Brief Answer:
Emphysema doesn't cause lung cancer

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read your query in detail.

Emphysema doesn't cause lung cancer. Emphysema is one of a group of lung diseases known as chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) or sometimes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The main cause of emphysema is smoking but it can also develop in people with a long history of chest infections. So people who have emphysema may also have a higher than average risk of getting lung cancer because they have been smokers or have had other lung disease in the past.

Emphysema causes a lot of lung damage. The walls of some of the air sacs in the lung actually break down. It can be difficult to spot lung cancer in people with emphysema because many of the symptoms are the same. Symptoms of emphysema that also occur in lung cancer include

Difficulty breathing
Cough
Loss of appetite
Weight loss

Emphysema is a disease of the lung tissue where the elastic nature of the lungs gets destroyed by the irritating effects of cigarette smoke. This causes the lungs to lose the ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the normal way and makes it harder for you to breath. Emphysema is often accompanied by chronic bronchitis which together is called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or COPD for short). Lung cancer is also a complication of smoking, but is a different disease entirely. Lung cancer occurs when one of the lung cells decides to begin growing and dividing out of control. It does this because of damage done to its DNA by the cigarette smoke. Both lung cancer and emphysema can be deadly and are often irreversible and difficult to treat.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back in case of doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

---