WHAT TO DO TO BE FIT AND HEALTHY

Being healthy is the most important and unchangeable property of a happy life. That’s why people’s best wish is to be fit and healthy. If you’re healthy, you can be happy, and you can’t be happy without health. Doing all the things below will make you fit and healthy;

1- Eating good and healthy foods,
2- Doing sport regularly
3- Not smoking and using alcohol and drugs,
4- Avoiding stress,
5- Seeing your doctor regularly.


EATING GOOD AND HEALTHY FOODS

There are six kinds of foodstuffs; proteins, oils, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. All of this foodstuffs are necessary for health but you can’t get them all by eating one kind of foods. So you should eat different kinds of foods to get all the foodstuffs. If you always eat same food you will have some health problems. In the world, each year, forty million people die because of not eating good and healthy food or hunger. Also most of people who don’t eat good and healthy foods have some health problems. So you should eat to be healthy and to live. It’s wrong to eat only to be full up.


DOING SPORT REGULARLY

Doing sport is one of the necessary and important things for being healthy and fit. It’s never late to start doing sport. Doing sport makes people’s life longer although they’re in their fifties. You can develop your muscles, joints and the other parts of your body by doing sport. Doing sport makes you relaxed and it makes your body active. By doing sport you can get fit but you can’t lose weight. Also doing sport makes you self-confident. But you may have some health problems if you start doing a sport in an inappropriate age. The table below shows the appropriate ages to start doing sports.




SPORTS
APPROPRIATE AGES
Swimming
5-6
Football, ski, tennis.
7-8
Volleyball, basketball
10-11
Long jump, triple jump
12-13
Ice hockey, badminton
13-14
Weight lift, wrestling
15-16






NOT SMOKING AND USING ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

Never use cigarette if you want to be fit and healthy. Most of people use cigarette and they have very important health problems. Cigarette contains more than two thousand harmful material and because of them one cigarette makes one’s life 5,5 minutes shorter. If people who are smoking had known the harmfulness’ of cigarette they would never use cigarette. People who use cigarette live more shorter than the others. The table below shows this.




NUMBER OF CIGARETTE THAT ONE PERSON USE IN A DAY
THAT PERSON’S LIFE
0 cigarette
More than 75 years
5-10 cigarettes
72-75 years
10-15 cigarettes
69-72 years
15-20 cigarettes
66-69 years
20-25 cigarettes
63-66 years
25-30 cigarettes
60-63 years
More than 30 cigarettes
Less than 60 years



Not only does cigarette make people’s life shorter also people that are smoking have a lot of important health problems. So you can’t be fit and healthy and you can’t live long if you use cigarette.
Drugs and alcohol are as harmful as cigarette. People who use alcohol and drugs think using them is solution for their problems. When they use them they feel relaxed. But after they use drugs and alcohol they have many health problems. By using them you can’t solve your problems also you will have some health problems. So you mustn’t use them if you want to be fit and healthy.


AVOIDING STRESS

You should avoid stress for being healthy because it makes you ill and unhappy. There are three suggestions to avoid stress;
- Explain your feelings about other people to them. If you don’t do it you will be unhappy.
- Choose some small and easy aims. When you success them you will be happy.
- Make plans for the future.


SEEING YOUR DOCTOR REGULARLY

You must visit your doctor regularly because you can’t solve your health problems unless you know them. Despite feeling healthy you should visit your doctor.

HealthNews Dozen: Top 12 Fitness Trends for the New Year

Health and fitness are part of any plan for life improvement. And there is no better time to dedicate oneself to a healthier lifestyle than upon the start of a new year. It is typically the number one resolution of people in America: to get healthy, which may include a more appropriate diet, more daily exercise, and/or a gym routine.

But New Year’s resolutions may last only a few weeks. That is why health professionals take many more factors into considerations when predicting the actual trends for the new year. Not only do they look at the past and current years and the course of health and fitness throughout, but they are familiar enough with where the industry is going as 2008 comes to an end to predict what 2009 may hold.

For the third year running, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has conducted its annual survey of 1,540 certified health and fitness professionals across six continents to predict what the industry may seen in the coming year. The survey provided 35 choices of possible trends to choose from, and the most popular were ranked and published in the November/December issue of ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal. The report was authored by the survey’s lead author, Walter Thompson, PhD, FACSM, FAACVPR, and Regent’s Professor at Georgia State University.

For the second straight year, it was voted that the health and fitness industry will see more educated and experienced fitness professionals. As the field becomes more competitive and the public grows more concerned over the credentials of those who hold their health in their hands, not to mention stricter regulations being put into place, more professionals are working toward certification and accreditation. Not only should that be more comforting to those seeking health and fitness guidance, but it heightens the level of education among those who want to train and teach.

Also for the second year in a row, obesity rates with regard to children came in as the runner-up, signifying a growing concern among professionals the general public alike that youngsters are not eating properly and getting enough exercise. Over the past decade, children have become more sedentary, as video games, computers, cell phones, and the like involve little to no physical activity. By stressing fitness in schools and encouraging children to play outdoor games, become involved in sports, and even exercise in formal classes or at a gym, it might reverse the trend of the next generation as more obese than any in history.

