Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer and Cannabis Oil

Lung cancer is a form of cancer that starts in the lungs. The lungs are two spongy organs that are located in the chest. They take in oxygen when a person inhales and releases carbon dioxide when they exhale.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world, among both men and women. Lung cancer claims more lives every year than colon, ovarian, prostate, and breast cancers combined. Lung cancer claims approximately 1,6 million lives per year.


Smoking causes the majority of lung cancers — both in smokers and in people who are exposed to second-hand smoke. However, lung cancer also arises in people who have never smoked and in those who have never had prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke. In these situations, there might be no clear cause of lung cancer.

How does smoking cause lung cancer?

Doctors believe that smoking causes lung cancer by damaging the cells lining the lungs. When a person inhales cigarette smoke, which is full of cancer-causing substances, changes in the lung tissue occur almost instantly.

Initially the body might be able to repair this damage. However, with each instance of repeated exposure, normal cells that line the lungs are progressively damaged. Over time, the damage causes cells to act oddly and eventually cancer can develop.


Lung cancer typically does not cause symptoms and signs in its earliest stages. Symptoms and signs of lung cancer typically arise only when the disease is advanced.

Symptoms and signs of lung cancer can include:

  • A new cough that doesn’t go away
  • Bone pain
  • Changes in a chronic cough or “smoker’s cough”
  • Chest pain
  • Coughing up blood, even a small amount
  • Headache
  • Hoarseness
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing


The doctor and patient will select a cancer treatment plan based on various factors, such as the MS patients’ overall health, the type and stage of their cancer, and their personal preferences. Options typically include one or more treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted drug therapy.


During surgery, the surgeon works to take out the lung cancer as well as a margin of surrounding healthy tissue. If the MS patient undergoes surgery, the surgeon might also remove lymph nodes from the chest in order to check them for signs of cancer.

Lung cancer surgery carries great risks, including infection and bleeding. Expect to feel short of breath after undergoing lung surgery. If a portion of the lung has been removed, the remaining lung tissue will expand over time, making it easier to breathe. The doctor might recommend a respiratory therapist who will guide the patient through breathing exercises in order to aid in recovery.