What Are the Lungs
and Respiratory System and What Do They Do?
All of
this breathing couldn't happen without help from the respiratory system,
which includes the
nose, throat, voice box, windpipe, and lungs. With each breath, you take
in air through your
nostrils and mouth, and your
lungs fill up and empty out. As air is inhaled, the mucous membranes
of the nose and mouth warm and humidify the air.
Although we can't see it, the air we breathe is
made up of several gases.
Oxygen is the most important for keeping us alive because body cells
need it for energy and
growth. Without oxygen, the body's cells would die. Carbon dioxide is the
waste gas that is
produced when carbon is combined with oxygen as part of the body's energy-
making processes. The
lungs and respiratory system allow oxygen in the air to be taken into the
body, while also
enabling the body to get rid of carbon dioxide in the air breathed out.
Lung
Cancer
Lung
cancer or bronchogenic carcinoma is the most common organ malignancy
accounting for 7%
of all deaths in men and women. Patients usually present in their 50s-60s
with preceeding
symptoms of about 7 months. Major symptoms include cough, weight loss,
chest pain, and
dyspnea. The diagnosis can be made by CT directed fine needle aspiration
or biopsy or frequently
by malignant cells found in the sputum by cytological analysis.
Unfortunately, this tumor is
aggressive and the overall 5 year survival rate is 9%.
The cancer arises within the bronchi, usually around the hilus of the
lung. It may grow to obstruct
the lumen of the bronchus, invade through the wall of the bronchus to
involve the underlying
parenchyma, or it may extend along the peribronchial tissue to involve the
mediastinum. It
frequently spreads to regional lymph nodes such asthe tracheal, bronchial,
and mediastinal nodes.
What is “Cancer”
Insurance?
Cancer insurance
provides benefits only if you get cancer. If yes, then Cancer policies
sold today
vary widely in cost and coverage. If you decide to purchase a cancer
insurance policy, contact
different companies and agents, and compare the policies before you buy.
Cancer insurance is
sometimes referred to as a specified disease or dreaded disease policy.
It is also necessary if you
are considering the purchase of cancer insurance or other specified
disease type coverage, it is a
good idea to carefully review your current health insurance policies.
Before going for cancer
insurance you should make it clear from agent or company that all
expenses will be covered by
policy or only hospital costs will be bared by cancer insurance policy.
Many cancer insurance
policies have fixed cost limits. Cancer insurance is not a substitute for
comprehensive coverage.
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