Personal training ranked third, again for a second year, which shows that people seem to be taking fitness more seriously than ever. Instead of people relying on self-discipline or self-education about health issues, hiring someone to motivate, teach, and encourage exercise and positive eating habits is becoming more common.

Other items that made it into the top twenty were, in order from 13th to 20th, were wellness coaching for health-related behavioral changes, worker incentive programs, outcome measurements to monitor progress, spinning or indoor cycling, physician referrals to health and fitness facilities, exercise for weight loss, group personal training, and reaching new markets, such as people who have never participated in the health and fitness community before.

Author Thompson noted, “When predictions become consistent, we view it as an opportunity for education and action. These developing themes will help health and fitness professionals give the best possible service to the public, and also help the public understand the quality of service they should be receiving as clients.”

While the reported trends should not have a tremendous effect on one’s personal goals for 2009, they do show which way the industry is going and what be more readily available--like personal training--than in the past. Whatever one’s New Year’s resolutions may be, if health and fitness are on the list in some fashion, that desire to make it happen is all anyone in the industry can ask for.

Medical Marijuana Requests Higher Since Obama Term Began

The rise in requests for medical marijuana has been dramatic of late. In various states where laws allow, dispensary owners recently admitted to an increase in 2009 requests for the pain reducer that ranges from 50 percent to as much as 300 percent. The high numbers seem to be implicitly linked to the stance of the Obama administration on the subject; the federal government will not interfere with state laws and patients who abide by them.

While some analysts insist the rise in medical marijuana requests pertains to the economic recession and subsequent growing number of Americans without health insurance, as they may turn to alternative and less expensive treatments for pain and disease, treatments like medical marijuana. However, most dispensary owners attribute the increase to the word from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder that the Obama administration would not involve itself in state matters regarding medical marijuana.

The word first hit the medical marijuana community when the Obama for America campaign acknowledged its opposition to the Bush policy on the matter. A response letter to those inquiring on the subject read, in part: “Many states have laws that condone medical marijuana, but the Bush Administration is using federal drug enforcement agents to raid these facilities and arrest seriously ill people. Focusing scarce law enforcement resources on these patients who pose no threat while many violent and highly dangerous drug traffickers are at large makes no sense. Senator Obama will not continue the Bush policy when he is president.”

Though Holder has not always held the same view, he has changed course since his appointment as the Attorney General. And despite Drug Enforcement Administration raids that happened as Obama took office in late 2008 as a continuation of the Bush policy, which stated that federal law overrode that of the states, those have since been ordered to an end. Holder stated in February of 2009, “What the president said during the campaign, you’ll be surprised to know, will be consistent with what we’ll be doing in law enforcement… What he said during the campaign is now American policy.”

According to Colorado clinic numbers, applications for medical marijuana have risen significantly. As December 2008 came to a close, there were 4,720 applications on file, as compared to the 6,796 by February 28, 2009. While this certainly does not indicate that doctors are willing to authorize all of the new patients for marijuana use, the requests are difficult to ignore. And to accommodate, some dispensaries are paying doctors to be on staff and provide the oversight to patients whose own doctors are unwilling to sign off on the applications.

And more states are looking to provide the medical marijuana service for their residents, as a growing number of studies show that the drug is a safe and highly effective alternative to prescription medicines like morphine, in addition to being a form of miracle drug for cancer patients dealing with the effects of chemotherapy. New Hampshire and North Carolina are two states in the process of debating laws that would add them to the thirteen-state list of states already supportive of the medicinal qualities of marijuana. Those states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

With that said, some states are still involved in complicated and expensive court battles due to the Bush administration’s crackdown and blurring of the lines between federal and state laws. California, the first state to legalize medical marijuana 13 years ago, has lost every court battle with the federal government thus far but seeks to avenge those losses in a current appeals process.

Americans for Safe Access, an organization promoting the safe and legal access to marijuana for therapeutic use and research, recently sued the federal government on the basis that law prohibits the government from disseminating inaccurate information, such as that about the actual benefits of marijuana. In its most recent hearing in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, lawyers for Safe Access argued that the government must update its data and rely on current information.

Director of Safe Access Steph Sherer told the Los Angeles Times, “The science to support medical marijuana is overwhelming. It’s time for the federal government to acknowledge the efficacy of medical marijuana and stop holding science hostage to politics.”

If the Obama administration has anything to say about it, science will prevail over politics, as evidenced by President Obama’s strong stand on stem cell research. But it may take some time for the medical marijuana advocacy organizations to make their case on a federal level. In the meantime, the absence of federal government intervention in state laws regarding marijuana is a start. Patients who can find some peace in the face of chronic and overwhelming medical conditions may be able to rest or recover a bit easier without the fear of federal agents appearing at their local dispensary or their own front doors.

Effect of Cleaning Supplies During Pregnancy

While most women are aware that they need to stay clear of harsh chemicals while pregnant, they overlook just how toxic their everyday cleaning supplies are to their health, their unborn baby and to say the least, so detrimental to the environment. A study in Britain in 2204 showed a link between exposure to household cleaners during pregnancy and asthma in children. Investigators found that those households that used the most chemical-based products during pregnancy were two times more likely to have children with asthma. These findings backed up a similar Australian study that was published in August of 2004.

