Medical Information
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer among men and women in the U.S., killing more people each year than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined. There are two types of lung cancer: small cell and non-small cell which is more common. Like all cancers, the disease occurs when normal human cells grow abnormally, causing damage to surrounding body tissues or fluids.
By the Numbers:
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- Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in both men and women in the United States. In 1987, it surpassed breast cancer to become the leading cause of cancer deaths in women.
- Lung cancer causes more deaths than the next three most common cancers combined (colon, breast and prostate). An estimated 163,510 deaths from lung cancer will occur in the United States during 2005.
- An estimated 350,679 Americans are living with lung cancer. During 2005 an estimated 172,570 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed.
- About 6 out of 10 people with lung cancer die within 1 year of being diagnosed with the disease. Between 7 and 8 will die within 2 years.
- Smoking is the most important cause of lung cancer in the United States. It is estimated that 87 percent lung cancer cases are caused by smoking. Other causes include radon, asbestos and air pollution.
Prevention:
If you smoke, quitting now will significantly lower your risk of developing lung cancer. Exposure to secondhand smoke has also been linked to lung cancer. If you don't smoke, but live in an area with a history of radon gas, have your home checked for the carcinogenic gas.
Diagnosis and Treatment:
Because the common symptoms of lung cancer are similar to symptoms of many other diseases, lung cancer is not often diagnosed in its early stages. These symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, unexplained fever, coughing up blood, hoarseness, weight loss and loss of appetite, and chest pain. Physicians use X-rays and CT scans to detect the cancer and may take a biopsy (sample of the tumor tissue) to confirm the diagnosis.
Lung cancer may be treated with chemotherapy (use of cancer-killing medications), radiation therapy (use of X-rays to kill cancerous tissue), and surgery (removal of lung tissue that contains cancerous cells).
More Information:
You can learn more about lung cancer, including symptoms, causes, prevention, and treatment by visiting our lung cancer web page. You can also use our Lung Cancer Profiler to learn more about your risk for lung cancer and what kinds of treatments are available to you.
Frankly Speaking About Lung Cancer
This yearly, free 2 hour workshop will cover the latest
treatments for lung cancer. Expert panelists will also discuss side effects,
side effect management, and tools to overcome the social and emotional
challenges of the diagnosis. We hope to answer many of your questions about lung
cancer to help you manage the disease more successfully.
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