Saturday, June 28, 2008

How long do you have to be around smoke to get lung cancer

How long do you have to be around smoke to get lung cancer?
Yeah....how long do you have to "second hand" smoke before you develop lung cancer? I heard it can happen if you're around a smoker at least one time. And what if you're also twenty years old? When will the lung cancer be developed then? Is there still a chance of getting lung cancer if you're riding in the car with all the windows open? Or if you're in an open space?
Cancer - 7 Answers
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1 :
If you actually smoke it could take 30 to 40 years to develop lung cancer second hand smoke 40 to 80 years if ever. As Yoda would say be afraid not.
2 :
My father was a heavy smoker all his life and died of lung cancer when he was 76. So the answer is, no-one can say for sure. It's not like anthrax.
3 :
Never. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pulmonology/Smoking/19490 Do me a favor, just list three people who have died from second-hand smoke.
4 :
It takes years even for an avid smoker to develop lung cancer and I havent heard any one getting lung cancer from second hand, but it does have a huge effect on people who are asthmatic or other respiratory conditions. Second hand smoke cancer? Not likely at all. Developing respiratory conditions are very probable.
5 :
There is no particular time table to die from smoke, second hand or primary. Everyone is different and a lot depends on your own body's ability to fight of diseases, your activity level, your overall health, and luck. Remember cancer is a mutation of cells that gather in one area. So the carcinogen you take in from second hand or as a primary smoker may not give you or someone lung cancer it could cause some other cancer. What you will see in a primary smoker's lungs are that they start turning color to a black and lose elasticity that could lead to emphysema or lung cancer. So there are no strict rules to go by that tell one they will get cancer doing this or that it is that doing those things make them more susceptible to cancer. Give you a personal example I recently had prostate cancer surgery. Based on my health, activity level, no drugs, alcohol, multiple physical exams, etc. the doctors didn't believe I had cancer but the blood test showed I did. Instead of waiting to see again in 6 months, I made them do a biopsy which came back positive. So luck was on my side in one manner but not the other. I hope this helps and wish there were specific sound facts for cancer but there aren't. Good luck
6 :
10 years
7 :
Developing smoking related lung cancer depends alot on your genetics and if you have any pre-existing pulmonary conditions. For example Israel and Gaza are right next to each other, yet Gaza has one of the highest rates of lung cancer in the world, yet Israel has one of the lowest. Both these countries are heavy smoker populated.

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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

What is the average age that smokers get lung cancer

What is the average age that smokers get lung cancer?
Statistically speaking, what is the average age that smokers who develop lung cancer are diagnosed? Again statistically speaking, how long has the average lung cancer patient who acquired the disease through smoking been smoking?
Respiratory Diseases - 3 Answers
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1 :
Statistically, the lung cancers can occur after about 20 years of smoking...though the longer one smokes the higher the risk.
2 :
About 60-65 years old
3 :
The majority of people that develop Lung Cancer are over the age of 50 and the average is 60.

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Friday, June 20, 2008

Is chemotheraphy effective on curing lung cancer? Does people actually survive with this type of sickness

Is chemotheraphy effective on curing lung cancer? Does people actually survive with this type of sickness?
I have a relative who has a lung cancer but she doesn't even smoke. I have a relative who has a stage 4 lung cancer but she doesn't even smoke.
Cancer - 2 Answers
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1 :
Treatment options and effectiveness depend on the stage/type of cancer and the condition of the patient being treated. My mom has just been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She smoked lightly for a few years in young adulthood, but quit 38 years ago. It's spread to some lymph nodes, bones, and liver. She is going to a cutting edge treatment center. We were told that stage 4 lung cancer is NOT curable, but is treatable in that treatment can give people some extra months or years and make that time better quality. Earlier stages are possibly curable, but it is rare to catch lung cancer in an early stage. Lung cancer has very low 5 year survival statistics.
2 :
I don't know all that much, but as my Grandma has been diagnosed with lung cancer a few days ago, I'll try to share as much info as I have. It really differs from person to person. Chemotherapy may work on some, and may not on others. It depends on how your body responds to the medicine. The survival rate for lung cancer is very low.. but that doesn't mean there aren't survivors. Keep your faith and cherish every moment you spend with your relative. My Grandma started chemotherapy today, and it's been tough. It's not an easy thing to go through and the most important thing is to be there for your relative whenever they need you. I am so sorry you have to go through this, and if you ever need to talk feel free to e-mail me.

