The lungs contain several air sacs, or alveoli, that connect to the windpipe by a series of airways called bronchioles. Each of these structures contains a number of specialized cell types that work together to allow air to travel into the lungs and facilitate the transfer of oxygen into the bloodstream. Lung cancer develops from genetic mutations to specialized cells in the lungs, causing the cells to proliferate out of control and form a cancerous tumor. Oat cell cancer, a common form of small cell lung cancer, may develop as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals.
Smoking
A common cause of oat cell cancer is smoking, according to the Yale Cancer Center. Cigarette smoke contains a number of chemicals that can be classified as carcinogens. Some forms of smoke carcinogens directly promote genetic mutations, and the accumulation of these mutations eventually leads to cancer. Some other types of carcinogens induce oxidative damage--the formation of chemicals inside the lung cells that damage cellular structures, promoting cancer growth. Patients can reduce their risk of developing oat cell cancer by quitting smoking or reducing cigarette consumption.
Secondhand Smoke
In addition to smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke can also cause oat cell cancer. According to 2005 information from the National Cancer Institute, secondhand smoke exposure accounts for approximately 3400 lung cancer deaths each year, with many of those cases being oat cell cancer cases. Secondhand smoke includes exposure to sidestream smoke, which is released in between puffs of a cigarette, and mainstream smoke that is exhaled by the smoker. Both types of smoke contain a number of carcinogens that promote the genetic mutation of lung cells, eventually promoting oat cell cancer development.
Radon
Another cause of oat cell cancer is exposure to radon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that radon is a gas commonly found in rocks and dirt. It gets released due to natural decay of chemicals in the earth, and then seeps into the air, where it can accumulate within houses or buildings without proper ventilation. Once inhaled, radon undergoes a radioactive decay within the lungs and releases small radioactive particles that damage lung cells. The exposure to radiation increases the rate of DNA mutation in lung cells, and the accumulated mutations eventually allow for cancer development.