Recent research has looked at a link between the use of everyday household cleaning products, including aerosols and air fresheners, during pregnancy, and persistent wheezing in pre-school children. The study concluded that pre-school children whose mothers used cleaning products most frequently during pregnancy were found to be more than twice as likely to wheeze persistently throughout early childhood. Additionally, a study of respiratory health showed a clear connection between children's breathing problems and their mothers' heavy use of common cleaning products in pregnancy. Greenpeace found that chemicals found in perfumes and cleaning products can cross the placenta.

The research and clinical trials on the use of household cleaning products and the effect it has on your health and the environment are to numerous to be ignored. The National Institute of Health as a wonderful site where you can just type in a name of a product and read the safety and toxicity information on each product. There link is http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm and it holds a wealth of information. Furthermore the site will provide information on skin care products. Research in the cosmetics field has also shown that the chemicals used in a lot of skin care products are toxic too.

Chemicals to steer clear of in the home include: triclosan, an anti-bacterial agent found in cleaning products, disinfectant hand wash and toothpaste (which has a possible link with liver damage); alkypheonols, found in detergents (which are linked to sperm damage), and artificial musk found in perfumes (linked to cancer).

You should also avoid Latex paints; used indoors they can also be toxic as they release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air that you breathe. If you've already painted a room, stay out of it as much as you can and keep windows open until the smell fades.

Avoid all pesticides if possible. Additionally, bug sprays that contain DEET have not been properly evaluated for safety during pregnancy and therefore should be used with caution. Instead of applying the bug repellant directly onto your skin where it can be absorbed, apply it to your clothing instead. Use gloves or an applicator so the spray doesn't get on to your hands.

Other products to avoid are: Bleach, Window cleaners, Carpet cleaners, Disinfectants, Dry cleaning fluids, Aerosols, Air Fresheners, and Paint Stripper.

Although there is not much you can do about the toxins in the outdoor environment, you can take steps to rid your home of toxic products. Not only are most common cleaning supplies harmful to your health they are just a detrimental to our environment.

While you should not hide in your home while pregnant, a common sense approach is needed when doing your usual household cleaning. Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It serves a two way function, one is to eliminate toxins through the skin via perspiration and it also absorbs toxins through the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. If you put a chemical on your skin, it will be absorbed into the blood stream.

I was taught that clean has a smell, such as Lysol, bleach or Mr. Clean however, I know better now. The harmful fumes from so many cleaning products linger in the air and can actually cause illness and/or respiratory problems especially in children. In view of the harmful effects of common cleaning products on our health and the environment, it behooves me that these toxic chemical based cleaners still crowd the shelves of supermarkets and drugstores.

Yogurt Promotes Digestive Health

Yogurt is part of of the the dairy level of the food pyramid. Offering many digestive benefits, it comes in a variety of flavors and textures. So many, you could probably have a different one a day for a month. There's plain, custard style, fruit, fruit on the bottom, and many many flavors.

But what exactly is yogurt? Yogurt starts out as milk which is heated to about 200 degrees F for 10 to 30 minutes. Then it has to be cooled very rapidly to about 112 degrees F and mixed with the yogurt starter that contains the two necessary bacteria. For the custard style or thicker yogurt, the milk has to be heated for a longer period of time. After it has cooled, it's put into clean containers at 100 degrees F. This fermentation process is what develops the tartness in the yogurt.

This food can be used in a variety of ways. It makes a healthy breakfast or snack when you add cereal or granola. The low-fat variety is even more healthy and satisfying with some fruits or nuts added. There is also a yogurt that is specifically produced thin, with a lower solids level and intended to be used as a drinking yogurt. These are often used to make delicious smoothy drinks with added fruits such as bananas, pineapples, strawberries, blueberries, etc. A pasteurized stirred yogurt is used to make frozen yogurt, which is available in the frozen food section where you find ice cream.

Not only does yogurt have many beneficial nutrients such as calcium, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12, potassium, and magnesium, it also provides protein. It's a perfect food for those who are lactose intolerant or who suffer from constipation or diarrhea. Some studies have indicated that a diet rich in yogurt may help boost the immune system. Until this has been confirmed, or just to add to your diet, you might consider adding an herbal supplement to boost, maintain, and fortify the immune system. One that contains echinacea angustifolia, purpurea, and pallida.

Use yogurt in your tried and true recipes to reduce the fat. Plain yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream to top your baked potatoes. It can also be used to replace some of the oil or butter in your baked goods without loosing flavor. If you do need additional digestive aid, add a supplement that will naturally soothe the entire digestive tract. One that has plant ingredients of anise, cumin, dill, caraway, coriander, and fennel seed; cardamom; ginger root; parsley leaf; cilantro; peppermint; and chamomile. These habits will help ensure a strong immune system and a healthy digestive system, as well.

