Lung Cancer - Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic
Lung Cancer - Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic
Lung Cancer - Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic
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Overview
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the
lungs. Your lungs are two spongy organs in your
chest that take in oxygen when you inhale and
release carbon dioxide when you exhale.
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: Mayo Clinic Press
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Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or
symptoms that worry you.
If you smoke and have been unable to quit, make an appointment with your
doctor. Your doctor can recommend strategies for quitting smoking, such as
counseling, medications and nicotine replacement products.
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Causes
Smoking causes the majority of lung cancers — both in smokers and in people
exposed to secondhand smoke. But lung cancer also occurs in people who
never smoked and in those who never had prolonged exposure to secondhand
smoke. In these cases, there may be no clear cause of lung cancer.
At first your body may be able to repair this damage. But with each repeated
exposure, normal cells that line your lungs are increasingly damaged. Over
time, the damage causes cells to act abnormally and eventually cancer may
develop.
Doctors divide lung cancer into two major types based on the appearance of
lung cancer cells under the microscope. Your doctor makes treatment
decisions based on which major type of lung cancer you have.
Small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer occurs almost exclusively
in heavy smokers and is less common than non-small cell lung cancer.
Risk factors
A number of factors may increase your risk of lung cancer. Some risk factors
can be controlled, for instance, by quitting smoking. And other factors can't be
controlled, such as your family history.
Complications
Lung cancer can cause complications, such as:
Fluid in the chest (pleural effusion). Lung cancer can cause fluid to
accumulate in the space that surrounds the affected lung in the chest
cavity (pleural space).
Cancer that spreads can cause pain, nausea, headaches, or other signs
and symptoms depending on what organ is affected. Once lung cancer
has spread beyond the lungs, it's generally not curable. Treatments are
available to decrease signs and symptoms and to help you live longer.
Prevention
There's no sure way to prevent lung cancer, but you can reduce your risk if you:
Don't smoke. If you've never smoked, don't start. Talk to your children
about not smoking so that they can understand how to avoid this major
risk factor for lung cancer. Begin conversations about the dangers of
smoking with your children early so that they know how to react to peer
pressure.
Stop smoking. Stop smoking now. Quitting reduces your risk of lung
cancer, even if you've smoked for years. Talk to your doctor about
strategies and stop-smoking aids that can help you quit. Options include
nicotine replacement products, medications and support groups.
Avoid secondhand smoke. If you live or work with a smoker, urge him
or her to quit. At the very least, ask him or her to smoke outside. Avoid
areas where people smoke, such as bars and restaurants, and seek out
smoke-free options.
Test your home for radon. Have the radon levels in your home
checked, especially if you live in an area where radon is known to be a
problem. High radon levels can be remedied to make your home safer.
For information on radon testing, contact your local department of public
health or a local chapter of the American Lung Association.
Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables. Choose a healthy diet with a
variety of fruits and vegetables. Food sources of vitamins and nutrients
are best. Avoid taking large doses of vitamins in pill form, as they may be
harmful. For instance, researchers hoping to reduce the risk of lung
cancer in heavy smokers gave them beta carotene supplements. Results
showed the supplements actually increased the risk of cancer in smokers.
Exercise most days of the week. If you don't exercise regularly, start
out slowly. Try to exercise most days of the week.
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