Medical health

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both of the lungs. While normal lung tissue cells reproduce and develop into healthy lung tissue, these abnormal cells reproduce rapidly and never grow into normal lung tissue. Lumps of cancer cells (tumors) then form and disrupt the lung, making it difficult to function properly

More than 87% of lung cancers are smoking related. However, not all smokers develop lung cancer. Quitting smoking reduces an individual’s risk significantly, although former smokers remain at greater risk for lung cancer than people who never smoked. Exposure to other carcinogens such as asbestos and radon gas also increases an individual’s risk, especially when combined with cigarette or cigar smoking. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for about 80 percent of lung cancers. Among them are these types of tumors:

Adenocarcinoma is found in the mucus glands of the lungs. This is the most common type of lung cancer in women and among people who have not smoked.

Bronchioalveolar carcinoma, which is a rare subset of adenocarcinoma, forms near the lungs�� air sacs. Recent clinical research has shown that this type of cancer responds more effectively to the newer targeted therapies.

Large-cell undifferentiated carcinomas form near the surface (outer edges) of the lungs. They grow rapidly and often have spread by the time of diagnosis.

Small cell lung cancer accounts for 20 percent of all lung cancers. Although the cells are small, they multiply quickly and form large tumors that can spread throughout the body. Smoking is almost always the cause of small cell lung cancer

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