Lung cancer is one of the most degenerative diseases affecting the lungs. In order to understand how cancer develops, it is necessary to explore the structure of the lungs. No single causative factor is observed as patients include different categories of people. However, it is possible to lower the probability of a tumor obstructing the airflow. There are several risk factors that patients should consider regarding lung cancer.
The most dominant risk factor to consider is tobacco smoking. Lungs have alveoli in their structure, which are small-sized air sacks. With an inhale, oxygen flows through alveoli to the blood supply. Subsequently, oxygen is transformed into carbon dioxide and leaves the lungs with an exhale (Khanacademymedicine, 2014). Smoking damages the alveoli and impairs breathing by releasing poisonous chemicals. The sustained presence of chemicals in the lungs can cause lung cancer, thus making smoking the most prevalent cause.
However, smoking is not the only prerequisite to lung cancer as it can also appear in patients who never smoked or had quit. Contracting a pulmonary disease can also lead to developing a tumor (Zelman et al., 2014). Medical conditions like amyloidosis, pneumonia, emphysema can be avoided, reducing the risk of lung cancer. Cancer itself can be triggered by the uncontrolled growth of masses of cells in alveoli.
Altogether, lung cancer cannot be pinpointed to a particular cause. The first prevention measure is ceasing smoking as cigarettes carry chemicals poisonous to the lungs. Breathing problems can be avoided if smoking is not a regular habit. Nevertheless, there are chances of developing a tumor in the lungs for people who do not smoke. It is advised to avoid contracting pulmonary diseases as they can also cause lung cancer.
References
Zelman, M., Tompary, E., Raymond, J., Holdaway, P., & Mulvihill, M. L. (2014). Human Diseases: A Systemic Approach. (8th ed.). Pearson.
Khanacademymedicine. (2014). Types of pulmonary diseases | Respiratory system diseases | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy [Video]. YouTube. Web.