Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. It causes cells within to break down and create tumors. It can also lead to inflammation, which is known to increase the risk of other health conditions. Unfortunately, people who have never smoked can also develop lung cancer. It can be hereditary but can also be generated if exposed to radon, radiation therapy to a person’s chest, and a person who is smoking.
The risk of lung cancer may also increase in people who live in urban areas. Studies have shown that air pollution, which is made up of a mix of solid and liquid particles, increases the risk of lung cancer. Statistics of lung cancer in the Philippines are now over 90 deaths. Besides smoking, other factors related to the increased risk of lung cancer include:
1. Asbestos
2. Chromium, and
3. Diesel exhaust
Lung cancer is caused by the destruction of normal lung cells, which can occur in people who have never smoked. It can spread to other parts of the body. Treatments can prevent the spread of cancer and help patients to survive. When it applies, the symptoms can be severe. Some patients with advanced lung cancer have pain, nausea, and headaches. Other symptoms include fluid in the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood.
Lung cancer in the Philippines is the leading cause of death. Tobacco smoke is the biggest trigger of it. Those who have smoked for decades are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer. If an individual is a smoker, they should quit smoking for a few years or at least. After that, they should not start smoking again.
The most common types are:
1. Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
This variety of diseases spreads faster than the other type. It can even disseminate beyond the lungs. The silver lining is that it positively responds to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
2. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
This is epithelial lung cancer since it grows slowly. Doctors determined that it has scaled cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Hence, squamous cells can spread to the other body parts of a person by the time they are diagnosed.
3. Carcinoid
It is a variety of neuroendocrine tumors that mainly generates from neuroendocrine cells. The cells are the one receiving and sending messages through hormones, which helps in functioning the body. Carcinoid is the slowest and rarest lung cancer, but it causes:
- Severe flushing
- Confusion
- Low blood pressure
- Shortness of breath
Lung cancer is often caused by smoking. It is estimated that 80{137aa25a4781ca5f540979e28781665e476534549c3e309c9d7ae77466626c90} of lung cancers are associated with smoking. Aside from smoking, other causes include air pollution, environmental toxins, and genetics.
Continue reading the infographic below and learn everything about lung cancer created and designed by Hope From Within:
