An Overview of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is a disease in which uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells begins in the lungs. It is, by far, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The five-year survival rate for the disease is only 15 percent.
Other types of cancers may spread to the lungs from other organs. However, this is not considered lung cancer because it did not start in the lungs. When cancer cells spread from one organ to another, they are called metastases.
The diagnosis of lung cancer brings with it many questions and a need for clear, understandable answers.
Cancer research has led to progress against the disease -- and our knowledge is increasing. Researchers continue to look for better ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat lung cancer.
Researchers have discovered several
causes of lung cancer, but the most common are related to the use of tobacco.
Causes include:
- Cigarettes
- Cigars and pipes
- Environmental tobacco smoke ("secondhand smoke")
- Radon
- Asbestos
- Pollution
- Lung diseases.
Cancers that begin in the lungs are divided into two major types --
non-small cell lung cancer and
small cell lung cancer -- depending on how the cells look under a microscope. Each type grows and spreads in different ways and is treated differently.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer is more common than
small cell lung cancer, and it generally grows and spreads more slowly. There are three main types of non-small cell lung cancer; they are named for the type of cells in which the cancer develops:
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancer, sometimes called oat cell cancer, is less common. This type of lung cancer grows more quickly and is more likely to spread to other organs in the body.
People with lung cancer may experience symptoms caused by the cancer or by side effects from cancer treatments. Common symptoms can include:
- Shortness of breath
- A persistent cough that gets worse over time
- Wheezing
- Coughing up blood
- Pain
- Fever
- Weight loss.
Diagnosing and Treating Lung Cancer
Information about how large a cancer is or how far it has spread is often used to determine the cancer's stage. Healthcare providers use information about the stages to plan
lung cancer treatment and to monitor progress.
There are several ways to treat lung cancer. The treatment depends on the type and how far it has spread. Common treatment options include:
People often receive more than one kind of treatment for lung cancer.
These treatments may be provided by different doctors on your medical team, including:
- Pulmonologists (doctors who are experts in diseases of the lungs)
- Surgeons (doctors who perform operations)
- Medical oncologists (doctors who are experts in lung cancer and treat cancers with medicines)
- Radiation oncologists (doctors who treat lung cancers with radiation).
