Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells that line the air passages. It is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. There are two main types: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. These two types grow differently and are treated differently. Non-small cell lung cancer is the more common type.

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

• Chest pain or discomfort
• A cough that doesn't go away or gets worse over time
• Trouble breathing
• Wheezing
• Blood in sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs)
• Hoarseness
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss for no known reason
• Fatigue
• Trouble swallowing
• Swelling in the face and/or veins in the neck

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis:

• A medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms
• A physical exam
• Imaging tests, such as a chest x-ray or chest CT scan
• Lab tests, including tests of your blood and sputum
• A biopsy of the lung

What are the treatments for lung cancer?

For most patients with lung cancer, current treatments do not cure the cancer.

• Surgery
• Mastectomy
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Laser therapy, which uses a laser beam to kill cancer cells