Lung cancer

More than a million people around the world are diagnosed with lung cancer every year. The number is simply startling! As such it is best to identify the cancer early and prevent it in the best way possible. Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth may lead to metastasis, which is invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs. The most common cause of lung cancer is long-term exposure to tobacco smoke. The occurrence of lung cancer in non-smokers, who account for as many as 20% of cases, is often attributed to a combination of genetic factors, radon gas, asbestos, and air pollution, including secondhand smoke. During the disastrous 9/11 event, many of the New York firemen suffer from chest illnesses including lung cancer due to high asbestos content in the smoke around GROUND ZERO area. Lung cancer may be seen on chest x-ray and computed tomography (CT scan). The diagnosis is confirmed with a biopsy. This is usually perfor...