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An Introduction to Lung Cancer
Lung cancer can affect both men and women and can cause other health problems if not treated. There are many ways a person can develop lung cancer. Smoking, inhaling second-hand smoke, asbestos, pollution, and radon have all been known to cause cancerous tumors in the lungs. It is important to give up smoking if possible and to avoid pollutants whenever possible. Lung cancer can be treated, but the chances of developing this type of cancer again are very possible.
There are many different types of lung cancer. Depending on how the cancerous cells develop and how quickly they spread will determine which kind of lung cancer a person has developed. There are many tests that can be conducted to determine if cancer is present and which type it is. MRI, CAT scan, bone test, and biopsy are common ways doctors use when trying to figure out if cancer is present. There are also symptoms such as constant cough, coughing up blood, fatigue, weight loss, breathing problems, prolonged illness, and many others. If these symptoms persist, then a person should go to a doctor to have some tests run. The sooner a doctor can make a diagnosis, the sooner they are begin to get rid of the cancerous cells in the body. This will also help keep the cancer from spreading.
There are many treatment methods used to treat lung cancer. Medications, laser therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are some of the most popular ways to treat lung cancer. Many times, treatment is enough to rid the body of cancerous cells. Follow up checks will have to be conducted at least once a year to determine if the cancer has returned. A person’s chances for lung cancer are greater if they already had it before.
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