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How do cigarettes cause lung melanoma?

Besides containing many toxic gases, the tar


found in your preferred make has a lot of pest-causing substances (carcinogens) as well
as carcinogens which mushroom the production of menace cells.

The leads to the development of small chamber (oat) carcinoma, the deadliest form of
lung melanoma, and squamous section growth - both of which are mostly found in
smokers.

"Your attempt of lung canker increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each
day, the number of living you smoke, the quantity of smoke you gasp, and the quantity of
tar and nicotine in the cigarettes you smoke," said Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in chief of
the "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book."

While lung bane is primarily a chap riddle, many women now have the disease, maybe
because the number of female smokers has bigger. In the United States, lung evil has
surpassed breast disease in language of sarcoma deaths in women.

"The advanced charge of tobacco-allied cancers among men echo the reality that in the
onwards, more men than women smoked, and smoked solidly. In current existence, the
proportion of smokers among males has been steadily decreasing in many urbanized
countries. Unfortunately, the proportion of smokers among women has been steadily
increasing all over the world," according to Drs. Adriano V. Laudico, Divina B. Esteban,
Corazon A. Ngelangel, and Lilia M. Reyes in "Cancer Facts and Estimates."

"With many more women smoking than ever before, the number of women with lung
blight has better at an alarming figure, so that smoking is now responsible for 75 percent
of all lung cancers in women. The scourge measured for female smokers is 67 percent
senior than for nonsmokers," said Marrion Morra, helper executive of the Yale
Comprehensive Cancer Center at Yale University in Connecticut, and Eve Potts in
"Choices: Realistic Alternatives in Cancer Treatment."

Even nonsmokers aren't secure from the onslaught of lung blight. The US Environmental
Protection Agency estimates that between 500 and 5,000 gear of lung evil play each year
in nonsmokers as a result of inhaling superstar moreover's smoke. The plane rivulet
smoke inhaled by a nonsmoker has a higher percentage of tar, nicotine, and other
poisonous gases - all which contribute to lung blight.

"The tobacco business likes to tell people that there are other causes of lung blight.
Nevertheless there is no denying the reality that smoking is a foremost cause of the
disease. I don't think we have to look for other causes," said Dr. Calixto Zaldivar,
previous principal of the Lung Center of the Philippines.

Other gamble factors for lung cancer include exposure to industrial carcinogens such as
asbestos, chromium compounds, radioactive ores, nickel, arsenic, and other irritating
substances.
Lung cancer treatments are generally determined by the type of lung cancer and how advanced the cancer is
when diagnosed. Doctors will discuss the most promising and effective lung cancer treatments with the patient to
make a decision about which lung cancer treatments will work best in their specific situation.

Lung Cancer Treatments - Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stages 1 and 2

Stage 1 lung cancer is detected early and has the highest prognosis for healing. In stage 1, the cancer is usually
removed with surgery because it has not yet spread to areas outside the lungs.

Surgery is also used to treat stage 2 lung cancer. Since stage 2 lung cancer may have spread to neighboring
lymph nodes or the chest wall, both chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be used in treatment.

Lung Cancer Treatments - Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage 3

When lung cancer reaches stage 3, the possibility and success of surgery declines. Stage 3A lung cancer is the
least severe of the two lung cancers in stage 3, because it has only spread to the lymph nodes in the chest area.
Doctors usually treat stage 3A lung cancer with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Once the
results of the chemo and radiation therapy are determined, surgery may be performed as a follow up to the other
treatments.

Stage 3B lung cancer is more serious, because at this level the lung cancer has spread to areas just outside the
lungs. Doctors usually treat stage 3B lung cancer with chemotherapy only. Radiation therapy may be also used
on stage 3B lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Treatments: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage 4

At this late stage, the cancer has spread away from the area around the lungs, possibly to the bones, brain and
liver. With this advanced level of progression, chemotherapy is the most effective treatment option.

Because of the extent of the spreading found in stage 4 lung cancer, other treatments are sometimes used,
including targeted drug therapy and participation in clinical trials.

Because stage 4 lung cancer has a low survival rate, it is also treated with supportive care. This includes pain
medicine to keep the patient as comfortable as possible and sometimes hospice care to help ease the patient's
suffering.

Lung Cancer Treatments - Small Cell Lung Cancer Limited Stage

The limited stage is the earliest period of small cell lung cancer, and it is usually treated with a combination of
chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Depending on the specific conditions found with limited stage lung cancer,
surgery may also be a treatment option.

