Lung Cancer: Research Project Review

2.1. The Researchers

From my studies, I have been able to demonstrate several links between lung cancer and smoking. It is indeed scientifically proven, that smoking is one of few factors that develop lung cancer – in fact it is the greatest. There are several pieces of evidence that support this theory, and are included later in this report.

Navani N, Nankivell M, Lawrence DR, et al. Lung cancer diagnosis and staging with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration compared with conventional approaches: an open-label, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Respiratory medicine. 2015;3(4):282 - 9.

The U.S. Natural Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Surgeon General's Office have evaluated that upwards of 20,000 lung growth deaths are brought on every year by radon. Radon is the second driving reason for lung disease. Radon-incited lung malignancy costs the United States over $2 billion dollars for every year in both immediate and backhanded human services costs. (In light of National Cancer Institute insights of 14,400 yearly radon lung disease deaths - Oster, Colditz and Kelley, 1984)(Radon facts)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both men and women. (Mayo Clinic, 2013) Lung cancer begins in the lungs and usually doesn’t start showing signs or symptoms until the more advanced stages. There are three main types of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer which includes four stages of cancer, small cell lung cancer which includes limited or extensive stages of cancer, and last but not least is carcinoid tumor. Lung cancer is a deadly disease that can be caused by smoking, people that are exposed to second hand smoke and can also affect those who have not smoked or never had exposure to second hand smoke. People who smoke have the greatest risk of lung cancer. (Mayo Clinic, 2013) Smokers who quit smoking, even after

Lung cancer is a kind of cancer that begins in the lungs. Lungs are the spongy organs in the chest that are responsible for taking in oxygen when one inhales and releases carbon dioxide when one exhales. Lung cancer is the principal causation of cancer related deaths in the United States, amongst both women and men. It claims more lives annually than does breasts, ovarian, prostate and colon cancers, all combined. People that smoke have the highest chances of suffering this ailment. The risk of this form of cancer increases with the number of cigarettes one smokes and the duration that one smokes. Lung cancer causes the demise of more than one million people worldwide

Unfortunately in patients diagnosed with lung cancer there is a poor survival rate and the patients face ongoing physical and chronic illness. This illness can often debilitate ones life. One of the most common symptoms associated with this disease is dyspnea (Yates, 2013). According to the American Thoracic Society, dyspnea is a term used to describe the discomfort of breathing that varies in intensity (Ferrell, 2015). According to Marian Grant, dyspnea is often subjective. Lung cancer patients, like Mrs. P, will often tell the nurse or doctor the degree of shortness of breath, but there are other tests such as basic lab work, arterial blood gases, and imaging. Assessments should also include factors that effect Mrs. P breathing such as positioning, exertion, smoking, and determining if her

Lung cancer leads with both the number of diagnostics and deaths of cancer. Although it is typically caused by smoking, Lauren developed lung cancer because of the harmful chemicals and radiation that she was exposed to on a daily basis. She began to experience a cough that would not go away, chest pain, wheezing, shortness of breath, and even coughing up bloody phlegm. Some patients are lucky. Cancer is caught in the first or second stage, but because the symptoms are not common or regular until a later stage, it sometimes goes undetected until it is too late. Lauren was diagnosed with stage 3 because she was unable to detect any problems early on. In Jane E. Brody’s article, “Screening, and Enabling, Smokers” she interviewed Dr. Russell P. Harris, who stated, “’At best,’ he said, ‘screening might reduce lung cancer deaths by 8,000 a year. But in the year 2000 alone, smoking cessation reduced lung cancer deaths by 70,000’” (Brody 1). Cancer is not a death sentence, and one can often prevent it from developing in extremely simple ways. If it is not prevented, cancer patients go through a number of symptoms that drastically affect their life, and their loved ones’ lives. The first symptom begins with drowsiness and loss of energy.

