LUNG CANCER LUNG CANCER

Lung Cancer  What Is Lung Cancer?  Lung Cancer is a disease caused by the rapid growth and division of cells that make up the lungs.  Lung cancer is some times called “bronchogenic cancer”, or it may be described by its particular histological type, that is the type of tissue that is diseased.

Lung Cancer  Causes  It is estimated that tobacco smoking cause 80% of lung cancer deaths in men and 75% of lung cancer deaths in women.  The more cigarettes that are smoked each day and the younger the age at which smoking began, the greater risk of lung cancer.  People who quit smoking have a lower risk of developing lung cancer, and, after 10 to 15 years, their lung cancer death rates approach the rates of non smokers.  Pipe and cigar smokers have a higher lung cancer death rate than non smokers but a lower lung cancer death rate than cigarette smokers.

Lung Cancer  Risk Factors  The lung cancer risk factors are those that a person has no control over such as:  Age  Race  Sex  Heredity

Lung Cancer  Groups Most at Risk  AGE: Lung cancer is a “disease of ageing”. During ageing, as the body’s internal repair processes are slowed and its metabolism changes, the likelihood of cancer development increases.  RACE: In recent decades, there have been more smokers, but fewer cigarettes smoked per day, among black vs white men, although both black and white women have reported similar smoking rates  SEX: The higher rate of lung cancer among American men, in comparison to American women, probably mirrors the higher rates of smoking in this group.

Lung Cancer  Treatment  Once lung cancer has been staged, the physician and the patient can discuss treatment options. An individual then has a better idea of the value of different forms of therapy.  The two characteristics of the lung tumor is help to separate individuals into two groups.1. Those who are at low risk of cancer recurrence.2. Those who are at high risk of cancer recurrence.  Surgical resection, or cutting away, of the tumor generally is indicated for disease that has not spread beyond the lung. Such resection may be conducted using a variety of techniques.

Lung Cancer  Treatment Cont.  Thoracotomy- the opening of the chest wall for surgical procedures.  Surgery performed by cutting through the breast bone.  These are standard methods for lung cancer surgery.  Recently, surgeons have developed other less invasive procedures for the removal of tumorous tissue. For example, video assisted thoracoscopy, otherwise known as video assisted thoracic surgery, uses a video camera to help visualize and operate upon the lung within the chest cavity.

Lung Cancer  Prevention  DO NOT SMOKE ANY KIND OF TOBACCO!

Lung Cancer  Questions  1. What is Lung Cancer sometimes called?  2. What percentage of deaths does tobacco smoking cause in men and women?  3. Name three risk factors.  4.What three things did we talk about for the groups most at risk?  5.How many kinds of treatments are there? And briefly describe them.  6.Although there are no medical preventions what is the prevention listed in this slide show?