, asbestos, nickel, chromium, tar etc. These things are highly responsible for causing lung cancer and they mostly affect those people who work in the factories of these substances. The other major cause of lung cancer is air pollution. The risk of becoming a victim of lung cancer is higher in those cities which have high percentage of air pollution.
If cancer is diagnosed in an early stage it can be cured using some medication and precautions. There are many medicines available which help in resisting the cancer cells from growing inside the body if diagnosed in an early stage. According to some experts, a good diet is very helpful in protecting the body from the deadly cancer disease. A diet rich in fruits, green vegetables, low fat stuff, grains and preservatives is very helpful in minimizing the risk of lung cancer. Avoiding the use of alcohol is also very helpful in reducing the risk of deadly lung cancer. The other factor which minimizes the risk of cancer is fitness of the body. According to experts, physically fit human beings are less prone to lung cancer. If a person is maintaining a high fitness level, he can avoid lung cancer even after performing cigarette smoking.
There are many vitamins, drugs and other chemical agents available which are helpful in reducing the risk or delaying the growth of cancer and are called as chemoprevention. Many scientists are trying their best to make a medicine using these drugs and vitamins which can be helpful in curing lung cancer. But up to now no such medication has been discovered which can be proved helpful in curing lung cancer completely.
December 27th, 2010 by Peter
Lungs are part of the body, responsible for breathing. Lung cancer is caused by abnormal cells that grow into a malignant tumor. The factors that cause lung cancer are many.
Personal and family history of a person are two aspects that may cause lung cancer. Smoking is one of the primary reasons for growth of cancerous cells. History of chain smoking may increase chances of contracting this dreaded disease. It is also possible to be at risk even if not a smoker. Passive smokers are also susceptible to this disease.
Persons above the age of 40 are more liable to be afflicted with cancer. Though it is not a rule and there are enough younger people also who have been afflicted by this disease. People who are exposed to air pollution have to be especially careful and observe for tell tale signs of lung cancer.
Family history of lung cancer increases risks to the disease. It is therefore important to keep updated about the symptoms and causes of the disease. Sometimes the symptoms can be as simple as a cough or fatigue. At times it can be more complicated as a swelling in the throat or difficulty in breathing or swallowing. It is essential to keep tab on personal medical history to help in early detection of the disease.
Lung cancer is a disease that is difficult to detect. Usually it is in the later stages that doctors can actually detect the seriousness of the disease. Treatment for lung cancer is a tedious process. Advanced stages of lung cancer may require a combination of treatments to cure it. Chances of total cure are reduced, if the disease spreads to other parts of the body.
Due to its hereditary factor, children or relatives of lung cancer affected patients should take extra care to get checked regularly and rule out possibility of getting the disease. Regular exercise and a diet with low fat with high fiber content can reduce chances of getting the disease. It would be beneficial to quit smoking and stick to moderate consumption of alcohol.
December 11th, 2010 by Peter
Lung cancer is the biggest side effect of smoking cigarettes. Since it’s deadly it’s important to recognize all the early signs and symptoms of lung cancer.
The first symptom is constant coughing. The lining of the air passages contain sensitive nerves. There purpose is to protect the airways from any foreign substance like dirt, dust, blood or a tumor. By stimulating the cough reflex, these nerves help the body get rid of particles, therefore keeping the airways clean. If a tumor develops near the airways passages, coughing will be the primary symptom. Coughing is usually the primarily symptom in 20-80 percent of cancer cases.
The second symptom is wheezing. This is the sound that is produced as air tries to pass through an airway that is partially blocked. Tumors usually produce localized wheezing that’s heard on the side of the chest where the tumor is located.
The third symptom is coughing up blood. This is by far the most severe of the three. If the surface of the tumor bleeds, you will cough up blood-tinged mucous. This final symptom should be taken very seriously. You need to see a doctor as soon as possible if this ever happens to you.
After you have been diagnosed with having lung cancer, the next concern is how quickly it my spread. This called the doubling speed and is important in determining which stage you’re in. This will determine how much time you have to receive treatment. This is especially important in small cell lung cancer, since it tends to spread more rapidly. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms visit your doctor right away. He’ll be able to give you all the information on the best treatment options to fit your individual needs.
December 10th, 2010 by Peter
Staging
Once your lung cancer has been diagnosed, your doctor will work to determine the extent, or stage, of your cancer. Your cancer’s stage helps your doctor decide what treatment is most appropriate. Staging tests may include imaging procedures that allow your doctor to look for signs that cancer has spread beyond your lungs, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission testing (PET) and bone scans. Not every test is appropriate for every person, so talk with your doctor about which procedures are appropriate for you.
