Analysis of Lung Cancer Disease - Essay Example

The secondary cause of lung cancer is Radon gas. An individual can be exposed to Radon through soil, pipes, drains, and other openings. Since this gas does not have a smell, it has to be detected by measuring its level in the air. A combination of smoking and inhalation of radon gas can increase the risk of lung cancer. Asbestos and several carcinogenic agents such as uranium, arsenic vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal products, mustard gas, chloro-methyl ethers, and gasoline and diesel exhaust can also cause this disease. Radiation treatment in case of other lung diseases such as tuberculosis, some types of Pneumonia, and air pollution can also lead to this disease.

A person having a family history of lung cancer is also susceptible to it. [Overview: Lung Cancer. 2005]. It is estimated that about 163,510 people will die of lung cancer by the end of 2005. [Lung Cancer. 2005]. Approximately 172,570 new cases of lung cancer are estimated to be diagnosed in the United States by 2005. [Lung Cancer. 2005]. This disease is more prevalent in men that in women. The incidence of cancer varies with race and ethnicity and seems to be most prevalent among blacks. [Cancer Incidence and Death Rates. 2000]. Lung cancer originates in the lungs and gradually damages the tissues around it.

Eventually, they disintegrate from the malignant tumor, enter the bloodstream and develop cancerous growth in other parts of the body. This process is called metastasis. This disease spreads within a few months throughout the body. [Lung information. 2005]Lung cancer appears in four phases. In the first phase, it is localized and can be divided into 1A and 1B. In stage 1A the cancerous growth is less than 3 cm. In the 1B stage, it is more than 3cms. In the second stage, it spreads to the lymph nodes and it can again be divided into 2A and 2B.

In stage three, cancer spreads into the chest wall and can further be divided into 3A and 3B. In phase four this disease spreads to other parts of the body. [The stages of lung cancer. 2002]. There are treatments available to cure Lung cancer. It can be treated by surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy depending on the stages of the disease. Preventive measures can also be taken to retard this disease. This disease can be prevented to a large extent by not smoking and non-inhalation of radon gases and other carcinogenic substances. . [Lung cancer. 2005]. Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. It can prove to be fatal to human life. Hence, preventive measures must be taken and community awareness about this disease should be enhanced to curb it at the grass root level.