Lung Cancer Research Paper

This year thousands will be affected by some form of lung cancer. Many do not know what lung cancer is and what its effects are. Also, unknown to most are the causes of this cancer. Another factor of lung cancer people do not understand is how many are victims to this disease. Lung cancer is a disease of which many people have heard of but do not understand what it is and what it does, what causes it, and how many it is affecting.

Many people may have heard of lung cancer but do not know the specifics. The cancer comes in a few forms of which are all tumors. According to U·X·L Encyclopedia of Diseases and Disorder, “Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of malignant cells in one or both lungs. There are two major types of lung cancer, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)” (pg. 670). Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 85 percent of all forms of lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer follows with 10 to 15 percent and less than 5 percent are carcinoid tumors. Normal symptoms of

Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer, but other major causes are radon, asbestos, and air pollution. Going into the 1900’s only 134 cases of lung cancer had been recorded. This number would mostly increase due to smoking; however, due to the increasing air pollution in countries such as China, more cases would arise. For the most part, lung cancer would disappear if it was not for smoking. As Charles A. LeMaistre explains, “And yet, the most difficult type of cancer to cure is also the easiest to prevent in the first place -- 80 percent to 85 percent of all lung cancers are directly -- unequivocally -- linked to prolonged tobacco use” (para. 4). Cigarette smoking caused 150,000 new cases of lung cancer in 1986. Due to lung cancer having such common causes thousands are affected by it each year and place it at the top in the most common and deadly