What is Cancer?:
Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of
control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control
growth of abnormal cells.
Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During
the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide more rapidly until the person
becomes an adult. After that, cells in most parts of the body divide only to replace
worn-out or dying cells and to repair injuries.
Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different
from normal cells. Instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to form new
abnormal cells.
Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. This substance is in
every cell and directs all its activities. Most of the time when DNA becomes damaged the
body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired. People can
inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. Many times though, a
person’s DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like
smoking.
Cancer usually forms as a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, do not
form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs and
circulate through other tissues where they grow.
Often, cancer cells travel to other parts of the body, where they begin
to grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis. Regardless of where
a cancer may spread, however, it is always named for the place it began. For instance,
breast cancer that spreads to the liver is still called breast cancer, not liver cancer.
Not all tumors are cancerous. Benign (noncancerous) tumors do not spread
to other parts of the body (metastasize) and, with very rare exceptions, are not life
threatening.
Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung
cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and
respond to different treatments. That is why people with cancer need treatment that is
aimed at their particular kind cancer.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Nearly
half of all men and a little over one-third of all women in the US will develop cancer
during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had
cancer. The risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a
person's lifestyle, for example, by quitting smoking and eating a better diet. The sooner
a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better are the chances for living for many
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Lung
Cancer:
Lung cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells
develop in the tissues of the lungs.
Lung cancer is the most common cause of
cancer deaths in both men and women,
accounting for nearly a third of cancer deaths
annually in the United States.
It is most often caused by smoking.
There are two main types of lung cancer:
small cell lung cancer
and non-small cell lung cancer.
The two types grow and spread in different ways,
and they are treated differently.
Small cell lung cancer is less common
than non-small cell lung cancer.
The cancer cells are small but may
develop rapidly into large tumors
and may spread to the lymph nodes and other
organs in the body.
Non-small cell lung cancer is much more common
than small cell lung cancer and includes several subtypes.
Small Cell Lung Cancer:
Small Cell Lung Cancer accounts for about 20%
of all lung cancers and is a more aggressive type.
Smoking is the single most important risk factor for the
development of lung cancer. Persons who smoke cigarettes, pipes or cigars should consult
with their health care provider about methods to quit as soon as possible.
Approximately 170,000 cases of lung cancer are
diagnosed in the United States each year.
Lung cancer is fairly rare in persons under the age of 40.
The average age of persons found to have lung cancer is 60.
Most lung cancers are diagnosed in late stages,
due in part to lack of effective screening procedures.
Lung cancer patients and their family members are often
stigmatized
by a widespread prejudice about smoking,
and many feel isolated and hesitant to tell others
about their diagnosis.
Lung cancer receives little public or media attention.
This is due, in part, to a small community of
survivors to bring a voice and attention to lung cancer issues.
The ribbon representing lung cancer is clear,
symbolizing the little public attention given to this "invisible disease",
especially in light of the incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer. 
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