| When you breathe in, air passes from your | | | | with surgery, while small cell lung carcinoma |
| nose or mouth through the windpipe (trachea), | | | | (SCLC) usually responds better to |
| which divides into two tubes (airways), one | | | | chemotherapy and radiation.The most common |
| going to each lung. These are known as the | | | | cause of lung cancer is long term exposure to |
| right and left bronchus and they divide to | | | | tobacco smoke. The occurrence of lung cancer |
| form smaller tubes called bronchioles, which | | | | in non-smokers, who account for fewer than |
| carry air through the lungs. At the end of | | | | 10% of cases, appears to be due to a |
| the bronchioles are millions of tiny air sacs | | | | combination of genetic factors, radon gas, |
| called alveoli. In the alveoli, oxygen is | | | | asbestos, and air pollution, including |
| absorbed from air breathed in and passes into | | | | second-hand smoke. |
| the bloodstream to be circulated around the | | | | |
| body. | | | | Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers |
| | | | in the world. It is a leading cause of cancer |
| Lung cancer is one of the most common types | | | | death in men and women in the United States. |
| of cancer. The lungs are a pair of | | | | Cigarette smoking causes most lung cancers. |
| cone-shaped organs situated inside the chest, | | | | The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the |
| they bring oxygen into the body and take out | | | | earlier you started smoking, the greater your |
| waste carbon dioxide. There is a strong link | | | | risk of lung cancer. High levels of |
| between smoking and lung cancer. There are | | | | pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure |
| two main categories of lung cancer; Small | | | | may also increase risk. |
| Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) , and Non-Small Cell | | | | |
| Lung Cancer (NSCLC). World-wide over 1 | | | | Cancer of the lung, like all cancers, results |
| million people are diagnosed with lung cancer | | | | from an abnormality in the body's basic unit |
| each year. | | | | of life, the cell. Normally, the body |
| | | | maintains a system of checks and balances on |
| Sometimes the instructions to a cell go | | | | cell growth so that cells divide to produce |
| haywire and that cell and its offspring | | | | new cells only when needed. Disruption of |
| reproduce wildly, without regard for the | | | | this system of checks and balances on cell |
| shape and function of a lung. That wild | | | | growth results in an uncontrolled division |
| reproduction can form tumors that clog up the | | | | and proliferation of cells that eventually |
| lung and make it stop functioning as it | | | | forms a mass known as a tumor. |
| should. Because of the large size of the | | | | |
| lungs, cancer may grow for many years, | | | | Yet most lung cancer deaths could be |
| undetected, without causing suspicion. Lung | | | | prevented. That's because smoking accounts |
| cancer can spread outside the lungs without | | | | for nearly 90 percent of lung cancer cases. |
| causing any symptoms.Adding to the confusion, | | | | Your risk of lung cancer increases with the |
| the most common symptom of lung cancer, a | | | | length of time and number of cigarettes you |
| persistent cough, can often be mistaken for a | | | | smoke. If you quit smoking, even after |
| cold or bronchitis. | | | | smoking for many years, you can significantly |
| | | | reduce your chances of developing lung |
| The main types of lung cancer are small cell | | | | cancer. Protecting yourself from other risk |
| lung carcinoma and non-small cell lung | | | | factors for lung cancer, such as exposure to |
| carcinoma. This distinction is important | | | | asbestos, radon and secondhand smoke, also |
| because the treatment varies; non-small cell | | | | decreases your risk. |
| lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is sometimes treated | | | | |