Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the single largest cause of cancer deaths in the United States, "About 178,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year, and there will be an estimated 160,000 deaths" (US HHS 1). What is ironic about lung cancer death statistics is that all of the deaths are caused primarily from individuals who smoke, or are subjected to second hand smoke inhalation. Other than a small percentage of those deaths being attributable to the inhalation of radon gas, all of the deaths from lung cancer are traceable to smoking, "The Environmental Protection Agency estimated that about 10 percent of American lung cancer cases were caused by Radon. About 150,000 Americans die of lung cancer annually, with about 85 percent of those deaths attributed to smoking" (Risks 1). Therefore, smoking is almost single-handedly the cause of lung cancer and lung cancer deaths (not to mention a host of other illnesses) making lung cancer one of the most preventable fatal diseases in history.

Lung cancer is responsible for one of every four cancer deaths in the United States and the five-year survival rates of patients who are diagnosed with the disease have stayed low mainly because the disease is often diagnosed too late for effective intervention, "Five-year survival rates have remained stubbornly low at 12 percent in 1973, 13 percent in 1992, and 14 percent today" (US HHS 1). Tobacco use is definitely the major cause of lung cancer and it is also respons

Related Essays

Treatment for Lung Cancer It is estimated that in 2004, roughly 174,000 Americans were diagnosed with lung cancer, and 164,000 of them will die of the disease (Spira and Ettinger, 2004 .... (1016 4 )

Women and Lung Cancer "Smoking Behaviors of Women after Diagnosis with Lung Cancer" by Sarna (1995). I. Purpose and Significance, Research Questions and .... (1125 5 )

Treatments for Lung Cancer Patients It is estimated that in 2004, roughly 174,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer, and 164,000 of them will die of the disease (Spira and Ettinger .... (1017 4 )

Respiration .... There is a great deal of research to support not only the fact that smoking is the principal cause of lung cancer, but also that it contributes to the .... (975 4 )

Detection of Cancer by Dogs .... Lung cancer is detected using the patient's breath collected in a plastic bag, and bladder cancer is detected in urine samples. .... (995 4 )

assive smoking lead to the development of respiratory and heart illnesses. There is another cause of lung cancer and that is the inhalation of radon gas. When individuals are exposed to radon gas they develop lung cancer because when inhaled the gas deposits slightly radioactive material into the lungs, "When inhaled the gas can leave radioisotopes, which emit low levels of radiation, in the lungs. Over time, this can damage the lungs and cause cancer. What is uncertain is the level that poses a significant health risk" (Risks 1). Radon is a colorless, odorless gas and the fact that it causes cancer has touched off a national panic over the installation of radon detectors inside the home. However, even though it is certain radon causes lung cancer it is uncertain what levels of the gas in a residential environment are the minimum for doing so. However, one study suggests that radon is not as significant in the cause of cancer as some fear, leaving the use of tobacco the major cause. In a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute experts concluded that "radon exposure does not appear to be an important cause of lung cancer" (Risks 1). While new research has not produced a genetic cause of lung cancer, it has unc

Category: Science - L