Lung Cancer Attacks at The Age of 70, Does it give You More Freedom to Smoke?

Lung Cancer is the number one killer among men and women in the United States, around 31 percent of cancer deaths in men while 25 percent in women. Every year 170,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer and around 14,000 Americans die every year.

Lung cancer affects the 7^th decade of life; only 5 percent of people who have lung cancer are less than 40 years old. Approximately, 40 percent of people know that they have lung cancer when it is severe; meaning the cancer spread already in different sites of the body included the regional lymphatics. As a result, the survival rate for lung cancer is very low.

Various factors have been associated with the development of lung cancer including tobacco, which is the most responsible for one of every six deaths in the United States.  More than 85 percent of lung cancer is attributed to the inhalation of certain chemicals such as cigarette smoking.

Passive smoking is also identified as one of the possible cause of lung cancer. In other words, people who are exposed to tobacco smoke in a closed environment are at increased risk. An average lifetime passive smoke exposure to smoking spouse or partner increases a non smoker risk of lung cancer by about 35 percent compare to the risk of 100 percent for a lifetime of active smoking.

Vehicles emissions and pollutants from manufactures are also a risk factor because of the various carcinogens that has been identified in the atmosphere.  There is evidence that urban areas have higher risk of getting lung cancer because of the build up of pollutions.

Some genetics predisposition to lung cancer is also included in the risk factors

Often lung cancer develops asymptomatic until it is in late stage. The sign and symptoms of lung cancer is depend upon the degree of obstruction, size of tumor and the existence of spreading to different sites of the body.  The early symptoms are chronic cough which is sometimes ignored it usually start as dry then persistent but without sputum production, weight loss is also associated due to lack of appetite, wheezing is also noted, then coughing out of blood may also be expectorated.  Recurrent fever is also noted.

The late signs and symptoms of lung cancer are pain due to the spreading of cancer to the bone. Chest tightness is also noted; difficulty of swallowing, head and neck edema can also be seen.

Treatment of lung cancer depends on the type and the stage of lung cancer. The pulmonary and heart status are also checked. Treatment may involve surgery or chemotherapy.