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Monday, June 16, 2008

How can I make a patient with lung and brain cancer more comfortable

How can I make a patient with lung and brain cancer more comfortable?
My mom has lung cancer that has spread to the brain. Her head is titled down and can't lay down right or eat a lot.
Cancer - 9 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
see if they'll give her a steady drip of morphine. If she's not allergic to it that is. It will relax her entire system. I wish you both best of luck
2 :
Being with her is the most important thing, she will feel many different ways, she will grieve the loss of many of her functions. I have done much work with palliative patients, and the best I could often to was just sit with them and hold their hands. Often just being available is comfort enough.
3 :
Is your mom on any palliative care with a nursing agency? Your being there is very important, but there are services that a nursing agency can offer for your mother that will ease this transition for all involved. I am so sorry to hear about your mother.
4 :
What a great responsibility you have. Get into contact with Hospice. They will help you and show you what you can do for her. They will also be able to assess whether she needs help with nutrition or pain relief.
5 :
give them some weed man! it will relax them
6 :
Soft pillows to help with repositioning.
7 :
talk to ur local pain management nurse .....n make sure she has everything available 4 her comfort. I mean make sure u know wot is available 4 her drug wise but also mattress n pillows, ask the hospice in ur area wot they would recommend ....familiar smells around her will bring comfort to....favorite flowers maybe? n if shes up 4 sum music n of course talking is a gr8 comfort to ill ppl.....n touch if she can bear it. All the very best 4 u n ur mother xxxx
8 :
The best thing to do is treat her normaly...You never want to treat somebody with an illness like they cant do anything. Ask some of the nurses if they could do anything to make her more comfterble. You really cant do anything that will take this away from her. Just be there for her and talk about the "good ole days" Bring stuff from home to the hospital and make her feel like shes at home. Thats all I can say!
9 :
Show him/her a reason to fight for her life. Life is just too precious to waste. There's no reason not to fight. It might be all you have left but it's also all you have left to do.

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

Can cancer spread to the brain when someone is haveing chemo for lung cancer

Can cancer spread to the brain when someone is haveing chemo for lung cancer?
I have stage 4 lung cancer. The doctor said it was not in my brain in june 07 I have had 11 chemo treatments so far and it seams to be working. i'm 46 now. I have been having headaches....
Cancer - 5 Answers
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1 :
cancer can spread anywhere in your body.
2 :
yes it can, the reason for the chemo, is to try to stop the cancer. Geesh how old are you? You are too young
3 :
Yes, unfortunately it can. But the hope is that the chemotherapy treatments you are having was able to kill the microscopic cancer before it reached the brain. There is something called the blood-brain barrier where it is difficult for most chemo drugs to cross. There are now specific chemo drugs that will cross that barrier and can kill metastatic cancer (Temodar is one). Your doctor should continue to monitor you and should you have any symptoms (unusual headaches) tell your doctor right away. There is also treatment for metastatic brain lesions if they are found early (gamma knife or even surgery is possible). It is something that you should be aware of, but there is no sense in dwelling on it . . as stated, hopefully the chemo you've had has taken care of the microscopic disease already. Stay strong. There is always hope.
4 :
Just lost my dad to metastatic lung cancer...we fought the battle together so I truely feel your pain. As he was undergoing chemotherapy for the lung cancer and radiation for the brain tumor, the tumors in the lungs kept on growing. This probably doesn't scientifically answer your question but I am of the belief that although chemotherapy works in some cases it does not work in all and the cancer spreads and grows while he was having treatments. My heart goes out to you. A link that I found after his passing was www.naturalcancertreatments.com. This site is in no way something in place of doctors orders but there are some great philosophies in the books there. Since I knew that the chemo wasn't working, I was desperate to try anything. We tried Essiac tea but apparently it was too late for him. I am always here if you want to talk at anytime. Keep up the fight!!!!
5 :
Yes indeed it can spread to the brain. I am very sorry to hear that you are being treated for lung cancer. Best wishes on your journey. Can you post how chemotherapy is going for you? The effects you have? I have an in-law who has survived lung cancer, she has been cancer free for over 5 years now, more like over 8 years now. Her son was diagnosed 3 years ago with brain cancer. He had two rather large tumors in his brain at the time of diagnoses. This was inoperable. The radiation therapy shrunk the tumors down to the size of quarters before his last dose of intensive radiation therapy.

