Lung cancer screening methods and treatments

Abstract

For a very long time, lung cancer was a major health problem and the leading cause of death worldwide. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15% of cases and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of cases. Although many people believe that smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer, there are numerous other contributing factors as well. Nonsmokers have a higher risk of lung cancer from radon than smokers do. Smoke from household fuel, infections like Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the Human Papillomavirus, as well as inflammatory diseases like asthma and sarcoidosis, are additional risk factors for nonsmokers to develop lung cancer. Although radiotherapy is frequently underused, it has been shown to be one of the most effective methods for treating lung cancer. The advancement of technology has made it possible to better target radiotherapy at tumors and lessen the amount of radiation that is emitted to normal tissues around them. The most recent risk factors and characteristics of the disease, particularly in nonsmokers, as are novel treatment options, are outlined in this review.