Continue reading ‘Screening of Lung Cancer (Part 2)’
November 27th, 2010 by Peter
In approximately 25% of people with lung cancer, there are no symptoms and the cancer is detected during screening or a routine physical examination. However, in three-quarters of lung cancer patients there are warning symptoms and signs that can alert the patient or their physician.
Most commonly, lung cancer patients experience respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness and a persistent cough. These symptoms are very common among smokers, and are also present in a number of other conditions such as asthma, emphysema and chest infections. A new cough should always be evaluated, as it may be a symptom of lung cancer. Lung cancer may spread to the chest wall, causing chest, shoulder and back pain. If cancer cells erode lung blood vessels, the patient may cough up blood. There may also be other generalized effects that occur with most cancers, such as fever, fatigue, appetite loss and weight loss.
As a lung cancer grows, it increasingly compromises the normal functioning of an affected lung. Secondary complications may occur, such as collection of fluid in the tissue lining the lungs (pleural effusion), lung collapse, airway obstruction, and repeated lung infections. Lung cancer may also spread or metastasize to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, bones, liver and brain. Bone pain and abnormal liver or brain function may result.
The absence of symptoms does not necessarily indicate early disease, and the presence of non-specific chest symptoms can often go unheeded. Both these factors contribute to the fact that only about 15 percent of lung cancer patients are diagnosed in the early stages of disease. The later lung cancer is diagnosed, the less effective treatment options are. Delays in diagnosing lung cancer patients result in an overall survival rate of only 15 percent at five years after diagnosis.
November 24th, 2010 by Peter
Lung cancer, as you know, is one of the most common forms of cancer. If you have found out that you have small cell lung cancer, then it can be very depressing. Because not only is cancer very deadly, but the small cell lung cancer treatments, are also very dangerous and expensive. There are a lot of ways to strengthen the immune system with natural remedies. The stronger your immune system is, the less drugs and evasive procedures are needed. So how can you strengthen your immune system?
Small cell lung cancer treatments – MGN-3
MGN-3 is an immune system stimulant and it is extremely effective in strengthening the Natural Killer (NK) cells. The Natural Killer cells are one of the first lines of defences against viral and bacterial infections, as well as cancer. The stronger these cells the more effectively they will fight against cancer.
It is proven that people who have low NK cells activity, are more likely to experience cancer and various other diseases. What matters is the activity of NK cells, not the number of these cells. MGN-3 has also shown to increase the level of activity amongst other immune system cells, such as T cells and B cells. It can also increase the production of several cytokines, like tumor necrotic factor-alpha, interferon gamma, nterleukin-12 and Interleukin-2.
Dr. Ghoneum, who is an internationally recognized expert in the field of cancer immune therapy – which is a therapy that uses biological response modifiers or BRM-s, to activate Natural Kill cells in the body and kill cancer cells in the body, stated that MGN-3 proved to be superior to other small cell lung cancer treatments, not only because of its lack of toxicity, but also because it provides a boost to the immune system over a long period. He also said that other BRM-s effectiveness diminished over time, even if the patient was still taking them.
This is just one example of the possible small cell lung cancer treatments. The main thing is to be active and research for various alternative treatments and natural cures, that can help you. If you lose all hope and give up, then you have very little chance to beat cancer. It is also important find a doctor, that you can discuss these kinds of treatments, the patient and the doctor have to work together. There are so many examples of people, who successfully beat cancer, so never give up hope.
November 16th, 2010 by Peter
Surviving lung cancer means more than just beating the physical disease. There are also emotional and mental challenges that come with dealing with cancer. Learning to live with the disease and the required treatments and medical visits that arise because of it is crucial to survival.
The treatments for cancer can be harsh on the body. Surgery may remove a tumor, but it may also remove parts of or entire organs in the process. After surviving the cancer procedure itself, patients must then learn to survive the new condition they find their bodies in. It is possible that the body will function differently due to the surgery. Procedures like chemotherapy and radiotherapy can also have lasting effects on a patient’s general health.
In addition to these physical challenges, many patients also experience emotional trials as a result of being diagnosed with lung cancer and undergoing therapy to treat it. Some fear that the cancer will return after it has been treated. Others find it difficult to cope with the lasting effects of the cancer and the way it interrupts their daily life. They could also experience a sense of isolation if they perceive that their loved ones don’t or can’t understand their feelings.
Negative feelings arising because of cancer are not unusual. The tribulation of surviving the disease – hearing the diagnosis, undergoing therapy, coping with side effects – commonly causes uncertainty and negativity. Those struggling to survive with lung cancer may feel depressed or anxious because of the disease. It is also not unusual for patients to experience anger and fear due to their illness.
