Tumor on the Lungs

Tumors on the lungs are the leading cause of death for men as well as women, according to the Mayo Clinic. More people die from lung tumors than from breast, lymph, prostate and colon cancers combined each year. However, lung cancer can easily be prevented.

Symptoms

• One of the main symptoms of lung tumors is a cough that persists for an extended period. Coughing up blood, regardless of how much, can also be a sign of lung tumors. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing and hoarseness. Chest pain is another sign of lung tumors that's sometimes confused with heart problems, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Causes

• One of the leading causes of lung tumors is smoking cigarettes. Cigarettes contain chemicals that cause cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. They damage lung cells almost immediately. Lungs are filled with blood vessels and lymph vessels, which makes it easy for lung tumors to move to other parts of the body. Lung cancer can also be caused by exposure to radiation and carcinogens.

Types

• According to the Mayo Clinic, the two types of lung cancer are small cell and non-small cell. Small cell lung cancer is more common among people that smoke heavily and less common among people that do not smoke. Non-small cell lung cancer includes large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Risk Factors

• The main risk factor for lung tumors is smoking cigarettes, according to the Mayo Clinic. Women are at a greater risk than men of developing lung tumors. Being exposed to secondhand smoke, even if you are a non-smoker, increases the risk for lung tumors. Exposure to radon gas and asbestos, found in many buildings, can lead to lung cancer as well. People who have a family history of lung cancer also have an increased risk of developing a lung tumor. Drinking large amounts of alcohol may also increase your risk for lung cancer.

Diagnostic Tests

• If you have any of the symptoms of lung cancer, speak to your doctor about running some diagnostic tests. Imaging tests, spuctum cytology tests and tissue samples are ways that your doctor can determine if you have a lung tumor, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment

• People who have a lung tumor have several treatment options. They include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, clinic trials and targeted drug therapy. There are four stages of lung cancer, and each stage requires different treatment combinations. Your doctor will help you determine which treatment plan is right for you, depending on which stage of lung cancer you have.