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Lung cancer claims more than 150,000 lives each year. The disease is caused by several factors: smoking, asbestos, coal mining, and firefighting, among others, and can take several forms. These include small cell lung cancer, large cell lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma.
Small Cell Lung Cancer Small cell lung cancer cells spread more quickly and are more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation treatments than large call lung cancer cells. This type of lung cancer is also less common than large cell cancer, accounting for only about 20 percent of all types of lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is a highly progressive disease. The cells often form metastases in the lungs and in nearby organs, making it impossible to treat with surgery. The usual treatments for small cell lung cancer include cryosurgery (freezing and destroying the cells), radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The symptoms of small cell lung cancer include swelling in the neck, pain, tenderness, shortness of breath, and persistent coughing. Large Cell Lung Cancer There are three categories of large cell lung cancer: squamous cell carcinoma (also called epidermoid carcinoma), adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Large cell lung cancer is more common than small cell lung cancer, accounting for 80 percent of cases. The causes of large cell lung cancer are believed to be exposure to asbestos, exposure to harmful substances like benzene, fiberglass, radon and others, and the combination of cigarette smoke and exposure to toxic substances. |
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Large cell lung cancer differs from small cell lung cancer in several ways. The cells can usually be treated with surgery even after they have spread, and they tend to grow and spread much more slowly. The cells also often do not spread outside the chest cavity until the disease is advanced.
The symptoms of large cell lung cancer include a persistent cough that worsens over time, continual chest pains, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, hoarseness, tightening in the chest, recurring pneumonia or bronchitis, inflammation of the face and neck, weight loss or loss of appetite, and extreme exhaustion.
Stages of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer usually does not cause symptoms in its early stages. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer include chronic cough, wheezing, hoarseness, weight loss or loss of appetite, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, and persistent cases of bronchitis or pneumonia. When symptoms occur, the cancer is often advanced.
The symptoms of lung cancer are common to other lung diseases, however. Therefore, a doctor performs a series of tests to determine the cause of the symptoms.
When lung cancer is first detected, doctors identify the stage of the cancer. This helps determine which treatment is best. Tests also are conducted to find out whether the cancer has spread, and, if so, to which parts of the body. This information helps doctors plan the most effective treatment.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a non-malignant, progressive lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. These fibers become embedded in the lungs when they are inhaled, causing fibrosis. When this happens, breathing is restricted, lung capacity is reduced and scar tissue is developed. The resulting condition is asbestosis, which is permanent and can eventually lead to pulmonary hypertension and cardiac failure.
Some of the symptoms of asbestosis are shortness of breath, a dry, persistent cough and rapid, hoarse breathing. The symptoms of this disease, however, may not appear until decades after the initial exposure to asbestos fibers.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma, cancer of the lung lining. Mesothelioma also occurs in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) and the pericardium (the lining around the heart). All forms of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is a latent cancer. In other words, it may not appear in the body until 10 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos took place. The early symptoms of mesothelioma can resemble pneumonia. They include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, persistent cough, and chest and abdominal pain. There is often fluid buildup between the lung lining and the chest cavity, which leads to shortness of breath and pain.
There is no known cure for mesothelioma, although the disease can be treated with chemotherapy, surgery, pneumonectomy, radiation therapy, and gene therapy.
The symptoms of large cell lung cancer include a persistent cough that worsens over time, continual chest pains, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, hoarseness, tightening in the chest, recurring pneumonia or bronchitis, inflammation of the face and neck, weight loss or loss of appetite, and extreme exhaustion.
Stages of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer usually does not cause symptoms in its early stages. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer include chronic cough, wheezing, hoarseness, weight loss or loss of appetite, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, and persistent cases of bronchitis or pneumonia. When symptoms occur, the cancer is often advanced.
The symptoms of lung cancer are common to other lung diseases, however. Therefore, a doctor performs a series of tests to determine the cause of the symptoms.
When lung cancer is first detected, doctors identify the stage of the cancer. This helps determine which treatment is best. Tests also are conducted to find out whether the cancer has spread, and, if so, to which parts of the body. This information helps doctors plan the most effective treatment.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a non-malignant, progressive lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. These fibers become embedded in the lungs when they are inhaled, causing fibrosis. When this happens, breathing is restricted, lung capacity is reduced and scar tissue is developed. The resulting condition is asbestosis, which is permanent and can eventually lead to pulmonary hypertension and cardiac failure.
Some of the symptoms of asbestosis are shortness of breath, a dry, persistent cough and rapid, hoarse breathing. The symptoms of this disease, however, may not appear until decades after the initial exposure to asbestos fibers.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma, cancer of the lung lining. Mesothelioma also occurs in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) and the pericardium (the lining around the heart). All forms of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is a latent cancer. In other words, it may not appear in the body until 10 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos took place. The early symptoms of mesothelioma can resemble pneumonia. They include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, persistent cough, and chest and abdominal pain. There is often fluid buildup between the lung lining and the chest cavity, which leads to shortness of breath and pain.
There is no known cure for mesothelioma, although the disease can be treated with chemotherapy, surgery, pneumonectomy, radiation therapy, and gene therapy.
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Brent Coon & Associates
Beaumont, Texas - 215 Orleans
Beaumont, TX 77701
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Brent Coon & Associates
Beaumont, Texas - 215 Orleans
Beaumont, TX 77701
Disclaimer