* What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs. Cancer begins when the body's cells begin to grow out of control.

How common is lung cancer?
Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men and women (not including skin cancer) (prostate cancer is more common in men while breast cancer is more common in women).

* Lung cancer occurs mainly in the elderly. Most people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 years of age or older.

* There are very few people who have been diagnosed under the age of 45.

The average age of people at diagnosis is about 70 years.

* Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women and accounts for approximately 25% of all cancer deaths. Each year more people die of lung cancer than colon, breast and prostate cancer combined.

* On the positive side ..
The number of new lung cancer cases continues to fall, in part due to smoking cessation as the number one cause of all time.
The number of #deaths from #lung_cancer also continues to fall as people stop smoking and advances in early detection and treatment.

* In general, the chance of a man developing lung cancer in his lifetime is about 1 in 15, while for a woman the risk is about 1 in 17. These numbers include both smokers and non-smokers. For smokers, the risk is much higher, while the risk is lower for non-smokers.

The normal structure and function of the lungs
Your lungs are two sponge-like organs in your chest. Your right lung is made up of 3 sections called lobes. Your left lung contains two lobes. The left lung is smaller because the heart takes up more space on that side of the body.
When you breathe, air enters through your mouth or nose into your lungs through your windpipe. The trachea divides into tubes called bronchioles that enter the lungs and divide into smaller bronchi. These branches divide to form smaller branches called bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles are small air sacs known as alveoli.
Alveoli absorb oxygen into the blood from inhaled air and remove carbon dioxide from the blood when exhaled. Getting oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide is the main function of your lungs.
Lung cancers usually begin in the cells lining the bronchi and parts of the lung such as the bronchioles or alveoli.
A thin layer of lining called the pleura surrounds the lungs. The pleura protects your lungs and helps them glide back and forth against the chest wall as they expand and contract as you breathe.
Below the lungs, a thin, dome-shaped muscle called the diaphragm separates the chest from the abdomen. When you breathe, the diaphragm moves up and down, forcing air in and out of the lungs.

* Types of lung cancer:

1) Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC):
About 80% to 85% of lung cancers are NSCLC. The main subtypes of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. These subtypes starting from different types of lung cells are grouped together as NSCLC because their treatment and prognosis are often similar.
Adenoma: Adenocarcinomas begin in cells that normally secrete substances such as mucus. This type of lung cancer occurs mainly in current or former smokers but is also the most common type of lung cancer in non-smokers. It is more common in women than in men and is more likely to affect young adults than other types of lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma is usually found in the outer parts of the lung and is more likely to be detected before it spreads and has a better prognosis than other types of lung cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the squamous cells. They are flat cells that line the air passages in the lungs. They are often associated with a history of smoking and tend to be found in the central part of the lungs near the main airway (bronchi).
Large cell carcinoma (undifferentiated): Large cell carcinoma can appear in any part of the lung. It tends to grow and spread quickly which can make it difficult to treat.
2) Small cell lung cancer (SCLC):
About 10% to 15% of all lung cancers are small cell lung cancer, sometimes called oat cell carcinoma.
This type of lung cancer tends to grow and spread faster than non-small cell lung cancer. About 70% of people have the cancer already at the time of their diagnosis. Because this cancer grows quickly, it tends to respond well to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but unfortunately for most people the cancer will return at some point.

* Controlled risk factors for lung cancer:

1- #smoking:
Smoking is by far the main risk factor for lung cancer with about 80% of lung cancer deaths believed to be caused by smoking and this number is probably higher for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and it is very rare for someone who has never smoked to have SCLC.
The risk of lung cancer for smokers is several times higher than for non-smokers, the longer you smoke and the more packs of smoke you smoke per day, the higher your risk.
Cigar smoking and pipe smoking are just as likely to cause lung cancer as cigarette smoking. Smoking low-tar or "light" cigarettes increases the risk of lung cancer just as much as regular cigarettes. Smoking menthol cigarettes may increase the risk even more because menthol may allow smokers to inhale more deeply.

