Lung cancer - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and care

In the UK 38,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. There are two types of lung cancer, small cell, which occurs in 20% of cases and non-small cell, which occurs in 80% of cases. Small cell lung cancer is the most dangerous, as they travel through other parts of the body and can be detected early in the bloodstream or lymphatic system received very quickly. Non-small cell lung cancer travels more slowly when detected early and can be successfulhealed.

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, although 10% have smoked the people with the disease before. The risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and the age of the smoker. When a person stops smoking the risks decrease rapidly and become ill after 15 years, the risk of lung cancer are the same as a Non smoking. The inhalation of cigarette smoke other people's smoke, is known as passive smoking, increases the chances of lung cancerBut the risks are far less than if you smoke yourself. Those who smoke cigars, pipes, or cannabis, a lower risk of lung cancer than smokers, but a far greater risk than Non smoking.

Radon in high concentrations, it is assumed that the risk of developing lung cancer Add, which is a naturally occurring gas in some areas and you can get a radon detector to check the level in your home. In rare cases, contact with certain chemicals and substances such as uranium, Chromium and nickel can also cause lung cancer.

The symptoms of lung cancer may include:

A persistent cough or long -

Chest infection

Increasing breathlessness

Hemoptysis

Loss of appetite and weight

Swallowing

Excessive tiredness and lethargy

It is important to get any of these symptoms checked by a doctor, but each could be caused by another disease than lung cancerCancer.

The diagnosis begins with an examination by a GP who can arrange for X-rays and tests are performed in a hospital. The hospital doctors, this may include a CT scan or spiral CT scan, do a series of x-rays, a three-dimensional image is from inside the body and helps to find the location and size of the tumor to build, or a bronchoscopy, the , where the interior examination of the airways with a bronchoscope. This is a thin, flexible tube that is passed throughNose or mouth into the airway, the doctor can then look through the bronchoscope to be checked for changes. Photos and biopsies can be taken at the same time.

Small cell lung cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy, allowing patients more control of symptoms with a better life. If non-small cell lung cancer is very early surgery is not usually done because the cancer will spread to other parts of the body beforediagnosed. Sometimes radiotherapy is given to the head, the tumor spreads to the brain and in advanced cases of small cell lung cancer, it is used to relieve symptoms such as pain effectively prevented.

Non-small cell lung cancer is treated differently, depending on the stage of the disease at an early stage of the operation, the tumor can be removed and is often followed with chemotherapy on. Radiotherapy can also be used in patientsnot fit enough or not to undergo the selection of an operation. Be used in advanced stages of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, sometimes a combination of both. These are used to maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible and to experience pain.

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