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• Lung cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the lungs begin to grow and spread, sometimes throughout the body. A large group of abnormal cells in the lungs is called a tumor. Lung cancer most commonly develops in the bronchi, which is the part of the lung that divides into branches like a tree.

  Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. Most cases of lung cancer are caused by cigarette smoking.National Cancer Institute: Cigarette Smoking and Cancer Prize winner author John Updike died of lung cancer on January 27, 2009.KTAR (Arizona): John Updike, Prize-Winning Writer, Dead at Age 76 (January 27, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Also called: Bronchogenic carcinoma
  2. Symptoms: Intense coughing, blood in sputum, wheezing, weight loss, chest pain
  3. Common cause: Smoking
  4. Takes many years to develop
  5. Most cases preventableLungCancer.org: Lung Cancer Prevention
  6. Cigarette smoke contains 4000 cancer causing chemicalsNational Cancer Institute: Cigarette Smoking and Cancer
  7. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancerNational Cancer Institute: Radon and Cancer
  8. Radon exposure blamed for 15,000-22,000 lung cancer deaths each yearNational Cancer Institute: Radon and Cancer
  9. Treatment: Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery
  10. Estimated new cases in 2005: 172,570 in U.S.Weill Cornell Medical College: Lung Cancer Research Institute
  11. Leading cause of cancer deaths among womenAmerican Cancer Society: Key Statistics for Breast Cancer

• Types

  There are two main categories of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and non small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is the more common of the two types.

  Distinguishable by cell size, small cell lung cancer accounts for only about 10 to 15% of lung cancer cases. The cancerous cells spread quickly, nearly always requiring a drug-based treatment. The more common varieties are considered non-small cell lung cancer and typically develop over a period of years.American Cancer Society: What Is Small Cell Lung Cancer?

• Causes

  Some genetic traits can also make some people more susceptible to cancer-causing substances than others. Aside from the chemicals found in cigarettes, other cancer-causing substances include asbestos, silica, mineral dusts, coal dust, radioactive gas, radon, and arsenic.

• Disclaimer

  The information on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for more information on lung cancer.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Cancer | Mesothelioma | Emphysema | COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | Asthma | Quit Smoking | How to Quit Smoking | Cheap Cigarettes | Artyom Sidorkin | Esophageal Cancer

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