Most cases of lung cancer are caused by inhaling carcinogens into the lungs, the biggest contributor being cigarette smoke. According to Cancer Research UK, “It causes more than eight out of ten cases, including a small proportion caused by exposure to secondhand smoke in non-smokers.” Other frequently inhaled carcinogens include air pollution and radon gas, which are both common substances both in suburban and city areas. Another common cause for lung cancer is genetically inherited faults in the DNA. When the genetic coding in DNA corrupts, cells can become cancerous. “Cancers …show more content…
When all of the classifications are at the lowest possible assessed classification, the cancer is described as being hidden because even though there are cancer cells in the lungs, there is no tumor detected yet. This diagnosis is usually followed up with more checks for tumors every few months.
The next stage in the progression of lung cancer is Stage 0, which is a combination of Tis, N0 and M0, only affects the top layer of cells in the lungs. This is generally treated by surgical removal because the tumor is small and does not affect much of the lungs’ deeper tissues. Sometimes, however, the tumor forms in places where it is harder to remove and is treated with either photodynamic therapy, which involves using photosynthetic drugs to kill local cells, or laser therapy, which uses a powerful beam of light to burn nearby