Lung Cancer

The lungs are located in the chest. When you breathe, air goes through your nose, down your windpipe (trachea), and into the lungs, where it flows through tubes called bronchi.

 Most lung cancer begins in the cells that line these tubes

.Lung cancer is more common in older adults. It is rare in people under age 45.

Lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer for both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined.

There are two main types of lung cancer:

• Small cell lung cancer  makes up about 20% of all lung cancer cases.

• Non- small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer.

Causes

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk of lung cancer. 

There is no evidence that smoking low-tar cigarettes lowers the risk.

Lung cancer can also affect persons who have never smoked.

Followings also may caused for lung cancer.

• Family history of lung cancer
• High levels of air pollution
• High levels of arsenic in drinking water
• Radiation therapy to the lungs

How do we know?

Lung cancer typically doesn't cause signs  in its earliest stages. Signs of lung cancer typically occur only when the disease is advanced.

Signs of lung cancer may include:

• Coughing up blood, even a small amount
• Chest pain
• Wheezing
• Bone pain
• Changes in a chronic cough or "smoker's cough"
• Hoarseness
• Losing weight without trying
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• A new cough that doesn't go away