Lung cancer is the abnormal regeneration of cells in the lungs, often occurring in people who smoke. Lungs are two spongy, air-filled organs found in your chest responsible for releasing carbon dioxide when exhaling and taking in oxygen while inhaling.
Although non-smokers can also develop lung cancer, smokers are at the highest risk. The risk of lung cancer increases with time and your smoking habit. Therefore, a chronic smoker has a higher risk of lung cancer than a social smoker.
How Does Smoking Cause Lung Cancer?
According to the National Cancer Institute, tobacco contains many harmful chemicals for both smokers and non-smokers. Out of the more than 7000 chemicals, at least 250 are named to be extremely damaging, and 69 are proven to contribute to causing lung cancer, including ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and carbon monoxide.
Therefore, when you smoke or inhale the smoke as a secondary user, your lung cells start getting damaged slowly. At first, your body may repair the damage, but continuous exposure destroys the normal cells, allowing abnormal cell formation.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Unfortunately, lung cancer does not have signs and symptoms during its earliest stages. They appear only after the disease is advanced. Below are some of the common symptoms.
- Unexplained weight loss
- Chest pains
- Coughing up blood
- Unending dry cough
- Chest pains
When to Visit a Doctor
If you have lung cancer Newport Beach-located, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a hospital specializing in cancer screening. Although a general hospital can diagnose your ailment, a cancer screening center will offer you more detailed and tailored treatment for you.
Final Word
Experts advise screening for lung cancer as early screening can save your life. The cure rate is as high as 90% for patients at the early stage, but the cure rate continues to drop as the cancer cells spread to other parts of your body. Therefore, do not hesitate to go for screening.
