Lung Cancer
Lung cancer belongs to the four most common cancers in the UK. In 2013 over 45000 individuals were diagnosed with lung cancer and only 5% recovered. Therefore we can see how lethal this disease is to our society.
Causes
The most common cause of lung cancer is smoking and is estimated to cause 85% of the cases. This is due to the toxins and carcinogens in the smoke which is then inhaled into our lungs (see more detailed information of how smoking is linked to lung cancer in the 18/11/15 blog entry).
Furthermore lung cancer can also develop in people who are often exposed to smoke and therefore “smoke passively”. Studies have showed that there is a increased 25% chance of cancer development in people who live with smokers.
Carcinogens are cancer provoking substances. These can directly cause a mutation in the genes involved in controlling cell division and the cell cycle. These group of genes are known as proto-oncogenes (once these genes mutate they are known as oncogenes). If these are disrupted, cells multiply and divide uncontrollably resulting in a malignant or cancerous tumor.
Randon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which contributes to an estimated 3% of lung cancer in the UK and is often found in buildings and damages the lungs of its inhabitants. Additionally the exposure of other pollutant chemicals such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, coal and coke fumes, silica, nickel and asbestos, substances found in industrial areas, provoke lung cancer.
Non-smokers also develop lung cancer. Is this due to the other many environmental cancer provoking factors other than cigarette smoke, or is it something else? Studies have shown that individuals both smokers and non-smokers are more likely to develop cancer when they have a relative who developed lung cancer.
Emphysema
Emphysema is a condition which damages the alveoli air sacs in our lungs, where gas exchange takes place. Hence, they are essential for breathing and people therefore suffer from breathing difficulties. The condition can be provoked by smoking. Other risk factors include, deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin enzyme, being male, age and air pollution.
Smoking damages the cilia which line the respiratory tract that are responsible for mucous secretion. Furthermore, smoking provokes more mucous secretion. Hence, the ability of secretin decreases while the amount of mucous needed to be secreted increases. As a result it is very likely for there to be a bacterial infection. Even though theses symptoms can be medically treated, the inflammatory response of the immune system causes the release of destructive enzymes. This contributes to a loss of elasticity of the lungs which in turn causes ruptures and damage to the alveoli.
A alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is linked in with this. The enzyme is a substance that fights off the destructive enzyme found in lungs called trypsin (which is most commonly actually found in the digestive system). Trypsin is a destructive enzyme released by the immune system into the lungs to destroy bacteria, as discussed broadly before. Trypsin will damage the lung tissues. If there is a lack of the antitrypsin then there will be a vicious fatal cycle where trypsin is released to destroy the bacteria but then ends up destroying the lung tissue aswell because there is no antitrypsin.
So therefore what happens in emphysema is that the surface are of the alveoli where the gas exchange takes place is reduced due to their destruction leading to shortness in breath.
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53012
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-lung/Pages/Prevention.aspx
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/emphysema/article_em.htm#what_causes_emphysema
http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/what-is-emphysema
Lung cancer belongs to the four most common cancers in the UK. In 2013 over 45000 individuals were diagnosed with lung cancer and only 5% recovered. Therefore we can see how lethal this disease is to our society.
Causes
The most common cause of lung cancer is smoking and is estimated to cause 85% of the cases. This is due to the toxins and carcinogens in the smoke which is then inhaled into our lungs (see more detailed information of how smoking is linked to lung cancer in the 18/11/15 blog entry).
Furthermore lung cancer can also develop in people who are often exposed to smoke and therefore “smoke passively”. Studies have showed that there is a increased 25% chance of cancer development in people who live with smokers.
Carcinogens are cancer provoking substances. These can directly cause a mutation in the genes involved in controlling cell division and the cell cycle. These group of genes are known as proto-oncogenes (once these genes mutate they are known as oncogenes). If these are disrupted, cells multiply and divide uncontrollably resulting in a malignant or cancerous tumor.
Randon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which contributes to an estimated 3% of lung cancer in the UK and is often found in buildings and damages the lungs of its inhabitants. Additionally the exposure of other pollutant chemicals such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, coal and coke fumes, silica, nickel and asbestos, substances found in industrial areas, provoke lung cancer.
Non-smokers also develop lung cancer. Is this due to the other many environmental cancer provoking factors other than cigarette smoke, or is it something else? Studies have shown that individuals both smokers and non-smokers are more likely to develop cancer when they have a relative who developed lung cancer.
Emphysema
Emphysema is a condition which damages the alveoli air sacs in our lungs, where gas exchange takes place. Hence, they are essential for breathing and people therefore suffer from breathing difficulties. The condition can be provoked by smoking. Other risk factors include, deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin enzyme, being male, age and air pollution.
Smoking damages the cilia which line the respiratory tract that are responsible for mucous secretion. Furthermore, smoking provokes more mucous secretion. Hence, the ability of secretin decreases while the amount of mucous needed to be secreted increases. As a result it is very likely for there to be a bacterial infection. Even though theses symptoms can be medically treated, the inflammatory response of the immune system causes the release of destructive enzymes. This contributes to a loss of elasticity of the lungs which in turn causes ruptures and damage to the alveoli.
A alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is linked in with this. The enzyme is a substance that fights off the destructive enzyme found in lungs called trypsin (which is most commonly actually found in the digestive system). Trypsin is a destructive enzyme released by the immune system into the lungs to destroy bacteria, as discussed broadly before. Trypsin will damage the lung tissues. If there is a lack of the antitrypsin then there will be a vicious fatal cycle where trypsin is released to destroy the bacteria but then ends up destroying the lung tissue aswell because there is no antitrypsin.
So therefore what happens in emphysema is that the surface are of the alveoli where the gas exchange takes place is reduced due to their destruction leading to shortness in breath.
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53012
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-lung/Pages/Prevention.aspx
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/emphysema/article_em.htm#what_causes_emphysema
http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/what-is-emphysema