Lung cancer is a disease in which the cancer cells spread to other parts of the body. The disease is classified by its stage. Stage one is defined by the size of the tumor, which is less than 4 centimeters. Stage two tumors are 7 cm or larger, but may have spread to nearby lymph nodes. Stage three tumors have spread to distant body parts and are more aggressive. Each stage has its own categories. Stage one and two are called peripheral and central, respectively. Peripheral carcinoids form on the lungs’ edges, but are usually typical carcinoids.
Treatment options for lung cancer depend on its stage. These treatments are classified according to the TNM staging system. Each stage describes the size of the primary tumour and whether it has spread to the liver, bones, and adrenal glands. Treatment may be surgery or radiation therapy. For early-stage lung cancer, patients may undergo a pneumonectomy, a surgical removal of the affected lung. For advanced stage lung cancer, a combination of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery is recommended.
Despite being one of the main causes of lung cancer, there are also some inherited genetic mutations that make some people more susceptible. Smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer, and yet a person can develop lung cancer even if they never smoked. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Exposure to this gas can cause lung cancer in both smokers and nonsmokers. For the prevention of lung cancer, you should quit smoking.
Most cases of lung cancer are non-small cell (NSCLC). NSCLC has several types, and most respond to treatment when detected early. Large cell lung cancer, which begins in the outer parts of the lung, is the most common type of cancer in smokers. Squamous cell lung cancer starts in the air sacs near the middle of the lungs. Small cell lung cancer is more aggressive than the other two types. Adenocarcinomas are less likely to respond to surgery.
Despite the increased incidence of cancer-related deaths, lung cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer. Women are more likely to develop lung cancer than men, according to the National Cancer Institute. As of 2010, there are approximately 225,000 new cases of lung cancer in the United States, and approximately 160,000 people are diagnosed with it every year. Although lung cancer remains a relatively rare disease at the beginning of the 20th century, its dramatic rise in the later decades is largely due to smoking among men and women.
Lung cancer starts in the cells of the lung. Once this cancer is established, it can spread to other organs. This process is known as metastasis. Lung cancer may spread to other areas due to cancer cells in other organs. However, this process is rarely used for small cell lung cancer. Alternatively, it may be used as a palliative treatment. And, if the disease spreads to other parts of the body, radiation therapy is one option.
