Small Cell Lung Cancer and Smoking

March 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

There are many different types of lung cancers and not all are caused by smoking. Thousands of people every year are diagnosed with lung cancer who have never smoked or been subjected to second hand smoke. Sadly though, there is one type of lung cancer that is almost always caused by tobacco use. This disease is called small cell lung cancer.

This type of cancer is one of the most aggressive types. It is very fast growing and spreads quickly to other parts of the body. Approximately twenty percent of lung cancer cases diagnosed are small cell. Other contributors to small cell lung cancer include being exposed to asbestos or uranium. Radon poisoning can also be a factor.

Small cell lung cancer rarely exhibits symptoms until it has spread outside of the lung, therefore it is often diagnosed in a later stage of the disease. Some of the symptoms that are common are shortness of breath, pain in the area of the ribs, back or chest, a hoarse voice, coughing that may or may not include coughing up blood and trouble swallowing.

One of the most common forms of treatment for small cell lung cancer is chemotherapy. Surgery is rarely done as it has been proven that it does not slow down the progression of the disease and is of little use in treating the cancer. Radiation is often times used in conjunction with a chemotherapy plan.
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Some of the Chemicals Found in Secondhand Smoke

December 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment

You might believe that because you have never taken a puff on a cigarette that you are protected from any of the harmful side effects, health problems and other things that can come from smoking. However, this is not that case. Even if you have never smoked a day in your life, if you are exposed to secondhand smoke from another smoker, you are essentially breathing in the chemicals and toxins that the tobacco cigarette contains.

A study was conducted on secondhand smoke and the chemicals and toxins that were found in the smoke. It took a look at what exactly is in that smoke you are breathing and what those toxins or chemicals can do to your body. The samples that were taken to find these findings include actual smoke that came directly from the smoker and smoke that was produced by the end of the cigarette. Here is a look at some of the chemicals that were found in the secondhand smoke that was studied.

Cancer Causing Toxins. There were over 50 different types of cancer causing chemicals and carcinogens found within the various samples of secondhand smoke that were studied. Each of these cancer causing chemicals can essentially be divided into one of six types of known chemicals that cause cancer. Of the known cancer causing chemicals 11 of them are considered group 1 cancer causing chemicals.

Poisonous Gases. Secondhand smoke also contains a number of poisonous gases that a human is breathing in. These gases include hydrogen cyanide that is commonly used in chemical weapons, butane that is used in lighters and gas grills and ammonia and toluene which is used in paint thinners and chemical cleaners.

Metals. Secondhand smoke also contained small amounts of metals. Essentially a person is breathing in metallic substances that will be brought into the lungs. These metals include arsenic, lead, cadmium and chromium.

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Smoking Prevention: A Look at the Chemicals You are Inhaling

December 10, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Many people who are smokers have been for a number of years. It is an addiction that they picked up in their early years and have a hard time letting go of it. These people will fight tooth and nail to keep smoking no matter what people say to them. However, if you ask these people what exactly they are putting into their bodies with these cigarettes they probably would give you a blank look. Over 80% of smokers do not know what is inside their cigarettes that they are smoking.

On the outside a cigarette looks innocent. It is just a small four inch item that can be light up and enjoyed. However, unravel that item and you are left with a very toxic stick. Cigarettes are made up of over 4,000 different chemicals, many of which if you presented to a person they would refuse to put into their bodies.

Here is a look at some of the chemicals that can be found in tobacco cigarettes.

Commercial Cleaners. If someone were to walk up to you and ask if you would drink a toilet bowl cleaner you would probably say no. But there are chemicals such as ammonia and arsenic which can be found in these cleaners.

Fluids. Cigarettes contain the equivalent chemicals that are used in butane lighters, rocket fuel and car gasoline. Cigarettes contain carbon monoxide, methanol and butane which is all used for the following components.

Battery Elements. They tell you not to swallow batteries because those can be bad for you. However, cigarettes contain a chemical known as cadmium which is only found in batteries. If you would not eat a battery why would you inhale the chemicals and metals that are found on one?

Other Chemicals. There are thousands of other chemicals that are found in cigarettes including tar, hexamine (found in barbaque lighters) and acetic acid (found in vinegar).

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