Lung Cancer

What is cancer of the lung?
Cancer of the lung, like all cancers, results from an abnormality in the body's basic unit of life, the cell. Normally, the body maintains a system of checks and balances on cell growth so that cells divide to produce new cells only when needed. Disruption of this system of checks and balances on cell growth results in an uncontrolled division and proliferation of cells that eventually forms a mass known as a tumor.
Tumors can be benign or malignant; when we speak of "cancer," we refer to those tumors that are considered malignant. Benign tumors can usually be removed and do not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, grow aggressively and invade other tissues of the body, allowing entry of tumor cells into the bloodstream or lymphatic system which spread the tumor to other sites in the body. This process of spread is termed metastasis; the areas of tumor growth at these distant sites are called metastases. Since lung cancer tends to spread, or metastasize, very early in its course, it is a very life-threatening cancer and one of the most difficult cancers to treat. While lung cancer can spread to any organ in the body, certain organs—particularly the adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bone—are the most common sites for lung cancer metastasis.
The lung is also a very common site for metastasis from tumors in other parts of the body. Tumor metastases are made up of the same type of cells as the original, or primary, tumor. For example, if prostate cancer spreads via the bloodstream to the lungs, it is metastatic prostate cancer in the lung and is not lung cancer.The principal function of the lungs is the exchange of gases between the air we breathe and the blood. Through the lung, carbon dioxide is removed from the body and oxygen from inspired air enters the bloodstream. The right lung has three lobes, while the left lung is divided into two lobes and a small structure called the lingula that is the equivalent of the middle lobe. The major airways entering the lungs are the bronchi, which arise from the trachea. The bronchi branch into progressively smaller airways called bronchioles that end in tiny sacs known as alveoli, where gas exchange occurs. The lungs and chest wall are covered with a thin layer of tissue called the pleura.
Lung cancers can arise in any part of the lung, and 90%-95% of cancers of the lung are thought to arise from the epithelial, or lining cells of the larger and smaller airways (bronchi and bronchioles); for this reason, lung cancers are sometimes called bronchogenic carcinomas or bronchogenic cancers. Cancers can also arise from the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that surrounds the lungs), called mesotheliomas, or rarely from supporting tissues within the lungs, for example, blood vessels.
How common is lung cancer?
Lung cancer is responsible for the most cancer deaths in both men and women throughout the world. The American Cancer Society estimates that 213,380 new cases of lung cancer in the U.S. will be diagnosed and 160,390 deaths due to lung cancer will occur in 2007. Lung cancer is predominantly a disease of the elderly; almost 70% of people diagnosed with the condition are over 65 years of age, while less than 3% of cases occur in people under age 45.
Lung cancer was not common prior to the 1930s but increased dramatically over the following decades as tobacco smoking increased. In many developing countries, the incidence of lung cancer is beginning to fall following public education about the dangers of cigarette smoking and effective smoking-cessation programs. Nevertheless, lung cancer remains among the most common types of cancers in both men and women worldwide.
Lung cancer has also surpassed breast cancer in causing the most cancer-related deaths in women in the United States.

