Chest And Lungs

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to lung cancer: Smoking by far is the major cause of lung cancer. Other causes include breathing someone else’s smoke, being exposed to cancer-causing chemicals, and being exposed to radiation. Lung cancer generally takes many years to develop even though damage to the lungs

Here are definitions of medical terms related to lung cancer: Biopsy: The removal of a small amount of tissue from the body for study under a microscope. Carcinogen: A substance that causes the development of cancer. Diaphragm: The muscular tissue that separates the chest and the abdominal cavities, which aids breathing by moving up and down. Malignant: Cancerous; a

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on lung cancer: American Lung Association  Phone: (800) 586-4872 http://www.lungusa.org National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute Information Center  Phone: (301) 251-1222 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm The American Academy of Family Physicians  http://familydoctor.org/ National Jewish Medical and Research Center  Phone: 303/388-4461 Phone: 800/222-LUNG (5864) http://www.njc.org/

Lung cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both of the lungs. The body is made up of different types of cells that normally divide and multiply in an orderly way. These new cells replace older cells. This process of cell birth and renewal occurs constantly in the body. Abnormal cells

The most common cause of lung cancer is smoking. Smoking causes lung cancer because there are substances within tobacco that are known to cause cancer. These substances are known as carcinogens (which means “cancer-causing agents”), and it is these carcinogens that cause the actual damage to the cells in the lungs. A cell that is

If a doctor suspects lung cancer, he or she will: Ask about your medical history Perform a physical examination Order specialized medical tests As part of taking your medical history, your doctor will ask about: Whether you smoke or have smoked in the past Your occupation Whether you have been exposed to certain occupational hazardous

The treatment of lung cancer depends on its type and extent. Therefore, the doctor must obtain specific information before suggesting a treatment. The doctor will need to know: The type of lung cancer the patient has – whether small-cell lung cancer or non-small-cell lung cancer The size of the growth Exactly where in the lung

Each particular treatment for lung cancer may have some adverse effects. Some of those effects may last a very short period, while others may last for a few months and yet others may be permanent. If you have lung cancer, be sure to discuss side effects of each treatment with your doctor. Often, medication or