The Anatomy Of The Lungs - 1366 Words

Cancer of the lungs takes more lives every year than breast, colon, and prostate cancer combined. In order to prevent these statistics from happening, Low-dose Computed Tomography Scans (LDCT Scans) can be used to prevent the cancer cells from spreading. Medicare and Medicaid are willing to pay for such screenings for those who are 55-77 years of age and who have smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for over 30 years or those who are smoking currently within that age group. The cost for such screenings would be astronomical causing Medicare and Medicaid to go bankrupt. Low-dose Computed Tomography Scans will reduce the risk of Lung Cancer. The lungs are one of the most vital organs in the respiratory system. In order to understand how the†¦show more content†¦Outside of the inner workings of the lungs, the pleura are two membranes that cover the inside. The visceral pleura, the membrane closest to the lung, works with the parietal pleura, the membrane that is closest to the chest wall, to allow the lungs to glide inside the chest cavity (Martini, Simmons, and Tallitsch 46). Cancer is one of the most common lethal diseases in the medical field. Cancer is a group of cells in any part of the body that grows abnormally. Cancer in the lungs causes many vital functions to be extremely no help, or negligible altogether (Mayo Clinic Staff). Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both men and women. The Mayo Clinic states, â€Å"Lung cancer claims more lives each year than do colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers combined† (Mayo Clinic Staff). People who smoke or have smoked for a long period of time have the greatest risk of developing cancer within the lungs. Lung cancer’s risk is directly proportional to time using cigarettes and number of cigarettes that have been smoked (Mayo Clinic Staff). Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. In the United States, cigarette smoking is linked to about 90% of lung cancers. Using other tobacco products such as cigars or pipes also increases the risk for lung cancer (Center for Disease Control). As the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states, â€Å"People who smoke cigarettes are