What is Lung Cancer (Lung Carcinoma) – Causes, Symptoms and More

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Cancer of the lung results from uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. Cells are the body’s basic unit of life. Uncontrolled division and proliferation of cells in our body turn into a mass known as a tumor. Tumors, however, can be benign (non spreading) or malignant, but the cancer we are referring to, these tumors are malignant. Lung cancer is considered to be life-threatening and one of the most difficult cancers to treat because it tends to spread or metastasize very early after it forms. Carcinogens (such as those in tobacco smoke), ionizing radiation, and viral infection are the primary causes of lung cancer.

Symptoms of lung cancer include shortness of breath, chronic coughing or coughing up blood, wheezing, chest pain or pain in the abdomen, weight loss, fatigue, and loss of appetite, hoarse voice, clubbing of the fingernails and difficulty swallowing. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Lung cancer is predominantly a disease of the elderly; 70% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are over 65 years of age, while less than 3% of lung cancers occur in people under 45 years of age. It has time and again equally affected the average Joe and a celebrity. Many famous people over the years have succumbed to lung cancer. It took the lives of Nat King Cole, Walt Disney, George Harrison, Paul Newman, Dana Reeve, Bob Marley. Lance Armstrong, a professional road-racing cyclist from the US, was diagnosed in 1996 with testicular cancer which had spread to his lungs, brain, and stomach. In 1997 after several treatments he was declared “free from cancer”. He is one of the famous lung cancer survivor stories. He also founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support.

Many people have survived this devastating disease and lived to write their stories for the others to read and gain hope from. And lung cancer is no exception. If the tumor is picked up early the patients can recover and lead a healthy life. Intensive research is being conducted and new treatments are evolving and being tested every day. Here is a list of clinical trials, new treatments being investigated for Non Small cell Lung Cancer (a form of Lung Cancer)

There is so much reason for hope. While the scientists are working towards a cure, we all have an important, supportive role to play in it. We must promote awareness and work towards overcoming habits like smoking to conquer this terrible disease.