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Sunday, June 8, 2008

What are the first signs of Lung Cancer

What are the first signs of Lung Cancer?
Hopefully you can tell me from your own personal story. Hubby is not a smoker but he is a deputy sheriff and he has spent alot of time in the jails. He is being tested for lung cancer since they have found several black spots on his lungs. Anyone care to share their Personal story of their 'first' symptoms and what they were?
Cancer - 6 Answers
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1 :
I'm sorry to hear. My mother's breathing was compromised. Less energy. There's a smoker at work whose cough won't go away. I'd bet she's a candidate.
2 :
I'm sorry about what you and your husband must be going through. I have read that the black spots could be from scarring or infection. Another possible cause: Histoplasmosis, a disease that is prevalent in river valleys, and is caused by bird feces, in dust form, entering the lungs, can cause this phenomenon of black spots on the lungs. I hope the tests come back okay. I know it's hard not to worry. I don't know anyone with lung cancer, but here are some of the first signs that I got from the website below: *Hacking, persistent cough * Coughing up blood * Shortness of breath * Wheezing * Chest pain * Lost appetite * Lost weight * Recurring bronchitis or pneumonia I'll be thinking about you and hoping everything's fine.
3 :
Hi Jayjay... Autumn gave you some classic symptoms of lung cancer so I won't repeat them. Unfortunately sometimes there are very limited symptoms until the cancer is advanced. I had a nagging cough from what I thought was recurrent bronchitis that I had 15 yrs earlier.. went in for antibiotics, suspicious shadows were seen on the xray.. A CT scan confirmed multiple tumors, a biopsy determined I was already in stage iv, inoperable with lung cancer. Many times shadows (which are white in xrays) are not cancer, many are infections and/or scar tissue. I hope the best for your husband and his future tests prove to be negative for cancer.
4 :
my second wife died from lung cancer, we found out that she was 5 mons preg. and she had cancer the same week, her symptoms was shortness of breath, then she had fluid build up around her lungs, they told her she had 10 months to live, if she would abort the child she could have as much as 14 mons with chemo, she chose not to abort, thank God cos i have the sweetest 12 yr old son he is truely a gift from God, anyway 10 after she was told she passed away, she was 42 yrs old, one other thing the doctor who treated her after she had our son told me that we all have cancer cells in our body, it just takes something to start them growing, i hope the best for ur husband, i will say a prayer for him, may include you in it also
5 :
My dad had many black spots and scaring on his lungs, he worked a few years when he was very young in the mines. Although he never developed lung cancer, he always had issues breathing. He died several years ago from mini-strokes, so I guess he was somewhat lucky, not having to fight cancer on top of his other health issues. Keep us informed, we will be thinking about you and your husband. Wow! some very interesting stories, I'm always amazed by some of the people on Yahoo, they are awesome and so great.
6 :
u know im praying for him jj. thats right, no jokes or 'id do him if he ........' not on this one girlfriend!

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Wednesday, June 4, 2008

What is the life expectancy for Small Cell Lung Cancer with out treatments

What is the life expectancy for Small Cell Lung Cancer with out treatments?
My mother (age 63) was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer in June 08. She has choosen not to have any treatments for it. At the time of the diagnosis it had not spread to other areas.
Cancer - 1 Answers
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1 :
Wow! My mom is going through the same thing right now and the doctor told her today that she could expect to live 5 months to 5 years with chemo therapy but, without it only god knows sweetie. It all depends on how aggressive the cancer is and when god chooses to call her home!

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Sunday, June 1, 2008

What gene doesnt work to cause lung cancer

What gene doesnt work to cause lung cancer?
I was doing research to learn more about cancer and i couldn't find an answer to the following question? What gene does not work that causes lung cancer? Can you please include a source, thank you!
Cancer - 1 Answers
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1 :
Alpha1-antitrypsin is a molecule that protects alveolar walls against anti-proteases and a deficiency in the molecule.

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