What causes lung cancer?
Smoking
The incidence of lung cancer is strongly correlated with cigarette smoking, with about 90% of lung cancers arising as a result of tobacco use. The risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked over time; doctors refer to this risk in terms of pack-years of smoking history (the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked). For example, a person who has smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for 10 years has a 20 pack-year smoking history. While the risk of lung cancer is increased with even a 10 pack-year smoking history, those with 30 pack-year histories or more are considered to have the greatest risk for the development of lung cancer. Among those who smoke two or more packs of cigarettes per day, one in seven will die of lung cancer.
Pipe and cigar smoking can also cause lung cancer, although the risk is not as high as with cigarette smoking. While someone who smokes one pack of cigarettes per day has a risk for the development of lung cancer that is 25 times higher than a nonsmoker, pipe and cigar smokers have a risk of lung cancer that is about five times that of a nonsmoker.
Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds, many of which have been shown to be cancer-causing, or carcinogenic. The two primary carcinogens in tobacco smoke are chemicals known as nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The risk of developing lung cancer decreases each year following smoking cessation as normal cells grow and replace damaged cells in the lung. In former smokers, the risk of developing lung cancer begins to approach that of a nonsmoker about 15 years after cessation of smoking. For more, please read the Smoking and Quitting Smoking article.
Passive smoking
Passive smoking, or the inhalation of tobacco smoke from other smokers sharing living or working quarters, is also an established risk factor for the development of lung cancer. Research has shown that nonsmokers who reside with a smoker have a 24% increase in risk for developing lung cancer when compared with other nonsmokers. An estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year in the U.S. that are attributable to passive smoking.
Asbestos fibers
Asbestos fibers are silicate fibers that can persist for a lifetime in lung tissue following exposure to asbestos. The workplace is a common source of exposure to asbestos fibers, as asbestos was widely used in the past for both thermal and acoustic insulation materials. Today, asbestos use is limited or banned in many countries, including the Unites States. Both lung cancer and mesothelioma (a type of cancer of the pleura or of the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum) are associated with exposure to asbestos. Cigarette smoking drastically increases the chance of developing an asbestos-related lung cancer in exposed workers. Asbestos workers who do not smoke have a fivefold greater risk of developing lung cancer than nonsmokers, and those asbestos workers who smoke have a risk that is 50 to 90 times greater than nonsmokers.
Radon gas
Radon gas is a natural, chemically inert gas that is a natural decay product of uranium. It decays to form products that emit a type of ionizing radiation. Radon gas is a known cause of lung cancer, with an estimated 12% of lung cancer deaths attributable to radon gas, or 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer-related deaths annually in the U.S., making radon the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. As with asbestos exposure, concomitant smoking greatly increases the risk of lung cancer with radon exposure. Radon gas can travel up through soil and enter homes through gaps in the foundation, pipes, drains, or other openings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that one out of every 15 homes in the U.S. contains dangerous levels of radon gas. Radon gas is invisible and odorless, but it can be detected with simple test kits.
Familial predisposition
While the majority of lung cancers are associated with tobacco smoking, the fact that not all smokers eventually develop lung cancer suggests that other factors, such as individual genetic susceptibility, may play a role in the causation of lung cancer. Numerous studies have shown that lung cancer is more likely to occur in both smoking and nonsmoking relatives of those who have had lung cancer than in the general population. Recent research has localized a region on the long (q) arm of the human chromosome number 6 that is likely to contain a gene that confers an increased susceptibility to the development of lung cancer in smokers.
Lung diseases
The presence of certain diseases of the lung, notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is associated with a slightly increased risk (four to six times the risk of a nonsmoker) for the development of lung cancer even after the effects of concomitant cigarette smoking are excluded.
Prior history of lung cancer
Survivors of lung cancer have a greater risk than the general population of developing a second lung cancer. Survivors of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs, see below) have an additive risk of 1%-2% per year for developing a second lung cancer. In survivors of small cell lung cancers (SCLCs), the risk for development of second cancers approaches 6% per year.
Air pollution
Air pollution from vehicles, industry, and power plants can raise the likelihood of developing lung cancer in exposed individuals. Up to 1% of lung cancer deaths are attributable to breathing polluted air, and experts believe that prolonged exposure to highly polluted air can carry a risk similar to that of passive smoking for the development of lung cancer.
What are the types of lung cancer?
Lung cancers, also known as bronchogenic carcinomas ("carcinoma" is another term for cancer), are broadly classified into two types: small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). This classification is based upon the microscopic appearance of the tumor cells themselves. These two types of cancers grow and spread in different ways, so a distinction between these two types is important.
SCLC comprise about 20% of lung cancers and are the most aggressive and rapidly growing of all lung cancers. SCLC are strongly related to cigarette smoking, with only 1% of these tumors occurring in nonsmokers. SCLC metastasize rapidly to many sites within the body and are most often discovered after they have spread extensively. Referring to a specific cell type often seen in SCLC, these cancers are sometimes called oat cell carcinomas.
NSCLC are the most common lung cancers, accounting for about 80% of all lung cancers. NSCLC has three main types that are named based upon the type of cells found in the tumor:
Adenocarcinomas are the most commonly seen type of NSCLC in the U.S. and comprise up to 50% of NSCLC . While adenocarcinomas are associated with smoking like other lung cancers, this type is especially observed as well in nonsmokers who develop lung cancer. Most adenocarcinomas arise in the outer, or peripheral, areas of the lungs. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma is a subtype of adenocarcinoma that frequently develops at multiple sites in the lungs and spreads along the preexisting alveolar walls.
Squamous cell carcinomas were formerly more common than adenocarcinomas; at present, they account for about 30% of NSCLC. Also known as epidermoid carcinomas, squamous cell cancers arise most frequently in the central chest area in the bronchi.
Large cell carcinomas, sometimes referred to as undifferentiated carcinomas, are the least common type of NSCLC.
Mixtures of different types of NSCLC are also seen.
Other types of cancers can arise in the lung; these types are much less common than NSCLC and SCLC and together comprise only 5%-10% of lung cancers:
Bronchial carcinoids account for up to 5% of lung cancers. These tumors are generally small (3-4 cm or less) when diagnosed and occur most commonly in people under 40 years of age. Unrelated to cigarette smoking, carcinoid tumors can metastasize, and a small proportion of these tumors secrete hormone-like substances. Carcinoids generally grow and spread more slowly than bronchogenic cancers, and many are detected early enough to be amenable to surgical resection.
Cancers of supporting lung tissue such as smooth muscle, blood vessels, or cells involved in the immune response can rarely occur in the lung.
As discussed previously, metastastatic cancers from other primary tumors in the body are often found in the lung. Tumors from anywhere in the body may spread to the lungs either through the bloodstream, through the lymphatic system, or directly from nearby organs. Metastatic tumors are most often multiple, scattered throughout the lung, and concentrated in the peripheral rather than central areas of the organ.
What are the signs and symptoms of lung cancer?
Symptoms of lung cancer are varied dependent upon where and how widespread the tumor is. Warning signs of lung cancer are not always present or easy to identify. A person with lung cancer may have the following kinds of symptoms:
No symptoms: In up to 25% of people who get lung cancer, the cancer is first discovered on a routine chest x-ray or CT scan as a solitary small mass sometimes called a coin lesion. These patients with small single masses often report no symptoms of lung cancer at the time it is discovered.
Symptoms related to the cancer: The growth of the cancer and invasion of lung tissues and surroundings may interfere with breathing, leading to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood (hemoptysis). If the cancer has invaded nerves, for example, it may cause shoulder pain that travels down the outside of the arm (called Pancoast's Syndrome) or paralysis of the vocal cords leading to hoarseness. Invasion of the esophagus may lead to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). If a large airway is obstructed, collapse of a portion of the lung may occur and cause infections (abscesses, pneumonia) in the obstructed area.
Symptoms related to metastasis: Lung cancer that has spread to the bones may produce excruciating pain at the sites of bone involvement. Cancer that has spread to the brain may cause a number of neurologic symptoms that may include blurred vision, headaches, seizures, or symptoms of stroke such as weakness or loss of sensation in parts of the body.
Paraneoplastic symptoms: Lung cancers frequently are accompanied by so-called paraneoplastic syndromes that result from production of hormone-like substances by the tumor cells. Paraneoplastic syndromes occur most commonly with SCLC but may be seen with any tumor type. A common paraneoplastic syndrome associated with SCLC is the production of a hormone called adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) by the cancer cells, leading to oversecretion of the hormone cortisol by the adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome). The most frequent paraneoplastic syndrome seen with NSCLC is the production of a substance similar to parathyroid hormone, resulting in elevated levels of calcium in the bloodstream.
