Lung cancer symptoms & treatment
Find a cancer specialistLung cancer is the second most common cause of cancer affecting men (after prostate cancer) and women (after breast cancer). While it’s not the most common type of cancer, it is by far the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. It’s crucial to know who is at risk for lung cancer, what the most common lung cancer symptoms are and what lung cancer treatment options are available.
Although lung cancer primarily affects older adults, it can happen at any age. This is why lung cancer screening is so important. Early detection saves lives.
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
The most common lung cancer symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Coughing, especially coughing up blood
- Fatigue or weakness
- Hoarseness or wheezing
- Recurrent infections like bronchitis or pneumonia
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
Unfortunately, by the time these symptoms are present, the cancer is often more advanced. Beginning symptoms of lung cancer are rare, as early lung cancer is often asymptomatic. Lung cancer symptoms in women are usually the same as in men.
What are the types of lung cancer?
The two most common types of lung cancer are nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer. While these cancers have important differences, both begin in the lung tissue and share the same lung cancer symptoms.
Small cell lung cancer accounts for roughly 15% of all lung cancer cases and is found almost exclusively in smokers. This type often recurs frequently.
NSCLC is the most common form of lung cancer and can often have a better prognosis if caught early.
What is nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC)?
Nonsmall cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, making up about 85% of cases.
While the symptoms of lung cancer and risks factors remain the same as small cell lung cancer, nonsmall cell lung cancer tends to spread slowly. Many people do not experience symptoms until it has metastasized to other parts of the body.
There are three main types of nonsmall cell lung cancer:
Adenocarcinoma
This is the most common type of lung cancer found in nonsmokers, though it can also be found in smokers. It begins in the outer parts of the lungs and is frequently diagnosed early.
Squamous cell carcinoma
This is strongly linked to smoking and starts in the central airways. It is more common in men than in women.
Large cell carcinoma
This can appear anywhere in the lungs and tends to spread quickly. It is less common than the other subtypes and is linked to many exposures, including smoking, asbestos, radon and air pollution.
Lung cancer screenings
Lung cancer screening can help save lives by looking for cancer before you have any symptoms of lung cancer. Finding and treating cancer early means you have a greater chance of survival. At Aurora Health Care, we use a low-dose CT scan of your chest to detect lung cancer. The procedure is painless and usually lasts only a few minutes. You'll get your results within a week of your scan.
Who should get screened for lung cancer?
People with a history of cigarette smoking have a higher risk of lung cancer. Based on the National Lung Screening Trial findings, lung cancer screening is recommended for:
- People between the ages of 50 and 77
- Current smokers with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years (e.g., one pack per day for 20 years, two packs per day for 10 years, etc.)
- Former smokers with at least a 20 pack-year smoking history who have quit within the last 15 years
How do I schedule a screening?
Get started with a lung cancer screening by scheduling an appointment with your primary care provider. You’ll discuss risk factors and determine if a lung screening is right for you.
If you have questions about lung cancer screenings, call us at 800-252-2990.
Lung cancer risk factors
Tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer. This includes smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes. If you need help to quit smoking, please talk to your primary care doctor about tobacco cessation programs and classes.
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soil and rocks, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer overall and the No. 1 cause among nonsmokers. Those exposed to second-hand smoke are also at risk of developing lung cancer.
Other risk factors include air pollution and exposure to asbestos, arsenic, diesel exhaust, silica and chromium.
If you’d like more help identifying your risk, our lung health quiz can help. The quiz also gives you an idea of what to do next based on your results.
What are the treatment options for lung cancer?
If you're diagnosed with lung cancer, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatment options based on the stage of your cancer:
Your surgeon may remove only a small part of your lung (called a segmental or wedge resection), the entire lobe (called a lobectomy) or the entire lung on one side (called a pneumonectomy).
Robot-assisted surgery is a less invasive surgical technique that allows for a more precise excision and an enhanced view of the lungs. This generally results in a smaller incision, decreased pain and a quicker recovery time.
At Aurora, minimally invasive techniques are commonly employed. VATS uses smaller incisions and the insertion of a small camera to remove portions of your lung. Smaller incisions generally result in less pain and shorter hospital stays.
This procedure may be used before surgery to shrink your tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. For some individuals with early-stage cancers who are not candidates for surgery because of other medical problems or who do not desire surgery, CyberKnife® radiosurgery may be an option. Your doctor might also recommend it in place of surgery or to relieve symptoms like pain or shortness of breath.
Chemotherapeutic drugs may be used to treat your cancer before or after surgery, or if surgery is not an option.
For some individuals with early-stage cancers who are not candidates for surgery because of other medical problems or those who do not desire surgery, CyberKnife® radiology is an option. CyberKnife® delivers radiation to your tumor with pinpoint accuracy, while sparing the normal, healthy tissue surrounding the cancer.
Palliative treatments can relieve or prevent pain or shortness of breath caused by advanced lung cancer.
PDT uses drugs called photosensitizers, which are activated by certain types of light to kill your cancer cells.
Brachytherapy involves placing small radioactive seeds into your airway (bronchus), typically for just a short time. These radioactive seeds deliver radiation directly to your tumor while they’re in place.
Lung tumors can sometimes cause your airway (also known as a trachea or bronchus) to become blocked, leading to shortness of breath. A stent is a tube used to open an airway or prevent it from collapsing.
This procedure removes fluid from around your lung and prevents it from coming back. Your surgeon will insert a camera into your chest to drain the fluid, then instill talc, which seals the linings of your lung (pleura) and prevents fluid from building up again.
A tube is placed in your chest to drain fluid from around your lung and left there so that you can remove additional fluid at home yourself. Once all the fluid is gone, the tube is taken out.
No matter which treatment option you choose, you'll have a team of dedicated specialists with you every step of the way. They include medical and radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, interventional radiologists, interventional pulmonologists and cancer nurse navigators.
Multidisciplinary Cancer Clinic
Aurora Cancer Care's Multidisciplinary Cancer Clinic brings together a team of dedicated thoracic cancer specialists to provide you with personalized care using the latest treatments and technologies. From diagnosis to treatment, we will coordinate your care to ensure the best possible outcome.
Our clinic follows the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, a national organization dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of cancer care. Collaboration and communication between your primary care doctor and cancer team:
- Provides comprehensive, coordinated care and personalized treatment plans based on your cancer diagnosis
- Increases your access to clinical trials and the latest treatment approaches
- Improves efficiency and follow-up care
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