Lung Cancer Information

Lung cancer is one of the most well-known, common and fatal forms of cancer, and the condition is often attributed to smoking. One of the worst aspects of lung cancer is that it can be caused by second-hand smoke, posing a severe health risk for people who have never smoked a day in their lives. Sadly, lung cancer is the most dangerous of cancers and is the most common type of cancer to cause death among men and women around the world. It is estimated by the American Cancer Society that approximately 222,520 new lung cancer cases are diagnosed each year, and about 157,000 cases of lung cancer will lead to death in the U.S. alone.

While smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, second-hand smoke is another leading cause of this form of cancer, with asbestos causing a great number of cases throughout the past years since it was identified as a contributor to the disease. In fact, asbestos was a commonly used material in everything from insulation for homes to paint and metal products, causing a great many cases of lung cancer until it was banned for use. Other causes of lung cancer include Radon gas, which isn't as common as other causes, and family history also has a great influence on the incidence of the disease. A scary fact is that even pollution can contribute to lung cancer, with high smog-influenced areas having a much greater rate of lung cancer.

For almost 25% of those with lung cancer, it can have absolutely no symptoms, only detected through CT scan. For this reason, regular physician check-ups can be highly essential to ensure that any signs can be picked up early, and also so that there can be a chance to detect the disease before it has spread throughout the lymph nodes and other areas of the body. For those with symptoms, they can include a constant cough, frequent shortness of breath or inability to catch one's breath, and even wheezing, blood during coughing, and minor to severe chest pain.

If you have a family history, if you smoke, if you have been around others who have smoked or currently smoke, or even if you worked in the automotive, construction, or other previous asbestos-using industries in the past, getting checked for lung cancer can be a good idea. Always inform your doctor of these risk factors so appropriate steps can be taken to ensure you aren't ignoring a problem that could be as serious as lung cancer. The earlier it is detected, the easier it is to manage and treat successfully.