allaboutlungcancer.net

Lung Cancer Seriously Kills

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Lung cancer kills more men and women than any other cancer does. It occurs most often in people over age 50 who smoked for many years. Lung cancer can develop when the lungs are damaged by repeatedly inhaling smoke (including second hand smoke which is even worst) or other harmful substances including asbestos, radioactive dust, and radon.
Having a combination of risk factors, such as being a smoker who works with asbestos, greatly increases you risks of developing lung cancer. Symptoms of lung cancer are similar to those of other chest and lung problems: chronic cough; shortness of breath; wheezing; hoarseness; repeated lung infections or pneumonia; pain in the chest wass, shoulders, or back; or coughing uppus- filled of bloody sputum. So beware because there may be no symptoms during the early stages. If you smoke, see your physician about any chronic respiratory symptoms and your risks in getting lung cancer.

Tobacco Smoke Carcinogens

Two active tobacco smoke carcinogens have been identified to be the most likely culprits that leads to lung cancer in heavy smokers. One is a nicotine-derivatitive and the other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)have been isolated and identified to be the damaging constituents tnat leads to lung cancer. PAH, has been identified as the component that binds to DNA in the lung cells that causes abnormalities to occur resulting in mutations. The compound has also been found to contribute to supress or damage genes that are vital for the body to fight the disease weakening the defences of the body from within.

“This is the first demonstration of this link,” says co-author Ian Blair, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Pharmacology . “This is a second, but indirect, way in which PAHs can cause cancer. We also know that PAHs can also cause cancer directly.”

PAH, has the ability to cause the mutations in the cells alone and its ability to influence genes is something new that it surprised researchers that have been studying the results. Lung cancer is one of the leading forms of cancers responsible for deaths in the United States and better understanding of the disease such as this one leads to better treatment and management options to help those suffering from lung cancer.

Inhaled Insulin Treatment Causes Lung Cancer

Promoters of the alternative no-prick alternative to insulin intake have received another blow with industry leaders announcing their fears of detecting several cases of lung cancer in people who were receiving them under clinical trials. This is another in a long list of blows that the product has received and with many pharmaceuticals pulling the plug on research, the outlook seems bleak for the new diabetes treatment option. Many have been searching for alternative treatments for diabetes who have long been plagued by needles they use for administering the drug to supplement their insulin levels. The products were supposed to take away the pain and fuss of using syringes which is still the preferred method of administration.

Chemotherapy useless in Asbestos Induced Lung Cancer

Lung cancer that has resulted from inhalation of asbestos from the environment or through work related activities are showing that using chemotherapy for treatment is not getting any positive results. Called Malignant Plural Mesothelioma (MPM), the disease is more related to asbestos exposure which causes the lungs to develop lung cancer. The material was hailed as a miracle construction material and was used widely in the West due to heat, electrical and chemical resistance. It was only later that the material was found to induce cancer that had most nations ban the substance from all new building materials, and necessitating the removal of already installed ones from all types of structures. Clean-up crews without proper protection also suffer from the disease and oncologists are finding it hard to find proper treatments of the killer disease.

Premature Babies have higher risk of developing Lung complications

Premature babies that were delivered way before their bodies have fully developed receive a myriad of drugs to augment their still weak bodies that should have developed further in the mother’s womb. Studies have shown that babies who were delivered prematurely have a higher risk of lung problems due to the inability of their lungs to work properly without the administration of surfactants that are used to prevent their lungs from collapsing. Full term babies have fully developed lungs that can function unassisted but premature babies need the administration of surfactants (substances that prevents the lung’s air sacs from sticking together preventing them from inflating properly to absorb oxygen) to their lungs to get them to function properly. Without them, their lungs would constantly collapse (due to premature development) and can cause death. Current administration methods have shown that they can cause more harm to the infant in later life where lung infections become assured. The development of better administration techniques is underway to minimize the problems associated with their use to help their lungs strengthen in time as they mature.

Lycopene Hype- Just Hype

The claims of many health food processors that suggests that a diet high in Lycopene has the ability to reduce the risks of cancer and may even have a cancer prevention effects has by far been all it has claimed to be, HYPE. Studies by the FDA and many health organizations are showing little in the truths that Lycopene does indeed prevent cancers in its many forms. Tomatoes have been promoted by food processors as the best source of the compound that they say aids and prevents the formation of cancer. No credible evidence suggests that there is any benefit from using or taking huge amounts of Lyopene and their reported benefits as a cancer fighting molecule. The claims of these manufacturers are being proven to be false and purely speculative till any quantifiable study shows otherwise that there is indeed any link between Lycopene and the formation of cancer.

Support Groups

Living with cancer presents many new challenges for people with cancer and for their family and friends. People with cancer will probably have many worries about how the cancer will affect them and their ability to live a normal life, that is, to care for their family and home, to hold a job, and to continue the friendships and activities they enjoy.

Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to patient support and advocacy for people living with lung cancer or those at risk for the disease. Lung Cancer Alliance is committed to leading the movement to reverse decades of stigma and neglect by empowering those with or at risk for the disease, elevating awareness, and changing health policy.

Cigarette Smoking

Time has come and you have decided to kick this vice. If you are interested in quitting smoking, call your doctor. It is never too early to think about quitting. Every encounter with a doctor, whether in the office, the hospital, the emergency department, or clinic, is a good time to talk about smoking and the possibility of quitting. Anyone with unexplained or sudden onset chest pain or difficulty breathing should go to the nearest hospital’s emergency department, probably by ambulance. These conditions may be symptoms of a heart attack, which can be life threatening if not recognized and treated promptly. Tobacco use may cause shortness of breath or chest pain that may be life threatening along with these symptoms

What You Need To Know

Lung cancer is responsible for the most cancer deaths in both men and women throughout the world. In many developing countries, the incidence of lung cancer is beginning to fall following public education about the dangers of cigarette smoking and effective smoking-cessation programs. Nevertheless, lung cancer remains among the most common types of cancers in both men and women worldwide. It has also surpassed breast cancer in causing the most cancer-related deaths in women. About 10 per cent of patients can expect to be ‘cured’ - that is alive five years after diagnosis with no evidence of the cancer having returned.

Bronchogenic Carcinoma

Another name for lung cancer is Bronchogenic Carcinoma. Lung cancer is actually one of the most common of al the cancers in the world. It is also one of the leading cancer deaths among men and women int he Unietd States. Yes, cigarette smoking causes lung cancer. The more cigarettes a person smoks everyday, the more that person is putting himself or herself at risk to lung cancer. SOme other causes of cancer are high levels of pollution, asbestos exposure and radiation. Taking these risks in mind, one should take utmost care not to expose himself or herself directly or indirectly to the causes of lung cancer.