What Is Tracheal Cancer?

The trachea or windpipe connects mouth and nose to the lungs and is divided into right and left bronchi. Tracheal cancer is rare as it occurs in a ratio of one in one thousand of all cancers. The most common types of tracheal cancer are adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and comprise two-third of all tracheal cancers. Cancer of trachea is linked with smoking. The incidence of tracheal cancer is 140 times less than lung cancer.

People who are employed in occupations involving arsenic, asbestos, diesel exhaust, chromium, silica, nickel, beryllium and cadmium increases the risk of developing tracheal cancer, lung cancer and bronchial cancer. Smoking is linked with squamous cell cancer of the trachea. There is no clear evidence to link adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea to smoking. The cause of tracheal cancer is unknown. Tracheal cancer affects both men and women and is common in ages between 40 and 60.Of all the primary tracheal cancers, 80% are malignant.

Trachea cancer comes under lung cancer and is usually mistaken for asthma. Smokers have an increased risk of developing lung cancer as well as trachea cancer. Proper diagnosis and treatment of cancer is important for better recovery against cancer.