Lung Cancer Treatments - Small Cell Lung Cancer Extensive Stage

This is the late stage of small cell lung cancer, so the choices for treatment are similar to those found with stage
4 lung cancer. Extensive stage lung cancer is usually treated with chemotherapy. Patients with this type of lung
cancer may also receive treatment by participating in clinical trials. Supportive care can be used here as well, to
help relieve the symptoms and ease the patient's suffering.
Lung cancer stages come into play after a patient has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Testing is done to see
how far the cancer has progressed, or where and to what extent the lung cancer has spread. Doctors then use
the lung cancer stages to determine the type of treatment that will be most effective.

There are two types of cancer, and each has stages to indicate the advancement of the disease. Non-small cell
lung cancer has four stages. Small cell lung cancer has two.

Lung Cancer Stages - Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage 1

In Stage 1, the cancer is still only in the lungs and the underlying tissue of the lungs. At this stage of lung cancer,
there is no evidence that the cancer cells have spread into the nearby lymph nodes.

Lung Cancer Stages - Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage 2

Stage 2 lung cancer means that the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes that are closest to the lungs. In
some cases, the cancer cells have also moved into the chest wall. Stage 2 also indicates that the cancerous
tumor has grown in size.

Lung Cancer Stages - Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage 3A and 3B

Most Stage 3 lung cancers have spread from the lungs into areas of the chest. In Stage 3A, the cancer has
spread into the lymph nodes in the chest, and the tumor is even bigger than in Stage 2.

When the cancer enters Stage 3B, it has moved into the blood vessels, esophagus, trachea and heart. Stage 3B
cancer may have also spread into lymph nodes near the collarbone and the tissue surrounding the lungs, known
as pleura.

Lung Cancer Stages - Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Stage 4

Stage 4 lung cancer is the most advanced and most deadly type of non-small cell lung cancer. At this stage, the
cancer cells have moved outside of the lungs and spread into parts of the body that are further away from the
lungs, including the bones, the liver, and even the brain.

There are fewer treatment options once lung cancer has reached Stage 4, and the prognosis for survival is
generally low. Unfortunately, many lung cancers are not discovered until they reach this advanced stage because
there are so few symptoms during the early lung cancer stages.

Lung Cancer Stages - Small Cell Lung Cancer Limited Stage

Small cell lung cancer is much less common than non-small cell lung cancer, but it is more critical because it
spreads more rapidly. Limited stage lung cancer is confined to one lung only and can be treated with surgery. At
this stage, some cancer cells may also be found in the lymph nodes closest to the lungs.

Lung Cancer Stages - Small Cell Lung Cancer Extensive Stage

Extensive stage lung cancer is one of the worst forms of lung cancer. At this stage the cancer has already spread
to the areas around the lungs. On top of that, this type of cancer spreads quickly, so it moves into other parts of
the body faster than other cancers, which makes treatment challenging and survival rare.
There are literally thousands of information bits and lung cancer facts to be found in books, on news reports and
online. It is easier to understand the wide array of lung cancer facts when it is broken down into smaller
segments. Regardless of how you look at them, though, the facts surrounding lung cancer are pretty scary.

Lung Cancer Facts - The Disease

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. In fact, the death rate from lung
cancer is higher than the rate of death found in breast cancer, colon cancer, lymph cancer and prostate cancer
combined.

Despite this startling detail, most cases of lung cancer are thought to be preventable. Experts say 90 percent of
lung cancer cases are caused by cigarette smoking. Other factors that can cause lung cancer include exposure to
asbestos, radon and second- hand cigarette smoke.

One of the reasons why lung cancer is so deadly is that there are few early signs or symptoms, so detection
frequently does not occur until the later stages. When lung cancer progresses to a more advanced stage, that
usually means that it has spread to other parts of the body. Lung cancer spreads more quickly than other cancers
because the lungs have a high concentration of blood vessels and lymph vessels, which make it a good
environment for the cancer to grow and multiply.

Lung Cancer Facts - The Hard Truth

Probably the most terrifying reality about lung cancer is that it is very frequently fatal. Researchers report that 60
percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer die within one year of the discovery of the disease. Even more
startling, lung cancer that is not treated kills most victims within six months.

Lung Cancer Facts - The Risks

Smoking causes almost all cases of lung cancer, and smokers are much more likely to develop lung cancer than
someone who has never smoked. In fact, non-smokers make up a very small percentage of the overall number of
people with lung cancer.

