Lung cancer is associated with lymphatic system, Unlike blood vein which carry blood lymphatic vessels carry blood lymphatic vessels carry lymph.
Lymph is the pure fluid which have both waste
products and immune system cells. Lymphatic vessels of the lungs lead
to nearby lymph nodes inside the chest, lymphatic node are located around the
bronchi and mediastinum (the area between two lungs).
Lung cancer cells can pass through the lymphatic vessels and
reach lymphatic nodes. Lymph nodes are small, bean shaped collection of the
immune system cells that are important for fighting infections.
Once lung cancer cells arrive the lymph node they continue to
flourish and if they continue to duplicate they spreads to the other parts of
the body.
Lung Cancer Statistics
According to American Cancer Society
report, cancer facts and figure 2020 cases and death in 2020
·
New cases and death: in 2022 is estimated 236,740 new cases of
lung cancer will be diagnosed in US and 130,180 people will die from the
disease.
·
Since lung cancer
is typically divided into two types that small cell lung cancer and non-small
cell lung cancer. According to American
Cancer Society (NSCLC; 82%) or SCLC 14%).
·
According to WHO report of 2020 lung cancer killed
about 10 million people.
·
Also each year it
is reported about 400,000 children are faced with lung cancer.
1 people (1 in 15 for men and 1 in 17 for women) will be diagnosed with lung cancer for their life time.
If you want to know more about sign and symptoms of lung cancer you can read here on American Cancer Society it explained clearly.
Types
of Lung Cancer
i) cell lung cancer (SCLC).
ii) Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
iii) Carcinoma is characterized by both SCLC and NSCLC.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSLC)
Various researches show that about
85%-90% of lung cancer. NSCLC divided into three subtypes which have different
size, shape and chemicals makeup when they checked in the microscope(source).
The Table Below Show the Subcategories of Non-Small Cell Factors and Causes of Lung Cancer.
Risk factors is the anything that can
spreads the chances of getting illness like cancer.
There are various risk factors that can speed ups the chances for you to get lung cancer include the following;
1. Tobacco smoking
For
a long time, tobacco smoking is considered as a main cause of lung cancer.
During 20thcentury the was rare case regarding lung cancer. Later on
the industrial production of cigarettes contribute to about 87% due to large
increase in cigarettes smoking.
Cigarettes
smoking do not only affect the smoker only but also can expose the people
nearby to face the risk of lung cancer.
Nonsmoker
who are married to cigarettes smoker has a 30% greater risk of getting lung cancer.
Workers
who are exposed to tobacco smoker in the workplace the chances of getting lung
cancer is absolutely possible.
If the tobacco smoking gets quitted before the cancer revealed the risk of getting lung cancer is reduced.
2. Arsenic.
Excessive amount of arsenic in drinking water increasing the risk of getting lung cancer.
3. Asbestos
Researches
show that asbestos workers are about 7 times risk of dying lung cancer compared
to other risk factors.
Exposure to asbestos fibers is the of the risk factors leading to lung cancer. The cigarettes smoker who are asbestos worker have 50%-90% of getting lung cancer than other people in general.
4. Radon
Radon
is produced due to the production of uranium. Radon is a radioactive gas that
cannot be seen, tested or smelled.
Researches show that the risk of getting lung cancer may double or even triple if you have lived for many years in radon contaminated environment, but the risk is small compared to tobacco smoking.
5. Marijuana
Dangerous
substances available in cigarettes also available in the marijuana. Many
studies show that marijuana can increase the risk of mouth cancer and throat
cancer.
Since marijuana is illegal in many parts of the world hence it becomes difficult to gather reliable data regarding its impacts in causing lung cancer.
6. Radiation therapy.
Chest
radiation therapy for cancer increase the risk of getting lung cancer.
Radiation therapy is done to those who have Hodgkin illness.
Also breast cancer women who are cigarette’s smoker and taking radiation therapy at the same time the risk of getting lung cancer is very high.
7. Diet
Poor
diet with minimum amount of fruits and vegetables increase the risk of lung
cancer especially if you are tobacco smoker.
Its advised to include your diet with plenty of fruits and vegetable, but you need to avoid those with high glycemic index. Example fruits like water melon and vegetable like potatoes.
8. Air pollution
This
is very common in high industrialized country whereby there is massive air
pollution which contribute a lot to the various chronic diseases like cancer.
The risk of getting lung cancer caused by air pollution is low compared to those caused by tobacco smoking.
9. Lung cancer can also be associated with personal and family background.
If
you have lung cancer, there is chance of spreading to your offspring.
Grandparent, father, brothers, sisters and children of those who face lung
cancer illness may have the high risk of getting lung cancer.
Prevention and Detection of Lung Cancer
Can non-small cell lung cancer be
prevented?
·
The first and
fastest way to get rid of lung cancer is to quit smoking and avoid sitting
around tobacco smoker.
·
Do your best to
find the cancer free environment.
·
Eat healthy diet
includes fruits and vegetables.
Can we detect non-small cell lung
cancer?
Unfortunately, the symptoms of lung
cancer do not appear until the diseases reach its critical stages.
For those who are lung enough lung
cancer can be diagnosed in early stages when they test for other medical
conditions like chest x-ray or chest CT scan.