ETIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF LUNG CANCER

Bronchogenic carcinoma, also known as lung cancer, is linked to tumors that start in the bronchi or lung parenchyma. It is among the main reasons why people in the US die from cancer. Since 1987, lung cancer has claimed more lives in women than breast cancer combined. In the United States, there are thought to be 225,000 new cases of lung cancer annually, and the disease claims the lives of about 160,000 people. Interestingly, at the start of the 20th century, lung cancer was a relatively uncommon illness. Its sharp increase in later decades is mostly due to improvements in smoking among both men and women. This exercise highlights the importance of the interprofessional team in managing lung cancer and provides information on its causes, pathophysiology, and presentation.