Nonspecific symptoms: Nonspecific symptoms seen with many cancers including lung cancers include weight loss, weakness, and fatigue. Psychological symptoms such as depression and mood changes are also common.
When should one consult a doctor?
One should consult a health care provider if they develop the symptoms associated with lung cancer, in particular, if they have
a new persistent cough or worsening of an existing chronic cough,
blood in the sputum,
persistent bronchitis or repeated respiratory infections,
chest pain,
unexplained weight loss and/or fatigue, and/or
breathing difficulties such as shortness of breath or wheezing.
How is lung cancer diagnosed?
Doctors use a wide range of diagnostic procedures and tests to diagnose lung cancer. These include:
The history and physical examination may reveal the presence of symptoms or signs that are suspicious for lung cancer. In addition to asking about symptoms and risk factors for cancer development, doctors may detect signs of breathing difficulties, airway obstruction, or infections in the lungs. Cyanosis, a bluish color of the skin and the mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen in the blood, suggests compromised function of the lung. Likewise, changes in the tissue of the nail beds, known as clubbing, may also indicate lung disease.
The chest x-ray is the most common first diagnostic step when any new symptoms of lung cancer are present. The chest x-ray procedure often involves a view from the back to the front of the chest as well as a view from the side. Like any x-ray procedure, chest x-rays expose the patient briefly to a minimum amount of radiation. Chest x-rays may reveal suspicious areas in the lungs but are unable to determine if these areas are cancerous. In particular, calcified nodules in the lungs or benign tumors called hamartomas may be identified on a chest x-ray and simulate lung cancer.
CT (computerized axial tomography scan, or CAT scan) scans may be performed on the chest, abdomen, and/or brain to examine for both metastatic and primary tumor. A CT scan of the chest may be ordered when x-rays are negative or do not yield sufficient information about the extent or location of a tumor. CT scans are x-ray procedures that combine multiple images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional views of the body. The images are taken by a large donut-shaped x-ray machine at different angles around the body. One advantage of CT scans is that they are more sensitive than standard chest x-rays in the detection of lung nodules. Sometimes intravenous contrast material is given prior to the procedure to help delineate the organs and their positions. A CT scan exposes the patient to a minimal amount of radiation. The most common side effect is an adverse reaction to intravenous contrast material that may have been given prior to the procedure. There may be resulting itching, a rash, or hives that generally disappear rather quickly. Severe anaphylactic reactions (life-threatening allergic reactions with breathing difficulties) to contrast material are rare. CT scans of the abdomen may identify metastatic cancer in the liver or adrenal glands, and CT scans of the head may be ordered to reveal the presence and extent of metastatic cancer in the brain.
A technique called a low-dose helical CT scan (or spiral CT scan) is sometimes used in screening for lung cancers. This procedure requires a special type of CAT scanner and has been shown to be an effective tool for the identification of small lung cancers in smokers and former smokers. However, it has not yet been proven whether the use of this technique actually saves lives or lowers the risk of death from lung cancer. The heightened sensitivity of this method is actually one of the sources of its drawbacks, since lung nodules requiring further evaluation will be seen in approximately 20% of people with this technique. Of the nodules identified by low-dose helical screening CTs, 90% are not cancerous but require up to two years of costly and often uncomfortable follow-up and testing. Trials are underway to further determine the utility of spiral CT scans in screening for lung cancer.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may be indicated when precise detail about a tumor's location is required. The MRI technique uses magnetism, radio waves, and a computer to produce images of body structures. As with CT scanning, the patient is placed on a moveable bed which is inserted into the MRI scanner. There are no known side effects of MRI scanning, and there is no exposure to radiation. The image and resolution produced by MRI is quite detailed and can detect tiny changes of structures within the body. People with heart pacemakers, metal implants, artificial heart valves, and other surgically implanted structures cannot be scanned with an MRI because of the risk that the magnet may move the metal parts of these structures.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning is a specialized imaging technique that uses short-lived radioactive substances to produce three-dimensional colored images of those substances functioning within the body. While CT scans and MRI scans look at anatomical structures, PET scans measure metabolic activity and functioning of tissue. PET scans can determine whether a tumor tissue is actively growing and can aid in determining the type of cells within a particular tumor. In PET scanning, the patient receives a short half-lived radioactive drug and receives approximately the amount of radiation exposure as with two chest x-rays. The drug discharges positrons from wherever they are used in the body. As the positrons encounter electrons within the body, a reaction producing gamma rays occurs. A scanner records these gamma rays and maps the area where the drug is located. For example, combining glucose (a common energy source in the body) with a radioactive substance will show where glucose is being used in a growing tumor.
Bone scans are used to create images of bones on a computer screen or on film. Doctors may order a bone scan to determine whether a lung cancer has metastasized to the bones. In a bone scan, a small amount of radioactive material is injected into the bloodstream and collects in the bones, especially in abnormal areas such as those involved by metastatic tumors. The radioactive material is detected by a scanner, and the image of the bones is recorded on a special film for permanent viewing.
Sputum cytology: The diagnosis of lung cancer always requires confirmation of malignant cells by a pathologist, even when symptoms and x-ray studies are suspicious for lung cancer. The simplest method to establish the diagnosis is the examination of sputum under a microscope. If a tumor is centrally located and has invaded the airways, this procedure, known as a sputum cytology examination, may allow visualization of tumor cells for diagnosis. This is the most risk-free and inexpensive tissue diagnostic procedure, but its value is limited since tumor cells will not always be present in sputum even if a cancer is present. Also, noncancerous cells may occasionally undergo changes in reaction to inflammation or injury that makes them look like cancer cells.
Bronchoscopy: Examination of the airways by bronchoscopy (visualizing the airways through a thin probe inserted in a tube through the nose or mouth) may reveal areas of tumor that can be sampled for pathologic diagnosis. A tumor in the central areas of the lung or arising from the larger airways is accessible to sampling using this technique. Bronchoscopy may be performed using a rigid or a flexible, fiberoptic bronchoscope and can be performed in a same-day outpatient bronchoscopy suite, an operating room, or on a hospital ward. The procedure can be uncomfortable and require sedation or anesthesia. While the procedure is relatively safe, the procedure must be carried out by a lung specialist (pulmonologist or surgeon) experienced in the procedure. When a tumor is visualized and adequately sampled, an accurate cancer diagnosis is generally possible. Some patients may cough up dark-brown blood for one to two days after the procedure. More serious, and rare, complications include a greater amount of bleeding, decreased levels of oxygen in the blood, and heart arrhythmias as well as complications from sedative medications and anesthesia.
Needle biopsy: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) through the skin, most commonly performed with radiological imaging for guidance, may be useful in retrieving cells for diagnosis from tumor nodules in the lungs. Needle biopsies are particularly useful when the lung tumor is peripherally located in the lung and not accessible to sampling by bronchoscopy. A small amount of local anesthetic is given prior to insertion of a thin needle through the chest wall into the abnormal area in the lung. Cells are suctioned into the syringe and are examined under the microscope for tumor cells. This procedure is generally accurate when the tissue from the affected area is adequately sampled, but in some cases, adjacent or uninvolved areas of the lung may be mistakenly sampled. A small risk (3%-5%) of an air leak from the lungs (called a pneumothorax, which can easily be treated) accompanies the procedure.
Thoracentesis: Sometimes lung cancers involve the lining tissue of the lungs (pleura) and lead to an accumulation of fluid in the space between the lungs and chest wall (called a pleural effusion). Aspiration of a sample of this fluid with a thin needle (thoracentesis) may reveal the cancer cells and establish the diagnosis. As with the needle biopsy, a small risk of a pneumothorax is associated with this procedure.
Major surgical procedures: If none of the aforementioned methods yields a diagnosis, surgical methods must be employed to obtain tumor tissue for diagnosis. These can include mediastinoscopy (examining the chest cavity between the lungs through a surgically inserted probe with biopsy of tumor masses or lymph nodes) or thoracotomy (surgical opening of the chest wall with removal of as much tumor as possible). Thoracotomy is rarely able to completely remove a lung cancer, and both mediastinoscopy and thoracotomy carry the risks of major surgical procedures (complications such as bleeding, infection, and risks from anesthesia and medications). These procedures are performed in an operating room, and the patient must be hospitalized.
Blood tests: While routine blood tests alone cannot diagnose lung cancer, they may reveal biochemical or metabolic abnormalities in the body that accompany cancer. For example, elevated levels of calcium or of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase may accompany cancer that is metastatic to the bones. Likewise, elevated levels of certain enzymes normally present within liver cells, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT), signal liver damage, possibly through the presence of metastatic tumor.

