May infect Lung Cancer Your lungs, the two spongy organs in your chest, absorb oxygen when you inhale and release carbon dioxide when you exhale. In this article, we will learn about the causes of lung cancer, complications of lung cancer, and lung cancer prevention.
Causes Of Lung Cancer
it causes Smoking The majority of lung cancers – in smokers and people exposed to secondhand smoke. But lung cancer also occurs in people who have never smoked and who have never been exposed to secondhand smoke for long periods. In these cases, there may not be an apparent cause of lung cancer .
How does smoking cause lung cancer?
Doctors believe that smoking causes lung cancer by damaging the cells lining the lungs. When you inhale cigarette smoke that is full of carcinogens, the changes in lung tissue begin almost immediately .. But how?
At first, your body may be able to repair the damage caused by the carcinogens in smoke, but with constant and repeated exposure to carcinogens, the normal cells that line your lungs become increasingly damaged. Over time, this damage causes cells to function abnormally and lung cancer develops .
Types of lung cancer
Doctors divide lung cancer into two main types based on the appearance of lung cancer cells under a microscope, and these two types are :
Small cell lung cancer: Small cell lung cancer occurs almost exclusively in heavy smokers and is less common than non-small cell lung cancer.
Non-small cell lung cancer : Non-small cell lung cancer is an umbrella term for several types of lung cancer. These include non-small cell lung cancers Squamous cell carcinoma And adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma.
Factors that increase the risk of lung cancer.
Factors That Increase The Risk Of Developing Lung Cancer Include :
- Smoking: Your risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day and the number of years you have smoked. CouldTo quit smoking At any age can significantly reduce the risk of developing lung cancer.
- Exposure to second hand smoke: Even if you do not smoke, your risk of developing lung cancer increases if you are exposed to second hand smoke.
- Previous radiation therapy: If you have had chest radiotherapy for another type of cancer, you may have an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
- Exposure to radon gas: Radon is produced by the natural decomposition of uranium in soil, rocks and water, which eventually becomes part of the air that you breathe. Unsafe levels of radon can build up in any building, including homes.
- Exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens: Workplace exposure to asbestos and other substances known to cause cancer – such as arsenic, chromium, and nickel – can increase your risk of developing lung cancer, especially if you are a smoker.
Genetic factors: If your father, mother, brother or sister has lung cancer, your risk of lung cancer increases.
Lung cancer complications
If lung cancer remains untreated, it may cause many complications, the most prominent of which are :
- Shortness of breath: People with lung cancer can have :Shortness of breathIf the cancer has grown, it will block the main airways. Lung cancer can also cause fluid to accumulate around the lungs, making it difficult for the affected lung to fully expand upon inhalation.
- Coughing up blood: Lung cancer can cause bleeding into the airway, which may lead to coughing up blood (hemoptysis). The bleeding can sometimes become severe. Treatments are available to control bleeding.
- Pain: Advanced lung cancer that spreads to the lining of the lung or another area of ​​the body, such as the bone, can cause pain. Tell your doctor if you feel pain, as many treatments are available to control the pain.
- Fluid in the chest (pleural effusion): Lung cancer can cause fluid to accumulate in the space surrounding the affected lung in the chest cavity (pleural space), and fluid accumulation in the chest can lead to shortness of breath. Treatments are available to drain fluid from your chest and reduce the risk of a pleural effusion occurring again.
- Malignant tumor: Lung cancer often spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body, such as the brain and bones, which is known as malignant lung cancer, and cancer can cause pain, nausea, headache, or other signs and symptoms depending on the affected organ.
Once lung cancer has spread outside the lungs, it generally cannot be cured. Treatments are available to reduce signs and symptoms and to help you live longer.
Lung cancer Prevention
Your risk of lung cancer can be reduced by following the following tips :
- Don’t smoke: If you’ve never smoked, don’t start. Talk to your children about the dangers of smoking so that they can understand how to avoid the main risk factor for lung cancer.
- Stop smoking: Stop smoking now. Quitting smoking reduces your risk of developing lung cancer, even if you have been a smoker for years. Talk to your doctor about strategies and methods to quit smoking that can help you kick this habit.
- Avoid second hand smoke: If you live or work with a smoker, urge him to quit smoking. At the very least, ask him or her to smoke outside. Avoid places where people smoke, such as bars and restaurants.
- Check the Radon levels in your home: especially if you live in an area where radon is known to be a problem. High radon levels can be treated to make your home safer.
- Avoiding carcinogens at work: Take precautions to protect yourself from exposure to toxic chemicals at work. For example, if you have been given a face mask for protection, wear it always.
- Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables: it is rich in vitamins and nutrients that are essential for you. Avoid taking large doses of vitamins in pill form as they can be harmful.
- Exercise regularly: If you don’t exercise regularly, start slowly. try toPlaying sports Most of the week.
Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, but it is not the only cause, so if you want to protect yourself from lung cancer, follow the tips that we have included in this article to keep this disease away from you and your family.
