Smoking and Lung Cancer

Smoking is the top contributor to lung cancer. It is also responsible for other types of cancers including kidney, pancreas, and bladder cancer. There are several types of lung cancer including squamous cell carcinoma, ademocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma and small cell lung cancers.

Cancers that form in the lungs can be divided into two major categories including non small cell lung cancers and small cell lung cancers. Small cell lung cancer is more aggressive than non small cell lung cancers. It can easily spread to different parts of the body.

Normally, small cell lung cancer is detected only after it is in the later stage. Women are encouraged to undergo smear tests and mammograms at least twice per year to ensure that there is no problem with their bodies.

Statistics show that about 32% of death in men is caused by lung cancer. The disease accounts for about 25% of death in women. If you persistently smoke daily, you will have a high risk of suffering from lung disease. It is estimated that patients that are diagnosed with cancer of the lung will die within 3 years. Lung cancer can develop in between the age of 55 and 65 years old.

As soon as you start smoking, the lungs will start to experience changes. After the lungs are exposed to carcinogenic chemicals, growth of abnormal cells will take place in the lining of the trachea.

The longer your lungs are exposed to the substances, the more abnormal cells will appear. The risk of lung cancer can be reduced if you make up your mind to stop smoking. Once you have stop smoking, you will lesser risks of developing diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis and etc.

In the cigarette, there are more than four thousand poisonous substances. Out of the 4000 harmful substances, 60 substances are carcinogenic and can cause cancer. When you smoke a cigarette, the tar will enter into the lung and stay there for a long time. Unless you quit, the tar will never be eliminated from your lung. One of the chemicals in the cigarette is benzpyrene. Benzpyrene is a type of carcinogen that can destroy the gene that controls the growth of cancerous cells in the body. If the gene is destroyed, your body will be vulnerable to cancerous tumor.

Most of the lung cancer cases are caused by damages done to this gene. It takes several years for the lungs to become contaminated with the toxins from the tobacco. The smoker can also contract other types of cancers because the harmful substances are transported to different areas of the body.

Some of the symptoms of lung cancer include weight loss, bronchitis, swell in the neck, blood in the phlegm and chest pains. Smokers who have these symptoms should seek the doctor’s attention immediately. Patients can choose to be treated through chemotherapy and surgery. After you undergo the surgery, you will be asked to go for chemotherapy treatment. Once your body has no more cancerous cells, you can go and live a healthy life again.