Lung Cancer By: Jake Tyvol

What is lung cancer? Cancer itself is defined as a group of abnormal cells that don’t develop into regular tissues and divide rapidly while also creating tumors. Lung cancer is simply specific to one or both lungs

Lung Cancer in family history Both my mothers side and fathers side have an extensive history of smoking however my grandpa on my mothers side is the only one to have ever developed lung cancer as a result of smoking. He smoked cigars for 30+ years and when the cancer was finally caught it was to late for any form of treatment

Common Causes of Lung Cancer Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Over 90% of lung cancer deaths are attributed to smoking cigarettes and 87% of all lung cancer patients were previously smokers In addition being exposed to second hand smoke on a regular basis leads to a 24% greater chance of developing lung cancer Also exposure to asbestos and radon gases make up for around 22,000 lung cancer deaths a year. Both of these were very common in work places until recently It is estimated that 1 in 15 US homes are contaminated with radon gas which can seep in from the ground or faulty pipework as an odorless, colorless gas just like carbon monoxide

Populations and Age Groups Afflicted While lung cancer generally affects those in the age group 50-75, people are most at risk about 15 years after they quit smoking. Less than 2% of all lung cancer cases occur in people younger than age 45 Also, men are at an increased risk for developing lung cancer and average about 10,000 more cases than women per year

Lung Cancer Treatment Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are the most common forms of treating lung cancer. However depending on what stage the cancer is in when the diagnosis is made, treatment may not be possible

Effects of lung cancer Often times the individual suffers painful side effects due to chemotherapy including hair loss, vomiting, and weight loss Often times a lung cancer patient will have lots of emotional baggage if they were previously a smoker. They may feel guilt or shame about their past smoking habits Other physical effects of living with lung cancer include mild to severe shortness of breath, nausea and fatigue

Health Careers involved in diagnosis/treatment Medical oncologists- physicians who specialize in treating cancer Oncology nurses- administer treatment to cancer patient and monitor side effects Social workers- provide support to family and patient Pathologists- determine if the cancer is spreading and what stage the cancer is in Thoracic surgeons- if the cancer is operable, these specialists will remove cancerous tumors from the patients lungs

Works Cited Olendorf, Donna, Christine Jeryan, and Karen Boyden. The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, Print. Macmillan Health Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Macmillan Reference USA, Print. "Your Treatment Team.“lungcancer.org. Web. 14 Apr "What Are the Key Statistics About Lung Cancer." Web. 14 Apr "Lung Caner." Web. 14 Apr