Lung cancer
Composed of many different types of cells; the lungs are one of the largest organs in a human body. Divided into two as the left and right lungs, this is the region of the body where the air we breathe is separated so that oxygen reaches our blood, our only source of making energy. So what is lung cancer? Cells throughout our body, including our lungs, go through the cyclic process of life and death. It is when old cells die that new cells should be formed to take their place. Lung cancer occurs when new cells keep forming while the old cells are still healthy and functioning. The new cells are there as an excess, as they have no function in the lungs till the old ones die. Hence extra cells in the lungs stay together as a growth, more commonly known as tumors. Tumors are differentiated into two, according to the degree of harm they cause in a body as benign and malignant. Benign tumors pose no harm to the person as they do not spread and do not interfere with the usual processes of the body. Malignant tumors in the lung are what we call lung cancer. These malignant tumors may pose more harm if a few cells break free from the mass and spread to other parts of the body, mostly through the lymphatic system.
Tobacco use is said to be one of the biggest reasons for lung cancer. The worst part is that you do not have to be a smoker yourself to be affected. Second hand smoking can have the same effect. Because of this being exposed to tobacco users in any way, whether in your office, in a favorite restaurant or at home from a parent or partner, increases your chances of getting lung cancer as much as for the smokers themselves. Tobacco is said to have carcinogens, which increase the chances of cells acting in the abnormal way to produce a tumor. Lawsuits against many popular cigarette companies have become a common thing in the past few years, with many smokers saying they did not know about the ill effects of tobacco earlier and are now suffering from one kind of disease or the other, due to smoking. It is now the law that every cigarette packet should have a warning in bold letters mentioning how tobacco is harmful to health.
Treatment for lung cancer can vary according to how far the tumor has spread, or how much of an area is affected. Doctors would prescribe one or a combination of the following few as treatment methods, depending on each individual. Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy focus on killing the unwanted cells, while surgery removes the unwanted cells. Sometimes the healthy tissue surrounding it is removed to make sure there is no recurrence of the disease. But always remember, the fastest cure to lung cancer, or any other disease, is a positive frame of mind!