What is cancer in General


The human body consists of millions of cells which are performing specific functions. For example liver cells protect the body from various alien substances (poisons, toxins, allergens), muscle cells provide opportunity for moving the body. And same types of cells are forming tissues, which in turn form organs. The cells from which all organs are composed of body, grow, divide and die in a strictly defined pattern. In normal cell division occurs in limited quantities, so that would replace the dead. The growth of cells has a certain speed, and occurs within the required organs and tissues, under the strict control of the body.

But sometimes, the structure of the cells can undergo changes due to the impact of various factors. In such cases, they begin to divide without control and losing their differentiation, becoming cancer cells, from which all tumors are consisting. Tumor cells differ from normal and the main difference is that they instead of dieing continue the division and growth, leading to the formation of new cancer cells. As a consequence, they can penetrate into other organs and tissues, disrupting their function. These cells are often able to produce even toxins. People with cancer may feel weakness, accompanied by loss of appetite and weight loss.

So definition of Lung cancer will be: Lung cancer ( like any other cancer ) is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung.

Tumors may be developed in all normal tissues, but more often they are developing in those tissues and organs where the rate of cell division are much higher (eg, skin, intestines, lymphatic system, bone marrow, bones).

Lung cancer is very common disease, 1st in cancer-related death in men and the second in women (after breast cancer). This disease is responsible for 1.300.000 deaths worldwide per annum. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing (including coughing up blood), and weight loss.

Most lung cancer develops from cells which are covering the bronchial surface (epithelium) - carcinomas of the lung, but they can also occur in other places - the trachea, bronchiole, and alveolus. Right lung more frequently affected than the left one. Often, for the development of lung cancer many years required. However, if the cancer has been developed, it have tendency to spread itself in other organs ( metastasis).

Bronchial Carcinoma Signs & Symptoms - Information about symptoms, causes and prevention