Machine 'sniffs out skin cancer

A common form of skin cancer could be diagnosed by the distinctive chemical "scent" it gives off, say US experts.

Philadelphia's Monell Center sampled the air directly above basal cell carcinomas and found it was different to similar samples from healthy skin. They told a conference it offered the chance of cheap and painless testing. Other scientists are trying to spot the "smell" of cancer, with a UK team using dogs to sniff out bladder tumours from urine samples. All human skin releases chemicals called "volatile organic compounds", many of which do have a scent.
The researchers from the Monell Center used a technology called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify their precise chemical composition. A total of 22 patients, 11 with and 11 without basal cell carcinomas, were tested. All the air samples contained the same ingredients, but the equipment revealed that the patients with cancer had markedly different concentrations of certain chemicals. Dr Michelle Gallagher, presenting the results of the project at the American Chemical Society's annual conference, said that a "profile" of the cancer could be built up.
"Our findings may someday allow doctors to screen for and diagnose skin cancers at very early stages," she said. She now plans to try to construct profiles of other types of skin cancer, including the much more dangerous malignant melanoma

Kanser

Çağımızın illetini dilerseniz önce bir tanıyalım.Kanser basit ifade ile kontrolsüz hücre çoğalmasıdır.Bölünebilir hücrelerimiz düzgün periyotlarla sürekli kendilerini yenilerler.Ancak henüz sebebi bilinmeyen bir sebeple hücreler kontrolsüz çoğalmaya başlar ve kitle(ur) dediğimiz yapılar meydana getirir.Peki bu kanserin tedavisi yok mudur?Şuan ki araştırmalar kanser tedavisinde tam olarak iyileşme sağlayacak boyuta ne yazik ki gelmedi.

