Quit Smoking. Lung cancer is deadly.
Lung cancer is a malignant lung disease primarily caused by cigarette smoking. It often has no obvious symptoms until the disease is quite advanced, and has a low rate of survival.

Treatment for lung cancer mainly involves surgery and chemotherapy, while radiation therapy and targeted drug therapies may also be used.

Causes of lung cancer:

The development of lung cancer is strongly associated with cigarette smoking, about 90% of lung cancers are attributable to tobacco use. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, many of which are cancer-causing (carcinogens). Passive smoking, i.e. the inhalation of tobacco smoke by non-smokers who live or work with smokers, is also an established risk factor for the development of lung cancer.

Signs, symptoms, and diagnosis

Symptoms of lung cancer are varied and warning signs are not always obvious. Up to 25% of people who get lung cancer display no symptoms. In people who do display symptoms, they include the following:

A persistent cough and hoarseness

Shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pain

Blood-streaked sputum

Chest pain

Frequent episodes of bronchitis or pneumonia

Weight loss, weakness, and fatigue.


Diagnostic Testing:

Most patients with lung cancer develop symptoms late in the course of the disease. When symptoms arise, several tests are performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Chest X-ray provides a basic image of the lungs.

Computed tomography (CT) of chest provides more detailed images than a chest X-ray.

Sputum cytology is a test that detects cancer cells in secretions from the respiratory tract.

Biopsies are usually obtained during a bronchoscopy, a procedure in which a flexible instrument with a camera is passed through the mouth and trachea into the lungs, and samples of lung tissue are removed for examination under a microscope.

When enlarged lymph nodes are present, a lymph node biopsy is performed to check for cancer.

Prevention of Lung Cancer:

The most effective measure that can be taken to prevent the development of lung cancer is to stop smoking. Reducing exposure to passive smoking is also an effective method of prevention.