Lung Cancer

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Lung Cancer
The Lungs
The lungs, a pair of sponge-like, cone-shaped organs, are part of the respiratory system. The right lung has three sections, called lobe; it is a little larger than the left lung, which has two lobes. When we breathe in, the lungs take in oxygen, which our cells need to live and carry out their normal functions. When we breathe out, the lungs get rid of carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of the body's cells.
Understanding Lung Cancer
Cancers that begin in the lungs are divided into two major types, nonsmall cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, depending on how the cells look under a microscope. Each type of lung cancer grows and spreads in different ways and is treated differently.
Nonsmall cell lung cancer is more common than small cell lung cancer, and it generally grows and spreads more slowly. There are three main types of nonsmall cell lung cancer. They are named for the type of cells in which the cancer develops: squamous cell carcinoma (also called epidermoid carcinoma), adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinomas.
Small cell lung cancer, sometimes called oat cell cancer, is less common than nonsmall cell lung cancer. This type of lung cancer grows more quickly and is more likely to spread to other organs in the body.
Cancers that begin in the lungs are divided into two major types, nonsmall cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer, depending on how the cells look under a microscope. Each type of lung cancer grows and spreads in different ways and is treated differently.
Lung Cancer: Who's at Risk?
Researchers have discovered several causes of lung cancer--most are related to the use of tobacco.
„h Cigarettes. Smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer. Harmful substances, called carcinogen, in tobacco damage the cells in the lungs. Over time, the damaged cells may become cancerous. The likelihood that a smoker will develop lung cancer is affected by the age at which smoking began, h...