Kanserin sebebi nedir?
Çevresel ve içsel nedenler olarak ikiye ayrılabilir. Çevresel nedenler (kimyasal, radyasyon, viruslar gibi) ve içsel nedenler (hormonal, bağışıklık bozuklukları, kalıtsal mutasyonlar ve diğer genetik nedenler gibi) birlikte veya ardışık olarak hücreleri etkileyerek uzun yıllar içinde kansere yol açabilirler.

yi huylu ve kötü huylu tümör ne demektir?
İyi huylu tümörler kanser değildir. Başka bölgelere yayılmazlar. Tamamen çıkartıldığı zaman genellikle tekrarlamazlar. Kötü huylu tümörler ya da kanser ise komşu organ ve dokulara yayıldığı gibi, lenf ve kan yoluyla uzak organlara da yayılır. Uzak organlardaki yayılımına metastaz (yayılma) denir.
Kanser ne sıklıkla görülen bir hastalıktır?
Erişkinlerde her yıl 100 bin nüfus için 150-300 kişi kansere yakalanır. Ülkemizde her yıl 150 bin kişinin kansere yakalandığı tahmin edilir.

Kanserden korunmak mümkün mü?
Sigara ve alkol kullanımı ile gelişen kanserlerin önlenmesi mümkün. Bu maddelerin kullanılmaması ile tam koruma mümkün olur. Ayrıca güneş ışınlarından korunma ile deri kanserinden çok yüksek oranlarda korunmam mümkün. Kanserden korunmada beslenmenin de rolü büyük.

Kanserden nasıl korunabilirsiniz?
Sigara içmeyerek, beslenme alışkanlıklarına ve yaşam tarzına dikkat ederek, güneş ışınlarından korunarak kanserden korunmak mümkün.
Sigara ve tütün kullanımından kaçınmak:
Sigara ve tütün ürünlerinin akciğer kanseri, ağız, yutak (farinks), soluk borusu (larinks), yemek borusu, pankreas, rahim ağzı (serviks), böbrek ve idrar torbası (mesane) kanserlerine yol açtığı kesin olarak biliniyor. Bu nedenle sigarayı içmeyerek bu kanserlerdenkorunubilirsiniz.
Sadece sigara içenler değil, pasif sigara içicileri de bu hastalıklara karşı risk altında bulunur.
Beslenme ve diyet:
Bitkisel kaynaklı besinlerin fazla tüketilmesi, özellikle hayvansal kaynaklı yüksek yağlı gıdaların sınırlandırılması, bitkisel yağların tercih edilmesi, fiziksel olarak aktif olup, egzersiz yapılması ve ideal ağırlığın korunması, alkol tüketiminin sınırlandırılması kanserden korunmada etkin rol oynuyor.
Güneş ışınlarından korunma:
Bazal ve skuamöz hücreli deri kanserleri güneş ışınlarına maruz kalma sonucunda ortaya çıkıyor. Bu nedenle güneş ışınından korunulması ile bu kanserlerin gelişimi engellenebilir.
Kanserin başlıca belirti ve bulguları nelerdir?
Kanserin belirti ve bulguları köken aldığı doku ve organlara göre değişir. Hatta bazen hiç belirti ve bulgu vermeden kontrol muayenelerinde kanser tanısı konulabilir.
Aşağıdaki belirtilere dikkat edin:
Dışkılama ve idrar alışkanlıklarında değişiklikler
Uzun süren, iyileşmeyen yaralar
Beklenmeyen kanama ve akıntılar
Meme veya başka organlarda elle hissedilen şişlikler
Yutma güçlüğü veya hazımsızlık
Siğil ve benlerde belirgin değişiklik
Uzun süren ses kısıklığı ve öksürük

Bu bulgular her zaman kanser demek değildir. Ancak nedenlerinin belirlenmesi için mutlaka bir doktora başvurulması gerekir. Kanser bulaşıcı bir hastalık olmayıp, erken tanısı ve tedavisi mümkün bir hastalık grubudur.

Kanser nasıl tedavi edilir?
Cerrahi, radyoterapi, kemoterapi, hormonoterapi, immünoterapi başlıca tedavi yöntemleridir.

Kanserden kurtulmak ne oranda mümkündür?
Tüm kanser türleri birlikte değerlendirildiğinde erişkin kanserlerinde % 60, çocuk kanserlerinde ise % 77 oranında iyileşme mümkündür. Ancak hastalığın cinsi, yaygınlığı, uygulanan tedavi gibi bazı faktörler tedavi şansını doğrudan etkiler.