Helen's Physiology Blog: October 2012

Sunday, October 21, 2012

What I learned about lung cancer

Lung cancer

- a disease where an uncontrolled cell in tissues of the lung continually grows and spread by metastasis.
-causes: smoking, second-hand smoking, air pollution
-symptoms: coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, respiratory infections, hoarseness, and bloody mucus
- a chest x-ray will likely be performed to look for a cause of the respiratory symptoms
-sputum testing can also detect cancer in the lungs
-smoking is responsible for 85% of lung cancers

Henrietta Lacks Chapter 3-4

Word Master

Epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix (27): cervical cancer; cervix is the lower part of the uterus; most cervical cancers begin in the cells lining the cervix

Estrogen (27): a group of steroid compounds, function as the primary female sex hormone

Endometriosis(27): a female health disorder that occurs when cells from the lining of the womb(uterus) grow in other areas of the body

Hysterectomy(29): the surgical removal of the uterus

Biopsy(31): a medical test performed by a surgeon or radiologist involving sampling of cells and tissues for examination

Radium(33): one of the first radioactive elements discovered; for use in targeted radiation therapy in treating cancer

Umbilical cords(35): connecting cord from the developing embryo to the placenta

Cultures(36): cultivation of cells

Sterilize(37): to make something free from bacteria or other living microorganisms

Catheters(40): a flexible tube inserted through a narrow opening into a body cavity (for removing fluid from the bladder)