A Breath Of Fresh Air

4 Pages 1093 Words

Imagine going outside and not being able to smell the fresh air. Now imagine not being able to smell your favorite scent. Those are just some of the effects of lung cancer. There are many different types cancer in the world today. They range from throat cancer, to colon cancer, to even breast cancer. The number one killer, however, of both men and women is lung cancer. The number one cause of lung cancer is smoking. 87% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking.

Our body is made up of cells, which is the body’s basic unit of life. Usually cells grow, divide, and produce more cells as needed to keep the body healthy. Sometimes this process can happen to rapidly and the body produces more cells than needed. The mass of unneeded cells forms a growth called a tumor. Not all tumors are detrimental to one’s health. Tumors can either be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancerous. They can often be removed surgically. Once a benign tumor is removed, it does not return. They are rarely a threat to life. Malignant tumors, on the other hand are cancerous. These cancerous cells can break away and break apart the surrounding tissue. These cells can enter the blood stream and invade other parts of the body through a process called metastasis.

There are many warning signs to inform you of the presence of lung cancer. Chronic cough, hoarseness, coughing up blood, weight loss & loss of appetite, shortness of breath, fever without a reason, wheezing, repeated cases of bronchitis and pneumonia, and chest pain are a few of these warning signs. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these signs, you must contact your physician at once. There many cancer detecting processes. Often, those early detection processes can lead to a cure. A doctor may do an x-ray, CT scan or biopsy, which is the processes in which a doctor stick a tube through the nose or mouth, down the throat to collect a sample of the tumor.

In 2002 there ...