A to Z Medical DiseasesPractical Information on Medical Diseases

Stroke is a condition in which the brain loses its ability to perform one or more of its normal functions. This happens when a portion of the brain tissue dies, a circumstance that occurs when a blood vessel ruptures or becomes blocked. The symptoms experienced by the patient depend on the area of the brain that suffers the stroke. The outcomes are unpredictable. Some people will lose sensation on one side of their bodies; others may become unable to speak; and still others will become partially paralyzed.

By now, everybody knows that the health risks associated with tobacco use are huge. People who smoke cigarettes are at risk for lung cancer, heart disease, mouth cancer, throat cancer, emphysema, and a host of other health problems. Not to mention smoking causes yellow teeth, wrinkled skin, and stinky clothes and hair.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is usually detected during the course of a routine exam. A doctor might notice an abnormality that shows up on x-rays, or suspect the disease has developed based on the patient’s symptoms (e.g. persistent cough, difficulty breathing, etc.). In nearly one in four cases, the disorder is entirely absent of symptoms, making its detection less likely.

There are different forms of treatment that can be used to address non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These include various types of surgery as well as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In some cases, only surgery is used. Other times, all three measures might be needed. The decision depends on the type of lung cancer affecting the patient, where it is located, and how far along it has progressed. Also important is whether the patient’s health is strong enough to endure certain treatments.

The heart is composed of four chambers: two atria and two ventricles. The former are positioned atop the latter. Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium and ventricle, and is pumped to the lungs in order to receive oxygen. Once it has been replenished with oxygen, blood moves from the lungs to the left atrium and ventricle before it is pumped throughout the body.

If you are suffering from lung cancer, your doctor may recommend surgery. If the disease is still in its early stages, surgery may be sufficient for eliminating the cancerous cells. Otherwise, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may also be necessary. Even when lung cancer surgery is performed using minimally invasive techniques, it is often traumatic on the patient’s body. For this reason, your physician will want to conduct a number of tests during the days leading up to the operation. He or she may also make a few suggestions that can improve the results of the procedure.

If lung cancer (LC) is diagnosed early enough, it can often be resolved with a wedge resection. The diseased portion of lung tissue is cut away from the organ, along with a surrounding perimeter of healthy tissue. In most cases, however, the tumor goes undetected long enough for the cancerous cells to spread. As a result, resolving LC requires a slightly more aggressive approach. The surgeon must remove one of the lobes by performing an operation known as a lobectomy.

Cigarette smoking is the most important cause of lung cancer. Research as far back as the 1950s clearly established this relationship. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which have been identified as causing cancer.

The word cancer tends to strike fear into many people as it is associated with a severe illness that in the past many did not survive. Today treatment has improved dramatically, particularly with some forms of cancer. With continued research further improvements will be made.
The disease first manifests itself in our cells and our bodies are made up of millions of cells. Collectively they form our bones, muscles and organs.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death due to cancer in the United States, though many people are under the impression that only smokers are affected, the truth is that around two-thirds of patients have never smoked or quit. Lung cancer affects more people than the three other major cancer conditions combined – breast, prostrate and colon cancer.
Lung cancer is diagnosed by a series of tests, some or all of which will be utilized by an oncologist (cancer specialist). These tests include the following: