Posts Tagged ‘Hereditary factors’
Cause of Lung Cancer
The snuff smoking is the main cause in 90% of cases of lung cancer in both men and women. Decades ago, this tumor was much less common in women and it was featured it was more likely that was not related to snuff. These differences are disappearing rapidly, reflecting the incorporation of women with smoking in the previous years.
Another part of this type of cancer is caused by inhaled substances and who are in the workplace, a phenomenon related to the 10% -15% of lung cancer in males and 5% in women. The most important of these substances are asbestos, such as those used in asbestos factories.
Lung cancer can also be caused by radiation received at the chest, such as treatment with radiation therapy used to treat breast cancer and lymphoma. The interval between radiation exposure and cancer onset is usually very long, around age 20. The greatest risk are people who tried for many years with old appliances, and smoked during the following years. The risk with modern radiotherapy equipment is very low.
Hereditary factors have little relation to lung cancer.
Risk Factors
Nicotine potentiates the carcinogenic effect of other substances from smoke snuff and the effects of carcinogens in the environment.
Nicotine acts on the mechanism of apoptosis, or cell death, preventing the cells to commit suicide. When it comes to cancer cells does the same thing which causes or encourages the formation of cancer.
In addition to snuff, there are other substances mentioned above which are listed now:
Asbestos: people who work with asbestos are seven times more likely to develop cancer than those who do not maintain contact with it. These people have a type of cancer called mesothelioma, which occurs in the pleura. In recent years, governments have banned the use of this material for commercial and industrial products. When combined with asbestos exposure to smoking, it increases their chances of getting cancer from 50 to 90 times.
Cancer-causing agents in the workplace: an occupational risk group are the miners. They work with materials that, when inhaled, can damage your lungs. Such substances are radioactive minerals such as uranium, and workers exposed to chemicals such as arsenic, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal based products, mustard gas and chloromethyl ethers. People working in these conditions should be careful to avoid exposure to these agents.
Other factors would be those that have produced some damage to the lung and predispose them to cancer, as having suffered tuberculosis, silicosis or berilosis (diseases, the latter two, caused by inhalation of certain minerals).
Another reason that favors the growth of cancer cells would be the excess or deficit of vitamin A.
Noting the risk factors seem easy to prevent this disease. The no smoking or quit, is the most effective measure in preventing cancer.