2- #Passive_smoking:
If you don't smoke, inhaling other people's smoke (called secondhand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke) can increase your risk of lung cancer, as secondhand smoke is believed to cause more than 7,000 deaths from lung cancer each year.

3- Beta-carotene supplements:
What is beta-carotene first?
Beta-carotene is a naturally occurring chemical found in plants, and one of its derivatives is vitamin A.
It is the substance responsible for giving the orange color to some vegetables and fruits. Beta-carotene is known as a very powerful antioxidant that contributes to health promotion and is very important as a basis in a healthy diet. However, despite all these advantages, taking beta-carotene supplements in large quantities was found to play a role in increasing the risk of lung cancer in both smokers and people exposed to asbestos.
Studies looking at the potential role of vitamin supplements in reducing the risk of lung cancer have shown disappointing results.
On the contrary, two large studies found that smokers who took beta-carotene supplements actually had an increased risk of lung cancer. The results of these studies suggest that smokers should avoid taking beta-carotene supplements.

4- Electronic cigarettes:
The researchers found that genes seem to play a role in some families with a strong history of lung cancer.
electronic cigarettes
E-cigarettes are a type of electronic nicotine delivery system that does not contain any tobacco but is classified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as "tobacco" products. E-cigarettes are relatively new and more research is needed to know the long-term effects, including the risk of lung cancer.

Lung cancer risk factors that you can't change:

#Previous_radiation_treatment of the lungs
People who have undergone chest radiotherapy for other types of cancer are more likely to develop lung cancer, especially if they are smokers. Examples include people who have been treated for Hodgkin's disease or women who have had chest radiation after a mastectomy due to breast cancer.
A personal or family history of lung cancer:
If you have lung cancer, you are more likely to develop another lung cancer.
Brothers, sisters, and children of people who have had lung cancer may be more likely to develop lung cancer, especially if their relative was diagnosed at an early age. It is not clear how much of this risk may be due to genes shared by family members and how much may be from shared household exposure (eg, tobacco smoke)
The researchers found that genes seem to play a role in some families with a strong history of lung cancer.
#Environmental pollution :
Environmental pollution resulting from factory and laboratory smoke and other pollutants is a major cause of lung cancer.

Lung cancer prevention methods:

1_ #StopSmoking
2_ #Keep away from smokers
3_ #Away_from_environmental_pollutants
4- #Follow a healthy diet
5- #No_too much_of_radiographic_images

Can lung cancer be detected early?
A logical question that comes to mind, as it may be done through screening, which is the use of tests to detect disease in people who do not show symptoms.
Regular chest x-rays have been studied for lung cancer, but they haven't helped most people live longer.
In recent years, a test known as a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan has been studied in people at high risk of lung cancer. He found that LDCT scans can help find abnormal areas in the lungs that may be cancerous.
Research has also shown that using LDCT scans to screen people at risk for lung cancer saved more lives than a chest X-ray.
Therefore, for those at high risk, having annual LDCT exams before symptoms start helps reduce the risk of dying from lung cancer.
If lung cancer is found at an early stage when it is small and before it has spread, it is more likely to be treated successfully.
Symptoms of lung cancer usually do not appear until the disease is already in an advanced stage. Even when lung cancer does cause symptoms, many people may mistake it for other problems, such as infection or the long-term effects of smoking, which can delay diagnosis.
It is worth noting that current and former smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer.

* What is the benefit of conducting early detection tests for lung cancer?
The main benefit of screening is the lower chance of dying from lung cancer, which causes many deaths among current and former smokers. However, it is important to realize that, as with any type of screening, not everyone who is being screened will benefit.

If you are at higher risk and should get screened, you should have an LDCT every year until you reach the age of 74 as long as you are still healthy.

#November_lung_cancer_awareness month
#november_lungcancerawarnessmonth
#Al-Amal_Support_for_cancer_fighting