Exposure to toxic chemicals has also been found to cause lung cancer. This include radon that can be found
inside the home, and other carcinogens, like asbestos, that are sometimes found on job sites.

It is possible to screen the lungs for signs of cancer, but this process is somewhat controversial among medical
professionals. While lung cancer screening can lead to early diagnosis, which greatly improves the odds for
survival, lung cancer screening can also lead to false positives and false negatives that may result in emotional
and physical problems as well as unnecessary testing and health risks.

Lung Cancer Facts - Prevention

The best way to prevent lung cancer is by not smoking. Statistics show that even people who have smoked for
years significantly lower their risk for developing lung cancer when they quit. This fact holds true at any age.

Eating a healthy diet and participating in regular exercise have also been found to lower the risk for lung cancer
and other types of cancer as well.
Effects of Smoking

How does smoking affect your body?

Cigarette smoke damages our body:

• There are both short term or long term effects.


• The chemicals released by the cigarette smoke will damage various organs in the body.

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What are the short term effects?

-
Brain Increase in carbon monoxide and reduced
oxygen may lead to sub-optimal brain
functioning.

Ears - Reduced blood flow causing deafness.

Eyes - Watery, sore eyes which may impair vision.


Mouth - Unpleasant sense of taste and sensation in
lips, tongue, and throat.
- Bad breath and mouth infections.
- Yellowness of teeth.
Nose - Reduced sense of smell.

Skin - Decreased skin temperature


- Early wrinkles on the face.
- Loses elasticity - becomes more saggy
Lungs - Difficulty in breathing and reduced
athletic performance.

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What are the long term effects?

• Cancers (e.g. of the Lung, Breast, Mouth-throat and


Intestine).
• Heart diseases.
• Strokes.
• Lung diseases (e.g. asthma, bronchitis), emphysema COPD.
• Mouth and gum diseases.
• Ulcer (stomach, peptic).
• Osteoporosis (bone thinning).
• Infertility (unable to produce babies).
• Low sex drive.

• Impotence.

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Why else is cigarette smoke bad?

Cigarette smoke also damages our environment.

• Cigarette butts pollute the environment e.g. pollute waterways, causing breeding of insects such as
mosquitoes.
• It causes air pollution.
• Passive smoking (i.e. inhaling smoke from the environment when someone else is smoking) is
also a risk factor for asthma especially in children.
• It is responsible for 25% of fire accidents.

Side Effects of Smoking Cigarettes

Every year hundreds of thousands of people around the world die from diseases caused by
smoking - Smoking KILLS.

• One in two lifetime smokers will die from their habit. Half of these deaths will occur in middle
age.
• Tobacco smoke also contributes to a number of cancers.

• The mixture of nicotine and carbon monoxide in each cigarette you smoke temporarily increases
your heart rate and blood pressure, straining your heart and blood vessels.
• This can cause heart attacks and stroke. It slows your blood flow, cutting off oxygen to your feet
and hands. Some smokers end up having their limbs
amputated.
• Tar coats your lungs like soot in a chimney and causes cancer. A 20-a-day smoker breathes in up
to a full cup (210 g) of tar in a year.
• Changing to low-tar cigarettes does not help because smokers usually take deeper puffs and hold
the smoke in for longer, dragging the tar deeper into their lungs.
• Carbon monoxide robs your muscles, brain and body tissue of oxygen, making your whole body
and especially your heart work harder. Over time, your airways swell up and let less air into your
lungs.
• Smoking causes disease and is a slow way to die. The strain of smoking effects on the body often
causes years of suffering. Emphysema is an illness that slowly rots your lungs. People with
emphysema often get bronchitis again and again, and suffer lung and heart failure.
• Lung cancer from smoking is caused by the tar in tobacco smoke. Men who smoke are ten times
more likely to die from lung cancer than non-smokers.
• Heart disease and strokes are also more common among smokers than non-smokers.
• Smoking causes fat deposits to narrow and block blood vessels which leads to heart attack.
• Smoking causes around one in five deaths from heart disease.
• In younger people, three out of four deaths from heart disease are due to smoking.
• Cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight, prematurity,
spontaneous abortion, and perinatal mortality in humans, which has been referred to as the fetal
tobacco syndrome.

This list can only begin to convey the health effects of smoking cigarettes and why quitting makes sense.
Next we consider reasons why smoking is bad those around you in the effects of second hand smoke.

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