Cancer Facts

Lung Cancer

• Lung cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the lung. There are two major types of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and 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: squamous cell carcinoma (also called epidermoid carcinoma), adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.
• Small cell lung cancer, sometimes called oat cell cancer, is less common than non-small cell lung cancer. This type of lung cancer grows more quickly and is more likely to spread to other organs in the body.

• Cigarettes —The likelihood that a smoker will develop lung cancer is affected by the age at which they began smoking, for how long the person has smoked, the number of cigarettes smoked per day and how deeply the smoker inhales.
• Cigars and pipes —The number of years a person smokes, the number of pipes or cigars smoked per day and how deeply the person inhales all affect the risk of developing lung cancer. Even cigar and pipe smokers who do not inhale are at increased risk for lung, mouth and other types of cancer.
• Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)— The chance of developing lung cancer is increased by exposure to ETS or secondhand smoke, also referred to as involuntary or passive smoking.
• Radon —Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and rocks. Radon can be found in homes—radon detection kits are available for homeowners to test their homes' radon levels. Once the radon levels are controlled, the risk of getting cancer from radon is eliminated.
• Asbestos —Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as fibers. When the fibers break into particles, they can be inhaled. When this happens, these fibers can then lodge in the lungs and increase the risk for lung cancer.
• Pollution —Research has shown a link between lung cancer and exposure to certain air pollutants
• Lung Diseases —Certain lung diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB), increase a person's chance of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer tends to develop in areas of the lung that are scarred from TB.
• Personal History —A person who has had lung cancer once is more likely to develop a second lung cancer compared with a person who has never had lung cancer.

• A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time
• Constant chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness
• Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis
• Swelling of neck and face
• Loss of appetite or weight loss
• Fatigue