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Information And Frequently Asked Inquiries About Lung Cancer

The symptoms and signs of various cancers can be both difficult to remember and also tough to identify. This is even true of lung cancer.

For answers to your questions and facts about lung cancer, read on for details about causes of the disease, how it’s treated and how it can be prevented.

Is there more than one type of lung cancer?

Lung cancer is divided into two different types. These are non-small and small cell lung cancer. They are classified differently because the cells grow and spread differently with each type.

There are three types of non-small cell lung cancer (the most common form of lung cancer). They are adenocarcinoma, squamus cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma. Though rarer, small cell lung cancer occurs in approximately a quarter of all people diagnosed with lung cancer.

Can I prevent lung cancer?

There are three ways to prevent lung cancer - quit smoking, avoid second-hand smoke and stay away from air-borne carcinogens at work. If you’re concerned about your risk of developing lung cancer, avoiding tobacco smoke is typically your best defense.

What are the major causes of lung cancer?

The short answer - smoking. Tobacco smoke is full of carcinogens, making it the major cause in almost all cases of lung cancer. While exposure to air-borne carcinogens like radon or asbestos can also lead to lung cancer, tobacco smoke is, by far, the primary cause.

How is lung cancer detected?

Most cases of lung cancer caught during the early stages of the disease are found accidentally in chest X-rays. Unfortunately, symptoms of the disease typically aren’t exhibited until the later stages.

For a confident diagnosis, a biopsy is required. When a doctor performs a biopsy, he or she removes a small amount of tissue from the lung to test it for cancerous cells.

Does lung cancer have any symptoms?

Again, many lung cancer symptoms aren’t apparent until the later stages of the disease. However, they include persistent coughing, chest pain, weight loss, wheezing, recurrent bronchitis, coughing up blood, loss of appetite, fatigue and persistent hoarseness.

How does a doctor treat or cure lung cancer?

The treatments will vary depending on the patient, their age, the type of lung cancer and the stage of the disease. Most cases of lung cancer are treated with radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy or a combination of the three.

Is mesothelioma a type of lung cancer?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer that is typically caused by asbestos exposure. The disease attacks the delicate skin lining of the lungs, and tumors form.

Are men or women more at risk?

Female smokers are twice as likely to develop lung cancer than male smokers.

I’ve smoked my entire life, so can quitting now really make a difference?

Yes, quitting at any age can help prevent lung cancer. The risk of developing lung cancer is reduced dramatically each year a person smokes - whether that person is 20 or 70. Of all the facts about lung cancer, probably the most saddening is that the majority of cases are preventable.

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