Smoking And Lung Cancer Treatment Essay Example

this ultimately leads to an increase in the occurrence of cancer.

It is essential to recognize that the highest rate of smokers is found among economically disadvantaged individuals, many of whom prefer inexpensive, non-filtered cigarettes. Additionally, due to their financial circumstances, some people are forced to live in areas like Chernobyl and South West England where environmental conditions produce radiation that greatly contributes to cancer. It should be noted that poor living conditions, such as asbestos roofs, have been linked to the development of cancer.

Understanding the Significance of Geographic Distribution

Recognizing that cancer does not specifically target particular geographic regions is crucial.

Specific factors make certain areas more susceptible to cancer. In South West England, the presence of low levels of uranium in soil and rocks causes gas build-up in houses and the environment, which, when inhaled, can lead to lung cancer.

Chernobyl, situated in Ukraine, is renowned as a highly radioactive location. Due to the extremely high levels of radioactivity near Chernobyl's nuclear plant, living nearby has been officially prohibited. Similarly, Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan have also faced elevated radiation levels and witnessed a notable increase in cancer occurrences. The shared element among these incidents is the environmental conditions.

Hence, it is evident that radioactivity presents a significant cancer risk.

Nurses frequently encounter this risk.

Typically, individuals do not receive an early-stage cancer diagnosis as they usually do not undergo medical tests unless they feel unwell. However, nurses often detect cancer through various symptoms like abnormal breath sounds, patients reporting chest pains, and the presence of yellow discoloration on the body and eyes. These symptoms can be identified during routine hospital rounds or when attending to outpatients. There are cases

where patients initially visit the hospital for other illnesses but later get diagnosed with cancer after undergoing a few tests.

Once cancer has progressed, nurses can also identify signs of it in bathrooms or portable stool containers by detecting blood in the stool or urine.

Main causes and contributing factors to the condition

Several factors contribute to the development of this disease. These factors include exposure to cancer-causing substances or radiation, such as uranium and radium. Another factor is a weakened immune system resulting from infections like HIV and AIDS, which destroy white blood cells. Furthermore, previous cancer treatments like radiotherapy or chemotherapy can elevate the risk of developing cancer later in life.

Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, impacting both direct and indirect smokers. Additionally, in severe cases, excessive air pollution can also contribute to the development of cancer.

Signs and symptoms

The typical signs of lung cancer consist of chest pains, fatigue, breathing problems, weight loss, and persistent coughing (Kelley, 2015). As the disease advances into later stages, it frequently spreads to other areas of the body.

This sequence of events results in the emergence of more sophisticated indications. Among these are bone pain, which arises when cancer cells infiltrate the bone marrow. Moreover, patients may encounter alterations in skin and eye pigmentation, frequently manifesting as a yellowish tint. Furthermore, patients may develop nodules on their bodies due to infection in the lymph nodes. In certain instances, cancer can disrupt the equilibrium of the nervous system, resulting in overpowering sensations and feelings of lightheadedness.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may occasionally result in this outcome.

Diagnosis

Varying techniques are employed for diagnosing lung cancer, employing specific tests tailored to different stages for desired

outcomes. Initially, a chest x-ray is conducted to ascertain the presence of lung cancer. A positive outcome will exhibit the cancer as a white-grey mass. Subsequently, a CT scan (computerized tomography) is executed to obtain a more comprehensive image of the cancer stage and establish an appropriate treatment approach.

Once a CT scan has been performed, a PET-CT scan is done to accurately determine the exact location of cancer. This vital information is necessary for conducting further tests that establish the precise position of the disease. After obtaining the results from the PET-CT scan, a bronchoscopy and biopsy are conducted specifically if the affected area is located in the central chest region.

Both tests involve obtaining a small tissue sample to determine the severity of the disease and establish the appropriate treatment method (Reddy and Lin, 2015).

Treatment options

Cancer treatment is highly aggressive and results in significant side effects including weight loss, hair loss, nausea, disorientation, and sometimes loss of taste. Treatment options include:

• Radiotherapy; this involves using radiation to eliminate cancer cells in the body.
• The second option is Chemotherapy, which utilizes chemicals or drugs to control and eradicate cancerous cells.

When tumors require removal, surgery is typically employed to separate the infected portion of the body from the rest. If lung cancer has spread to other regions, amputation may be considered as a potential solution, although its efficacy is not always guaranteed. Instances have been documented where cancer resurfaces shortly following amputation.

Thus, it is crucial to ensure that any adopted approach is adequately advised and backed with sufficient information.

Prognosis

The prognosis for each stage of cancer varies. Earlier stages offer higher chances of survival while later stages provide lower chances.

Each stage, except stage four, has two parts. The prognosis is provided separately for non-small cell and small cell.

Non-small cell

In the first part of stage one, 58 to 73 percent of individuals survive for five years or more after diagnosis. In the second part of stage one, 43 to 58 percent survive for five years or more after diagnosis.

In stage one of small cell cancer, around 40 percent of patients survive for five years or more after diagnosis.

In stage two, the survival rate for patients with treatment in part a ranges from 36 to 46 percent for five years or more, while in part b it is between 25 and 36 percent.

Moving on to stage three, the survival rate ranges from 19 to 24 percent for five years or more after diagnosis in part a, while in part b it is between 7 and 9 percent.

Finally, at stage four, both part a and b have similar odds with only 2 to 13 percent surviving for five years or more after diagnosis.

Small Cell Cancer

Part b has a lower chance of survival with the chance reducing to 20 percent for five years after diagnosis. In stage two, at least 40 percent survive for five years or more after they are diagnosed in part a, while in part b, only 20 percent survive for five years or more after diagnosis. In stage three, 15 percent survive for five years or more after they are diagnosed in part a, while in part b, only 10 percent survives for five years or more after diagnosis. At stage four, the odds are the same in both parts a

and b; only 1 percent survive for five years or more after diagnosis.

Conclusion

There are several types of cancer with different causes and symptoms.

Although lung cancer is commonly caused by smoking and industrial air pollution, many people do not regularly seek medical checkups. However, early detection significantly enhances survival rates and the potential for complete recovery with proper treatment.

Even in the fourth stage of cancer, there is still a possibility of it going into remission. Unfortunately, many patients only become aware of their illness when it has reached an advanced stage.

References

1. Dela Cruz, C., Tanoue, L., & Matthay, R. (2013). Lung Cancer: Epidemiology, Etiology, and Prevention. Clinics In Chest Medicine, 32(4), 605-644. <http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ccm.2011.09.001>
2. DeSantis, C., Naishadham, D., & Jemal, A. (2013). Cancer statistics for African Americans, 2013. CA: A Cancer Journal For Clinicians, 63(3), 151-166.<http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/caac.21173>
3. Kelley,W.(2015).10 Early Warning Signs of Lung Cancer.VICTORY OVER CANCER.

The sources for this information are:
1. Retrieved 22 July 2016, from http://www.drkelley.info/2015/12/15/10-early-warning-signs-of-lung-cancer/
2. Reddy, R. & Lin, J. (2015). Lung Cancer. The Patient Guide to Heart, Lung, and Esophageal Surgery. Retrieved 22 July 2016, from http://ctsurgerypatients.org/lung-esophageal-and-other-chest-diseases/lung-cancer