Coping with these emotions is part of the challenge of surviving lung cancer. The first step to doing that is simply to admit that those emotions are there and to try to discern why. Additionally, it is important to realize that these reactions are natural and normal, and may even be helpful.
Anger can result from a diagnosis of lung cancer. Feeling angry about being the one struck with the disease, the one who has to endure the stress and worry of treatment, is normal. Some find that this anger is actually a motivating force as they learn to survive with lung cancer. It can help patients to become assertive about what they want and need from treatment. In patients who do not find their anger motivating and helpful, it is possible to include counseling as part of their new routine for surviving the cancer.
In contrast to anger, other patients could feel depressed as they attempt to survive with lung cancer. Some patients no longer feel like their usual selves and lose interest in the things that had been their favorite activities before their diagnosis. Depression can be destructive. A patient who has survived lung cancer but is now depressed may need support from loved ones in order to cope with their new reality.
Despite any of these feelings, patients surviving with lung cancer should take pro-active steps to managing their disease and going on with their lives. Eating a healthy diet it one way to do this, as a balanced diet not only promotes general good healthy, but can also help patients feel like they are in control of some aspect of their lives still. Exercise also promotes good health and can reduce the risk of the lung cancer returning or spreading.
November 10th, 2010 by Peter
Screening
Doctors aren’t sure whether you should undergo screening for lung cancer. Even if you have an increased risk of lung cancer — for instance, if you’re a smoker — it isn’t clear that a chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan can be beneficial. Some studies show that these tests can find cancer earlier, when it may be treated more successfully. But other studies find that these tests often reveal more benign conditions that require invasive testing and expose people to unnecessary risks.
Screening for lung cancer is controversial among doctors. Studies are ongoing to determine what types of tests may be helpful and who would benefit from lung cancer screening. In the mean time, talk with your doctor if you’re concerned about your risk of lung cancer. Together you can determine strategies to reduce your risk and decide whether screening tests are appropriate for you.
Diagnosis
If there’s reason to think that you may have lung cancer, your doctor can order a number of tests to look for cancerous cells and to rule out other conditions. In order to diagnose lung cancer, your doctor may recommend:
Imaging tests. An X-ray image of your lungs may reveal an abnormal mass or nodule. A CT scan can reveal small lesions in your lungs.
Sputum cytology. If you have a cough and are producing sputum, looking at the sputum under the microscope can sometimes reveal the presence of lung cancer cells. Before the test, you may be asked to breathe a mildly irritating mist to help you produce more sputum.
Tissue samples (biopsy). A sample of abnormal cells may be removed in a procedure called a biopsy in order to diagnose lung cancer. Your doctor can perform a biopsy in a number of ways, including bronchoscopy, in which your doctor examines abnormal areas of your lungs using a lighted tube that is passed down your throat and into your lungs; mediastinoscopy, in which an incision is made at the base of your neck and surgical tools are inserted behind your breastbone to take tissue samples; and needle biopsy, in which your doctor uses X-ray or CT images to guide a needle through your chest and into a suspicious lump or nodule to collect cells. A biopsy sample may also be taken from lymph nodes or other areas where cancer has spread, such as your liver.
Source: mayoclinic.com
November 5th, 2010 by Peter
When the cancer is diagnosed, up to one-fourth of all people with lung cancer may have no symptoms. These cancers typically are identified incidentally when a chest x-ray is made for another reason.
Lung cancer can either spread locally and involve nearby tissues, for example the cavity outside the lungs, layers around the heart, or may travel to distant locations like local lymph glands or the bones, liver, brain or the opposite lung. Other organs where cancer of lung tends to spread are the adrenal glands, which are the glands placed above the kidneys and which generate special hormones.
The most general tumor of the adrenal gland is in fact a benign tumor called an adrenal adenoma. In a good number of patients, these benign tumors never lead to a patient to have any symptoms and do not require to be treated. They are typically found when a patient has a CT (or CAT) scan of the body for an unconnected reason, and are hence sometimes called “incidentalomas”.
The most general malignant tumors located in the adrenal gland are tumors that originate from cancer cells that have metastasized from other areas of the body to the adrenal gland by means of the blood stream. Some different kinds of cancer may spread to the glands of adrenal, most usually melanomas, lung cancers, and breast cancers.
In short, If cancerous cells break away from the original tumor, travel, and develop within other body parts-like the brain, liver, the opposite lung, bone, adrenal glands, or lymph nodes of the chest or collarbone (clavicle) regions-the process is recognized as metastasis.
Symptoms of metastatic lung tumors rely on the location and size. About 30%-40% of people with cancer of lung have a number of symptoms or signs of metastatic disease. Metastatic lung cancer in the glands usually causes no symptoms by the time of diagnosis as well.
