Smoking and Lung Cancer

Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. There are over 40 carcinogens in cigarette smoke. Since over 80% of lung cancer is caused by smoking, understand that lung cancer can in many cases be prevented. The longer you smoke and the more cigarettes you smoke, the more you increase your chance of developing this dreaded disease. One thing to keep in mind is that it is never too late to stop smoking. For example, when you stop smoking, after about ten years, your risk of developing lung cancer decreases by almost a third to as much as a half. Of course, if you quit smoking, you will also reduce your risk of developing the many other health conditions that smoking causes, e.g. heart disease or emphysema.

Second Hand Smoke Risks:

The smoke that is exhaled from a smoker also contains chemicals that can eventually lead to lung cancer. This is why it is also dangerous to even stand next to a smoker given the inherent risk of inhaling second hand smoke.

Other Causes of Lung Cancer:

Besides smoking, there are other causes of lung cancer. They can include exposure to radon or asbestos. Detecting lung cancer can be difficult since symptoms do not clearly present themselves until the lung cancer has advanced a bit.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer:

Some symptoms of lung cancer are a chronic cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain and coughing up blood. These symptoms are similar to other health conditions, so the doctor will need to do an extensive examination to make a proper diagnosis. The doctor may order chest x-rays, a CT scan and/or take a biopsy using a bronchoscope through the nose or mouth.

Diagnosed with Lung Cancer:

If you are diagnosed with lung cancer, your doctor will do further tests to determine what level your lung cancer as progressed to and whether any other areas of your body have been infected. Once the doctor is able to determine where the lung cancer is specifically located, how invasive it is and what type of lung cancer it is, the doctor can decide on a treatment plan.

Treatment Options for Lung Cancer:

There are several options for treatment of lung cancer. The doctor will decide on whether surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy are necessary. Surgery can help mitigate lung cancer. Of course, this is dependent on the size, shape, and location of the tumor. Participating in a clinical trial may also be an option for you. If you have a desire to participate in a clinical trial, let your doctor know so you can have a complete evaluation done to see if you would qualify as a participant.

You also need to understand your legal options. Recent court rulings have opened the door for you to hold tobacco companies accountable for your debilitating disease. An experienced trial attorney will be able to explain these specifics to you in detail, but there's only a certain amount of time to pursue a claim. Therefore, contact an attorney today to protect your rights.