Cells are the building blocks of life. We understand very well that cells grow, divide, and multiply with the need of the body to keep it hale and healthy. Occasionally the cells will divide among themselves even though there is no need to multiply, and the mass of extra cells forms tumor or cancer. An unchecked and rapid growth of lung cells is called lung cancer. Lung cancer can be caught in two forms, non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer has been categorized based upon the morphology of the cells as seen under a microscope. Each type of the lung cancer has its own method of treatment since they spread in different ways.

The regularly occurring lung cancer is non-small lung cancer, which grows and spreads slowly. The three major kinds of non-small cell lung cancer are large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Less common are the forms of small cell lung cancer. This form of cancer can quickly spread and may even affect different organs within the body. Another term used for this type of lung cancer is oat cell cancer.

Lung cancer has recently been recognized as the deadliest form of cancer in many of the developed nations. In the United States alone, an estimated 170,000 people die from the disease each year. While changes to the lungs can begin almost immediately upon exposure to carcinogens, lung cancer itself can take years to develop.

The inhalation of the carcinogens through cigarette smoke is the main cause of lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers. The risk of contracting lung cancer increases when there is an environmental exposure to radon compounded with smoking. People working in places with exposure to asbestos face another form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma lung cancer.

Most people affected by lung cancer are over the age of fifty and are long-term smokers. Symptoms can vary depending upon the location of the tumor within the lungs. Some common symptoms include chronic cough, chest pain, wheezing, and recurring lung infections.

Diagnosis of lung cancer can easily be done by an experienced health care professional based on your symptoms, smoking history, medical history, earlier family history of lung cancer, and exposure to occupational and environmental materials. The affirmative diagnosis can be completed with a chest X-ray. Different tests are available to diagnose small cell or non-small lung cancer to gauge the stage of the cancer. Medical professionals also diagnose whether the lung cancer is localized in your lung or spreading to other parts of your body.

There are several treatment options for lung cancer patients. Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses medications to eliminate the cancerous cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays and X-Rays for cell elimination. Surgery is another option in which the cancerous tumor is removed from the body. There is a moderate success rate of treating early stage lung cancer, although treatment of advanced stage lung cancer is considered to be difficult.

Prevention is always better than a cure, so of course it's best to avoid tobacco use. Stopping smoking is the best way to reduce your chances of having lung cancer. Kick the habit today and you can gradually decrease your lung cancer risk over 10 to 15 years as your lungs recover.