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Lung Cancer

Definition

Lung cancer is the excessive growth of cells in the human lungs that leads to its abnormal functioning. This cell regeneration and replication can affect both or one human lung at a given moment. Lunch cancer can also be presented in two forms; non-small cells and small cell lung cancer. Cancer of the lungs is a high-rate killer disease due to the importance of the affected part of the respiratory system (Henley et al. 1).

Historical Background

The history of lung cancer dates back to 1500BC from the Egyptian communities. When the first case was recorded on the Papyrus, the Egyptians has a strong belief that it was caused by gods. Following their beliefs, they decided for cauterization with 'fire drill' equipment as a form of treatment (Toxicological Sciences 1). Fast forwards (starting from 370 BC), people started using words such as Carcinos and Carcinoma for different tumors, specifically the presence of growth and cell regeneration around the human lungs. Between 1878-1938, between 60-80% of miners died from a disease (which by then) was being referred to as "death pits." In general, cancer was discovered by a British surgeon Percivall Pott, but the specificities of lung cancer were described and revealed by a German physician Fritz Lickint in 1929. Since the first interlink between lung cancer and smoking, many studies, starting as early as 1954, closely associate lung cancer with smoking and exposure to poisonous fumes and mining dust. To date, lung cancer is one of the largest killers in the United States and other parts of the world.

Diagnosis tests

The test for lung cancer entails an x-ray of the chest to determine any possibility of damage or cell regeneration in the human lungs. Furthermore, scan, cytological sputum analysis, and bronchoscopy are used in different cases, depending on the determination of physicians (Dela...