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The Lung Cancer System | Lung Cancer Pictures | Smoking and Lung Cancer

Information on Lung Cancer

The Cancer Lung System

The human lungs are cone-shaped, sponge-like organs that are a main part of the respiratory system. The right lung has three sections that are called lobes. It is a little larger than the left lung, which has two lobes. When we breathe in, the lungs take in oxygen, which our cells need to live and carry out their normal functions. When we breathe out, the lungs get rid of carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of the body's cells.

The Lungs

Lung Cancer Picture

Lung cancer now kills more men and women than any other form of cancer in the United States. The economic loss is huge and is calculated to be over two billion dollars a year.

Most lung cancers begin to grow silently, without any symptoms. Patients with lung cancer often do not develop symptoms until the cancer is in an advanced stage. The actual time from when one cell becomes cancerous until it is large enough to be diagnosed or produce symptoms may take as long as 10 to 40 years. Since the majority of lung cancer is diagnosed at a relatively late stage, only 10% of all lung cancer patients are ultimately cured. If the patient cannot be cured by surgery at the time the cancer is found, there is a 50% chance that death will occur in less than one year. Of course there are advances with medicine and new treatements, so this time may change at any point.