Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. More than 43,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year.
What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the lungs. Your lungs are 2 sponge-like organs in your chest that are separated into sections called lobes.
Lung cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled cell division in your lungs. Your cells divide and make more copies of themselves as a part of their normal function. But sometimes, they get changes (mutations) that cause them to keep making more of themselves when they shouldn’t. Damaged cells dividing uncontrollably create masses, or tumors, of tissue that eventually keep your organs from working properly.
Types of lung cancer
There are two main types: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. These two types grow differently and are treated differently. Non-small cell lung cancer is the more common type.
Symptoms of lung cancer
People with lung cancer do not typicallyTrusted Source experience symptoms until a later stage, when the cancer has spread. However, potential symptoms include:
_voice changes, such as hoarseness _frequent chest infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia _a lingering cough that may worsen _coughing up blood _chest pain _appetite loss and weight loss _fatigue _shortness of breath and wheezing
In time, a person may also experience more severe symptoms, such as:
_bone pain and bone fractures _headaches _swelling in the lymph nodes in the middle of the chest
Causes and risk factors
Smoking tobacco is the most common cause of lung cancer, with around 80%Trusted Source of lung cancer deaths stemming from smoking.
However, not everyone with lung cancer smokes, and lung cancer can occur due to other factors, including:
*exposure to chemicals such as:
_radon _diesel exhaust _asbestos
*environmental factors, such as air pollution *inherited or acquired genetic changes *exposure to secondhand smoke
Can you get lung cancer if you don’t smoke?
While smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer, up to 20% of people diagnosed have never smoked. That’s why it’s important to talk to your provider about any concerning symptoms.
lung cancer diagnosis
To find out if you have lung cancer, your health care provider:
_Will take your medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms _Will ask about your family history _Will do a physical exam _May order certain imaging tests, such as a chest x-ray or chest CT scan _May order lab tests, including tests of your blood and sputum _May do a procedure to take a biopsy of the lung
If you do have lung cancer, your provider will do other tests to find out if it has spread through the lungs, lymph nodes, and the rest of the body. This is called staging. Knowing the type and stage of lung cancer you have helps your provider decide what kind of treatment you need.
If you have small-cell lung cancer, your provider may also do genetic testing to look for certain gene changes (variants) in your cancer cells. The results of the testing may help guide treatment.
Treatments are used in lung cancer
Lung cancer treatments include surgery, radiofrequency ablation, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy.
Surgery
NSCLC that hasn’t spread and SCLC that’s limited to a single tumor can be eligible for surgery. Your surgeon might remove the tumor and a small amount of healthy tissue around it to make sure they don’t leave any cancer cells behind. Sometimes they have to remove all or part of your lung (resection) for the best chance that the cancer won’t come back.
Radiofrequency ablation
NSCLC tumors near the outer edges of your lungs are sometimes treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). RFA uses high-energy radio waves to heat and destroy cancer cells.
Radiation therapy
Radiation uses high energy beams to kill cancer cells. It can be used by itself or to help make surgery more effective. Radiation can also be used as palliative care, to shrink tumors and relieve pain. It’s used in both NSCLC and SCLC.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is often a combination of multiple medications designed to stop cancer cells from growing. It can be given before or after surgery or in combination with other types of medication, like immunotherapy. Chemotherapy for lung cancer is usually given through an IV.
Targeted drug therapy
In some people with NSCLC, lung cancer cells have specific changes (mutations) that help the cancer grow. Special drugs target these mutations to try to slow down or destroy cancer cells. Other drugs, called angiogenesis inhibitors, can keep the tumor from creating new blood vessels, which the cancer cells need to grow.
Immunotherapy
Our bodies usually recognize cells that are damaged or harmful and destroy them. Cancer has ways to hide from the immune system to keep from being destroyed. Immunotherapy reveals cancer cells to your immune system so your own body can fight cancer.
Treatments to ease symptoms (palliative care)
Some lung cancer treatments are used to relieve symptoms, like pain and difficulty breathing. These include therapies to reduce or remove tumors that are blocking airways, and procedures to remove fluid from around your lungs and keep it from coming back.
Can lung cancer be prevented?
Avoiding the risk factors may help prevent lung cancer. For example, you can:
_Quit smoking. And if you don’t smoke, don’t start. _Lower your exposure to hazardous substances at work. _Lower your exposure to radon. Radon tests can show whether your home has
high levels of radon. You can buy a test kit yourself or hire a professional to do the test.
How do I manage symptoms and side effects?
Your provider can prescribe medications to help manage your symptoms or side effects of treatment. A palliative care specialist or a dietitian can help you manage pain or other symptoms and improve your quality of life while you’re in treatment.
Lung cancer screening
Regular screening may benefit people with a high risk of developing lung cancer.
The American Lung Association (ALA) recommends screening for people who meet the following criteria:
people ages 50 to 80 years a 20-pack-year history of smoking — which may mean smoking one pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years or two packs daily for 10 years they currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years Insurance may cover this screening. People can check with their insurance company before signing up for lung cancer screening.
False positive results sometimes occur when screening for lung cancer. The ALA estimates that around 12% to 14% of initial screening scans for lung cancer will have a false positive.
However, advances in screening methods have helped reduce the rate of false positives. Also, regular screening allows physicians to detect changes more easily between scans to prevent false positives.
A person should speak with a doctor about the likelihood of false positives and what to expect after screening.
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