Rather than watching the football game, spending time with loved ones, or simply taking the dog for a walk, millions of Americans waste precious time by smoking cigarettes. More often than not, smokers are aware of the side effects that smoking has on the lungs, but continue to ignore the precautions until it’s too late. “The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that 224,210 Americans developed lung cancer in 2014, 116,000 men and 108,210 women. Of these patients, 159,260 will die of the disease” (Cherath). Even with these astounding statistics, people still refuse to change their habits, which is why lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among all other cancers. Smoking is not the only problem. Though rare, there are other ways to
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However, if a patient is diagnosed with lung cancer because a DNA mutation was found in the cells, it’s not usually because a relative or parent passed it on. Problems with DNA that lead to lung cancer are often from acquired gene changes. These are genetic changes that happen because of exposure to a certain environment, like a city with high levels of air pollution or living in a house with high levels of the chemical radon. “Acquired changes in certain genes, such as the TP53 or p16 tumor suppressor genes and the K-RAS or ALK oncogenes, are thought to be important in the development of non-small cell lung cancer. They may also make some lung cancers more likely to grow and spread than others” (Possible Causes of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer). While acquired gene changes have been linked to causing NSCLC, the most common cause of lung cancer is smoking. “At least 80% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking, and many others are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.” Smoking is like long term suicide. The more a person smokes, the quicker his or her lungs will become infected and develop a tumor. Smokers are also putting the general public at risk as well. Second hand smoke can be just as harmful. If a parent constantly smokes around the house near children and other family members, those family members are being exposed to polluted air which will begin to infect their lungs. So, not only are smokers destroying their own lives, they might be taking the lives of loved ones as well (Possible Causes of Non Small Cell Lung
However, if a patient is diagnosed with lung cancer because a DNA mutation was found in the cells, it’s not usually because a relative or parent passed it on. Problems with DNA that lead to lung cancer are often from acquired gene changes. These are genetic changes that happen because of exposure to a certain environment, like a city with high levels of air pollution or living in a house with high levels of the chemical radon. “Acquired changes in certain genes, such as the TP53 or p16 tumor suppressor genes and the K-RAS or ALK oncogenes, are thought to be important in the development of non-small cell lung cancer. They may also make some lung cancers more likely to grow and spread than others” (Possible Causes of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer). While acquired gene changes have been linked to causing NSCLC, the most common cause of lung cancer is smoking. “At least 80% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking, and many others are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.” Smoking is like long term suicide. The more a person smokes, the quicker his or her lungs will become infected and develop a tumor. Smokers are also putting the general public at risk as well. Second hand smoke can be just as harmful. If a parent constantly smokes around the house near children and other family members, those family members are being exposed to polluted air which will begin to infect their lungs. So, not only are smokers destroying their own lives, they might be taking the lives of loved ones as well (Possible Causes of Non Small Cell Lung