| For many years, there has been a large debate going | | | | such, you have to keep tabs on your health and visit |
| on as to whether or not lung cancer is caused by | | | | your doctor if you ever experience symptoms like |
| smoking. Naturally, tobacco and cigarette | | | | persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, |
| manufacturers maintain that they are not responsible | | | | weight loss and loss of appetite as these are the |
| for people getting the disease. But now, the scientific | | | | more common signs of lung cancer and other |
| world can safely say that lung cancer is really caused | | | | lung-related problems. |
| by smoking after so many years of research, studies | | | | However, you don't need to wait for the symptoms to |
| and tests. | | | | show before you go and visit your doctor. These |
| As a result of their extensive research, scientists have | | | | symptoms generally appear when the disease has |
| found out that cancer-causing substances called | | | | already started. Although the statistics show very |
| "carcinogens" which are present in tobacco and | | | | ominous figures about lung cancer caused by smoking, |
| cigarettes cause the breakdown and mutation of cells, | | | | lung cancer is easily prevented. It is much better to |
| making them grow and multiply at an abnormally fast | | | | prevent it by stopping yourself from smoking at the |
| rate. What this translates to is that the more you | | | | soonest possible time. If you leave it too late, the |
| ingest these carcinogens for a prolonged period of | | | | disease might have gone too far along to be |
| time, the more that you become a high-risk candidate | | | | considered treatable and curable. |
| for cancer. It has been proven that the longer period of | | | | Treatment of lung cancer will vary depending on the |
| time you have smoked and the amount of cigarettes | | | | diagnosis of the patient - is the patient a high-risk |
| you've consumed in this timeframe directly relates to | | | | candidate, what is his present health condition, how far |
| lung cancer being caused by smoking. And if you don't | | | | along has the disease progressed. Doctors will almost |
| stop, you up the ante even more. You're really digging | | | | always start with an action plan to quit smoking. No |
| yourself an early grave and you'll just be part of the | | | | matter what treatments or medication they give you if |
| statistics that show how lung cancer is caused by | | | | you don't stop smoking, then you're not really killing the |
| smoking. | | | | cause of your affliction. If a tumor is found during a |
| Also, if you're a non-smoker and you think that you're | | | | regular biopsy, then surgery to remove the tumor might |
| home-free from the lung cancer caused by smoking, | | | | be recommended. However, not all tumors can be |
| you better think again because you're gravely | | | | removed because of their size and location. In such |
| mistaken. Second hand smokers, those who | | | | cases, radiation therapy such as chemotherapy may |
| accidentally or incidentally inhale cigarette or tobacco | | | | be the next step. There are side effects to such a |
| smoke from smokers around them are also at risk for | | | | treatment and you should consult and discuss with |
| lung cancer. If you're regularly exposed to people and | | | | your doctor about the extent of these. |
| places with a high incidence of smoking, like bars and | | | | |