For this project I decided to research lung cancer. My grandfather had lung cancer for years and is cleared for now. One main cause of lung cancer is smoking. Heavier smokers have a bigger chance of getting this disease unlike light smokers. Young smokers also have a increasing risk of getting lung cancer too. When you are exposed to gases or if you are a welder; have an increasing chance. People ages 45 and 75 get lung cancer primarily.

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, but more importantly, it has a very low survival rate. The sad truth is that nearly all cases of lung cancer could have been prevented, simply by not smoking. Mr. Ward is a perfect example of this in the case study. Having smoked for approximately 67 years, it was only a matter of time before he developed some type of cancer, in this case lung cancer. This paper will describe how lung cancer, specifically squamous cell cancer of the right lung, affects Mr. Ward’s body, beginning with the potential and actual risk factors for lung cancer. Followed by changes that occur in the respiratory system as a result of lung cancer, and ending with the organs at risk as lung cancer spreads.

Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women with an estimated 222,500 new cases expected to be diagnosed in 2017, and an estimated 155,870 deaths, more than any other cancer site (1). A minority of lung cancers (only 16%) are diagnosed at a localized stage which is the only window of disease that is potentially curable with surgery (2). Nonetheless, 5-year survival ranges between 30-50% for lung cancers diagnosed at stage I or II, thus despite early detection and curative resection, a significant proportion of patients will die from recurrent disease within 5 years (1, 2).

“Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of death in both men and women in the US, with over 158,900 deaths in 1999. Worldwide, lung cancer kills over 1 million people a year. Extensive prospective epidemiologic data clearly establish cigarette smoking as the major cause of lung cancer. It is estimated that about 90% of male lung cancer deaths and 75–80% of lung cancer deaths in the US are caused by smoking each year” (Hecht, 1999). Clearly, lung cancer is an important and widespread disease that constitutes a major public health problem. This was not always so. Some 150 years ago, it was an extremely rare disease. In 1878, malignant lung tumors represented only 1% of all cancers seen at autopsy in the Institute of Pathology of the

Research can be a very scary topic when it is first introduced to a class, and I was that scary student. Research to me was like learning how to swim for the first time with a life vest on, and my heart beating 100 miles per hour because I’m so afraid. Taking off my life vest and diving into this research course has been very rewarding for me. I have learned so much in such a short amount of time. It has open my eyes up to a variety of ways I can start and conduct my research. Research is not so scary anymore. In this paper, I’m going to tell you about the things that I have learned and perfected while taking this course.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Malaysia for both men and woman. Your lungs are two spongy organs in your chest. The left lung is divided into two lobes or sections, and the right lung has three lobes. When you breadth in air enters your nose or mouth and passes into your trachea or windpipe, at the carina the trachea divides into two bronchi then branches into smaller bronchioles. The bronchioles end in tiny air sacs or alveoli. In the alveoli the oxygen and the air you inhale passes into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide in your body passes out of the blood stream. The carbon dioxide is expelled from your body when you exhale. Your lungs are in cased by pleura, a thin membrane that protects them and helps them slide back and forth as you breathe in and out. Underneath your lungs is the diaphragm a smooth thin muscle that helps your lungs expand and contract as you breathe. Your lungs are connected to small collection of immune system cells called lymph nodes by way of lymphatic vesicles. You have groups of these lymph nodes near your lungs above your collar bones and behind your breast bone as well as in other parts of your body. Lung cancer is most commonly start in the bronchi, but they can also begin in the trachea, bronchioles, or alveoli.

While much research has been conducted on the causes and treatments of lung cancer, there is much to be done to help promote good health choices. The risks of smoking increase the chance of being diagnosed with lung cancer. Air pollution is also a contributor. Marketing better health choices, public awareness, and education can help prevent this disease. Lung cancer is defined as abnormal cell tissue that forms in tissues of the lungs . It is estimated that there are 224,210 new cases every year, while the estimated deaths are numbered at 159,260 per year. There are several options of treatment and are as follows: Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Immunotherapy and Vaccine Therapy. Research and advertisement has brought about much change to the public awareness.