Lung cancer is a condition that causes cells to divide in the lungs uncontrollably. This causes the growth of tumors that reduce a person’s ability to breathe.
According
to the Centers for Disease Control, 218,527 people in the United
States received a lung cancer diagnosis in 2015. Early diagnosis can
help a person seek treatment, as early as possible, in the disease’s course.
Identifying
lung cancer in its earliest stages can be difficult, however, because the
symptoms may be similar to those of a respiratory infection, or there may be no
symptoms at all.
In
this article, we explain the nature of lung cancer, how to recognize the
symptoms, and the ways doctors treat lung cancer before it becomes
life-threatening.
What is lung cancer?
Cancer causes
certain mutations in otherwise healthy cells.
Typically,
the body programs cells to die at a certain stage in their life cycle to avoid
overgrowth. Cancer overrides this instruction, causing cells to grow and
multiply when they should not.
The
overgrowth of cells leads to the development of tumors and the harmful effects
of cancer.
In
lung cancer, this pattern of cell overgrowth occurs in the lungs, which are
vital organs for breathing and gas exchange.
Doctors
typically diagnose two lung cancer types, small cell and non-small cell,
depending on how they appear under a microscope. A person is more likely to
have non-small cell lung cancer than small cell.
While
anyone can develop lung cancer, cigarette smoking and exposure to smoke can
increase the likelihood that a person will experience the condition. Lung
cancer can develop if a person has a history of exposure to inhaled chemicals
or other toxins.
Even
if this exposure to chemicals and other toxins was a long time ago, it could
cause changes in lung cells that lead to cancer.
To
discover more evidence-based information and resources for healthy aging,
visit our dedicated hub.
Symptoms
In
people with lung cancer, symptoms do not always occur until the condition has
reached a later stage.
However,
some people may notice symptoms, which they may think are related to a less
serious, acute illness.
Source: Medical News Today
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