Lung Cancer

*The first picture illustrates the Lungs of a Smoker and the second one of a Non-Smoker

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs. These abnormal cells do not carry out the functions of normal cells and do not develop into healthy lung tissue. As they grow, the abnormal cells can form tumors and impede the function of the lung, which is to provide oxygen to the body via the blood.

The Genetic Basis of Lung Cancer
All cells in the body contain DNA. Every time a mature cell divides into two daughter cells, it replicates its DNA exactly. The daughter cells are clones of the original cell, identical in every way. It is in this way that our bodies continually replenish themselves. Old cells die off and the next generation takes their place.
A cancer begins with an error, or mutation, in a cell's DNA. DNA mutations can be caused by the normal aging process or through environmental factors, such as cigarette smoke or breathing in asbestos.
Lung Cancer Statistics
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers. It is the second most diagnosed cancer in men and women (after prostate and breast, respectively), but it is the number one cause of death from cancer each year in both men and women. Because lung cancer can take years to develop, it is mostly found in older people. The average age of a person receiving a lung cancer diagnosis is 69 years.
Overall, lung cancer affects men more than women, but that gap is closing.
Cigarette smoking is the cause of most lung cancers, but there are other factors, too. Exposure to

asbestos, radon, environmental factors, or secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer. There are often internal factors (inherited or from our genes) as well as external or environmental factors (from outside of our bodies) involved in the development of any type of cancer.
Lung Cancer Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of lung cancer can take years to develop and they may not appear until the disease is advanced.
Some symptoms of lung cancer that are in the chest:
-Intense coughing
-Pain in the chest, shoulder, or back
-A change in color or volume of sputum
-Shortness of breath
-Changes in the voice or being hoarse
-Recurrent lung problems, such as bronchitis or pneumonia
-Coughing up phlegm or mucus, especially if it is tinged with blood
-Coughing up blood
If the original lung cancer has spread, a person may feel symptoms in other places in the body. Common places for lung cancer to spread include other parts of the lungs, lymph nodes, bones, brain, liver, and adrenal glands.

Some symptoms of lung cancer that may occur elsewhere in the body:
-Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
-Fatigue
-Headaches, bone or joint pain
-Bone fractures not related to accidental injury
-Neurological symptoms, such as memory loss
General weakness
Types of Treatment
Surgery
Curative surgery: The removal of a tumor when it appears to be confined to one area, which means an early stage cancer. This type of surgery aims to completely remove the cancerous tumor, and may include remove a wedge, a lobe, or an entire lung.
Palliative surgery: The goal of this surgery is to make the patient more comfortable, e.g., laser surgery for the removal of an obstruction or opening of an airway.
Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses strong chemicals or drugs to kill cancer cells, stop their reproduction, or slow their growth.
Radiation

Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) may be effective for the treatment of lung cancer. It uses high-energy rays, similar to X-rays, but stronger, to kill or shrink cancer cells.

http://www.lungcancer.org/reading/about.php