Lung cancer: a serious condition

All types of cancer are dangerous, but none are as difficult to treat as lung cancer. This type of cancer causes more deaths in men and women around the world than any other type of cancer. In the United States alone, an estimated 215,020 people are diagnosed with cancer of the lung each year, and an estimated 161,840 Americans die from lung cancer on an annual basis, according to data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Statistics show that one out of 14 people will eventually have lung cancer. That’s an alarming trend, considering this condition occurs commonly in both men and women.

Why is lung cancer so dangerous?

Lung cancer is more dangerous than most other forms of cancer for two reasons: 1) how fast it spreads, and 2) it has few visible symptoms. Here we’ll discuss each of these reasons in greater detail.

The spread of lung cancer

When people discuss cancer, they’re discussing a phenomenon in which the cells in a certain part of the body mutate and begin reproducing at incredibly rapid rates. As cells reproduce, they eventually from large masses called tumors. If these tumors are malignant, they will continue to grow and spread to other parts of the body. Cancerous cells can also be spread through the glands and bloodstream, causing tumors to appear in other organs. Usually, cancerous cells don’t begin spreading around the body until a considerable amount of time has passed, giving the cancerous growths a chance to mature. With lung cancer, this process begins soon after the cancerous cell mutations take place. By the time a person’s lung cancer is detected, the cancer has often already spread to other parts of the body – often the brain, liver or adrenal glands -- making treatment much more difficult.

Few visible symptoms of lung cancer

Roughly a quarter of all lung cancer patients show no symptoms of their conditions, and cancerous growths aren’t discovered unless a patient undergoes a chest X-ray or CT scan. Others may experience coughing as a result of a cancerous growth interfering with bleeding, but often these warning signs are mistaken for asthma, bronchitis or various other health issues in which coughing is a key symptom. Other symptoms such as headaches and blurred vision are also associated with more common illnesses such as the cold or flu.

Types of lung cancer

Lung cancers generally fall into one of two categories: small cell lung cancers and non-small cell lung cancers.

• Small-cell lung cancers: Small cell lung cancers are the most aggressive forms of lung cancer, but they only account for roughly one-fifth of all lung cancer cases. Smoking is believed to be the biggest risk factor for developing this condition. Research shows that only 1 percent of all small-cell tumors appear in non-smokers.

• Non-small cell lung cancers: Almost all other cases of lung cancer fall under this category. Non-small cell tumors are still very dangerous and often spread to other parts of the body. However, these types of cancers appear commonly in nonsmokers as well as smokers, and they can appear in various parts of the lungs. The three main types of non-small cell lung cancers include adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and large cell carcinomas.

Lung cancer screening tests

Fortunately, screening tests are available for people who are concerned about developing lung cancer. The most commonly used screening tests include chest X-rays and sputum cytology, a procedure in which mucus from the lungs is examined under a microscope for the presence of cancerous cells. Speak to your doctor if you’re interested in undergoing a screening test for lung cancer.