Types of Lung Cancers Triggered by Radon Gas

Radon-Induced Carcinoma: The In-Depth Perspective

Lung cancer is the deadliest of all cancers. As the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, it kills more than 150,000 people in America every year, roughly one American every three and a half minutes. The incidence of radon induced lung cancer is also increasing at one-half a percent each year worldwide.

For now, about 171,841 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed yearly in the United States and more than one million worldwide. Overall, lung cancer is responsible for approximately 28 percent of all cancer-related deaths, more than colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

Why is Lung Cancer from Radon so Deadly?

Lung cancer is deadly because it is usually in advanced stages by the time physicians can diagnose it. Thus, the number of yearly deaths nearly equals the yearly diagnoses rate. Overall, more than 70 percent of lung tumors are diagnosed only when they have grown very large or metastasized. However, lung cancer is potentially curable if diagnosed early.

The Science of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer occurs when normal lung cells change and begin to divide uncontrollably. Like almost all of the body's cells, lung cells grow, divide, and produce more cells as needed for proper functioning. If cells begin to grow when they are not needed, they form a mass of extra cells that, in turn, form tumors.

Types of Lung Cancers

The two general classifications for radon induced lung cancer are small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. The most common form is non-small cell cancer, which accounts for about 80 percent of all lung cancer diagnoses. This type tends to grow and spread more slowly. Non-small cell cancer is usually broken down into three types and named after the kind of cells involved:

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma- thin, flat cells that look like fish scales, squamous cells are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracks. Approximately 30 to 35 percent of all lung cancer diagnoses are squamous cell carcinomas and are found near a bronchus.
• Adenocarcinoma- This type of radon-triggered cancer begins in cells that line certain internal organs and that have glandular properties. Usually found in the lung's outer region, it is the most common of the lung cancers found in women and accounts for approximately 40 percent of all lung cancer diagnoses.
• Large Cell Carcinoma- This form of cancer forms large cells and they look abnormal when viewed under a microscope. Large cell carcinoma may form in almost any part of the lung. It tends to grow and spread quickly and, as a result, has poor prognosis. Large cell carcinoma accounts for about 10 to 15 percent of all lung cancers arising from radon exposure.

Small cell lung cancer accounts for about 20 percent of all diagnoses. It is considered the most aggressive type of lung cancer because it spreads quickly and widely throughout the body. Small cell lung cancer is also known as oat cell carcinoma and small cell undifferentiated carcinoma. It often begins in the bronchi near the center of the lungs.

In summary, lung cancers are some of the most devastating illnesses out there. One proactive measure that you can take to avoid the affliction is to test your office and household for radon gas. Being the second most common trigger of lung cancers, it makes good sense to detect and correct this issue before the health implications arise.