Online Lung Cancer Resources
Lung Cancer
Description
Cancers that begin in the lung are classified into two major types—non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer—depending on how the cells look under a microscope. Each type of lung cancer grows and spreads in unique ways and each type is treated differently.
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of lung cancer and accounts for nearly 80 percent of this cancer type. It generally grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer.
Small cell lung cancer is less common and accounts for nearly 20 percent of all lung cancers. It typically grows more quickly than non-small cell lung cancer and is more likely to spread to other organs of the body.
Symptoms
- A persistent cough that gets worse over time
- Constant chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness
- Repeated illness with pneumonia or bronchitis
- Swelling of the neck and facial region
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Fatigue
(If you have one or more of the above symptoms, please talk to your primary health care provider.)
Common Treatment Options
Physicians are finding new ways to identify which patients respond better to certain types of treatment. Traditionally, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapies are used to treat lung cancer.
Some newer drugs that have recently become available to patients are the oral pills Iressa and Tarceva. These drugs actually target the lung cancer cells to turn off their growth signals. RMCC was one of the key sites where clinical trials included these drugs and led to their approval by the FDA for the treatment of lung cancer. These and many other new drugs are currently being investigated to see if they result in better treatment outcomes for patients with lung cancer.
Clinical Trials
Risk Factors
- Cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke (both first and secondhand)
- Radon exposure
- Asbestos exposure
- Pollution
- Other lung diseases, such as tuberculosis
Prevention
Quit or never start smoking.
- Locations
- Doctors
- Conditions