In the United States, lung cancer remains the leading cause of death in both men and women. Currently, one in 15 people in the US can expect a lung cancer diagnosis in his or her lifetime. The primary risk factor for development of lung cancer is smoking tobacco, which accounts for approximately 90% of all lung cancers.
Lung cancer often forms in the cells of the bronchi that connect the windpipe to the lungs. Lung cancer also can begin in smaller branches of the bronchi, called bronchioles, or alveoli.
The two main types of lung cancer are as follows:
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Small lung cell cancer
Risk Factors
- Smoking tobacco (cigars, pipes, cigarettes, etc.)
- Secondhand smoke
- Family history of lung cancer
- Radiation therapy to the chest
- Exposure to radon or asbestos
Symptoms
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling tired or weak
- Hoarseness
- Loss of appetite
- Persistent coughing or a cough that gets worse
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
Treatments
We provide multiple options for lung cancer treatment at the Phelps Health Delbert Day Cancer Institute. The following treatments can be used alone or in combination:
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
Screening
Lung cancer screening is a preventive tool to look for signs of lung cancer in high-risk patients. Lung cancer screenings can find concerns before you have symptoms and increase the likelihood of catching lung cancer in its earlier and more treatable stages.