Lung cancer develops in the tissues of the lung, most often in the cells that line the air passageways. The most common type is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for about 80-85% of cases. The remaining 10-15% are typically small cell lung cancer (SCLC), a faster-growing but less common form. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the U.S.
There are several risk factors that increase a patient’s risk of developing lung cancer, such as:
Lung cancer symptoms do not usually appear until the disease is advanced. Symptoms can include:
Not all lung cancers are preventable. However, you can take steps to lower your risk, such as:
Depending on the stage of disease and the tumor’s size and location, lung cancer may be treated with one or a combination of the
following:
