Health Library

Lung cancer

Cancer - lung

Lung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs.

The lungs are located in the chest. When you breathe, air goes through your nose, down your windpipe (trachea), and into the lungs, where it flows through tubes called bronchi. Most lung cancer begins in the cells that line these tubes.

There are two main types of lung cancer:

• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer.
• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) makes up about 20% of all lung cancer cases.

If the lung cancer is made up of both types, it is called mixed small cell/large cell cancer.

If the cancer started somewhere else in the body and spreads to the lungs, it is called metastatic cancer to the lung.

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Causes

Lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer for both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined.

Lung cancer is more common in older adults. It is rare in people under age 45.

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Close to 90% of lung cancer is related to smoking. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk for lung cancer. The risk does decrease with time after you stop smoking. There is no evidence that smoking low-tar cigarettes lowers the risk.

Certain types of lung cancer can also affect people who have never smoked.

Secondhand smoke (breathing the smoke of others) increases your risk for lung cancer.

The following may also increase your risk for lung cancer:

• Exposure to asbestos
• Exposure to cancer-causing chemicals such as uranium, beryllium, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal products, mustard gas, chloromethyl ethers, gasoline, and diesel exhaust
• Exposure to radon gas
• Family history of lung cancer
• High levels of air pollution
• High levels of arsenic in drinking water
• Radiation therapy to the lungs

Symptoms

Early lung cancer may not cause any symptoms.

Symptoms depend on the type of cancer you have, but may include:

• Chest pain
• Cough that does not go away
• Coughing up blood
• Fatigue
• Losing weight without trying
• Loss of appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

Other symptoms that may also occur with lung cancer, often in the late stages:

• Bone pain or tenderness
• Eyelid drooping
• Facial paralysis
• Hoarseness or changing voice
• Joint pain
• Nail problems
• Shoulder pain
• Swallowing difficulty
• Swelling of the face or arms
• Weakness

These symptoms can also be due to other, less serious conditions, so it is important to talk to your health care provider.

Exams and Tests

Lung cancer is often found when an x-ray or CT scan is done for another reason.

If lung cancer is suspected, the provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history. You will be asked if you smoke. If so, you'll be asked how much you smoke and for how long you have smoked. You will also be asked about other things that may have put you at risk for lung cancer, such as exposure to certain chemicals.

When listening to the chest with a stethoscope, the provider may hear fluid around the lungs. This may suggest cancer.

Tests that may be done to diagnose lung cancer or see if it has spread include:

• Bone scan
• Chest x-ray
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• CT scan of the chest
• MRI of the chest
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• Sputum test to look for cancer cells
• Thoracentesis (sampling of fluid buildup around the lung)

In most cases, a piece of tissue is removed from your lungs for examination under a microscope. This is called a biopsy. There are several ways to do this:

• Bronchoscopy combined with biopsy
• CT-scan-directed needle biopsy
• Endoscopic bronchoscopy ultrasound (EBUS) with biopsy
• Mediastinoscopy with biopsy
• Open lung biopsy
• Pleural biopsy

If the biopsy shows cancer, more imaging tests are done to find out the stage of the cancer. Stage means how big the tumor is and how far it has spread. Staging helps guide treatment and follow-up and gives you an idea of what to expect.

Treatment

Treatment for lung cancer depends on the type of cancer, how advanced it is, and how healthy you are:

• Surgery to remove the tumor may be done when it has not spread beyond nearby lymph nodes.
• Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells and stop new cells from growing.
• Radiation therapy uses powerful x-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells.

The above treatments may be done alone or in combination. Your provider can tell you more about the specific treatment you will receive, depending on the specific type of lung cancer and what stage it is.

Support Groups

You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well you do depends mostly on how much the lung cancer has spread.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if you have symptoms of lung cancer, particularly if you smoke.

Prevention

If you smoke, now is the time to quit. If you are having trouble quitting, talk with your provider. There are many methods to help you quit, from support groups to prescription medicines. Also, try to avoid secondhand smoke.

Related Information

References

Araujo LH, Horn L, Merritt RE, et al. Cancer of the lung: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 69.

National Cancer Institute website. Non-small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/lung/hp/non-small-cell-lung-treatment-pdq. Updated March 17, 2022. Accessed July 1, 2022.

National Cancer Institute website. Small cell lung cancer treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/lung/hp/small-cell-lung-treatment-pdq. Updated April 14, 2022. Accessed July 1, 2022.

Pastis NJ, Gonzalez AV, Silvestri GA. Lung cancer: diagnosis and staging. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 76.

Review Date: 1/25/2022  

Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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