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About Lung Cancer
Lung cancer begins in the lungs, where cells multiply at a very fast rate to form "tumors" that invade and destroy normal tissue. These cancer cells sometimes spread from one or both lungs to other parts of the body. That process is known as "metastasis."
Approximately 350,000 people in the United States are living with lung cancer at any given time.
Fortunately, the number of new lung cancer cases and deaths reported in recent years is going down due to less smoking, better diagnostic tools, and new treatment options. But lung cancer remains the second most common form of cancer diagnosed, and is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.
In the United States, 80% to 85% of those diagnosed with lung cancer have non-small cell lung cancer.
Two Categories of Lung Cancer
The two main categories of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer (also known by its initials as "NSCLC") and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
The difference between non-small cell and small cell lung cancer has to do with the kind of cancer cells, how quickly the cancer cells grow, and how each kind of cancer cell responds to treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer symptoms usually occur when the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage. But seeing your healthcare team when you first notice symptoms might enable your cancer to be diagnosed and treated while still in a curable stage. Early detection can improve the likelihood that treatment can extend your life.
Although the symptoms listed here can have many causes, it is important for you to see your healthcare team as soon as possible, just in case.
The most common symptoms of lung cancer are:
Symptoms that lung cancer may have spread to distant organs include:
Remember to contact your healthcare team if you have any of these symptoms so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
