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Lung Cancer
Understanding Your Diagnosis Deciding on Treatment Managing Side Effects Prevention and Screening Cancer FAQs Advanced Reading
Nearly all lung cancers are carcinomas, a cancer that begins in the lining or covering tissues of an organ. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.
Overview
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in both men and women, but because smoking is the main culprit, this type of cancer is also preventable.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
Lung cancer usually does not cause symptoms when it first develops, but they often become present after the tumor begins growing. A cough is the most common symptom of lung cancer.
Deciding on Treatment
Your treatment choices depend on your age and health and the extent of the disease. You may need surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, photodynamic therapy or other treatments. Your doctor will help determine the appropriate treatment for you.
Managing Side Effects
Side effects during cancer treatment vary from person to person. Side effects may be mild or severe enough to interfere with daily activities. Your health care team can suggest ways to ease any side effects that you experience.
Prevention and Screening
Doctors estimate that more than 90 percent of lung cancer cases are related to smoking. So not smoking, or stopping if you do smoke, is the best way to protect yourself from lung cancer.
Advanced Reading
Find out more about lung cancer from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Physician Data Query (PDQ®) for patients. It includes information about prevention, screening, and treatment.
