Lung Cancer Care Designed for You
Your lungs are responsible for bringing oxygen into the bloodstream and expelling carbon dioxide. When lung cells start behaving abnormally, multiplying often and crowding out healthy cells, it may be a sign of lung cancer.
Types of Lung Cancer We Treat
There are two main types of lung cancer. Depending on the size of the cancer cells and how quickly the cancer is spreading, you may be diagnosed with:
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Small cell lung cancer
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common kind of lung cancer. It’s not as aggressive as small cell lung cancer, often growing more slowly. Non-small cell lung cancer may not cause symptoms, so if you’re at a higher risk, getting screened is especially important. The three main types are adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small cell lung cancer is rarer than non-small cell lung cancer. It typically grows much faster and can spread quickly through the body to your lymph nodes, bones, brain, liver and adrenal glands. The two types of small cell lung cancer are small cell carcinoma and combined small cell carcinoma.
Lung Cancer Risk Factors
Lung cancer can affect anyone, but people who smoke, used to smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke are at a much higher risk. The best way to prevent lung cancer is to quit smoking or never start.
Some other risk factors include:
- Exposure to radon gas, asbestos or radiation
- A family history of lung cancer
- Conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, COPD or HIV
If you are at a higher risk for lung cancer, it’s important to stay up to date on screening. When lung cancer is found at an early stage, treatment is more effective.
Learn More About Lung Cancer Screening
Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer
In many cases, people with lung cancer may not show symptoms at all or until the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. When symptoms are present, they can include:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Chronic cough
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Hoarseness
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Wheezing
The first step in evaluating someone for lung cancer is a chest X-ray. If there are signs of lung cancer, your provider may suggest additional diagnostic tests. If you think you may have lung cancer, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider.
Lung Cancer Treatments
Treatment for lung cancer depends on several factors, including the type of cancer, the patient’s age, the stage of the cancer and more.
Surgery allows doctors to remove the part of the lung that is affected.
Radiation therapy targets abnormal cells with radiation, which damages them and keeps them from reproducing.
Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells to slow down their growth and eliminate the disease.
Immunotherapy boosts your body’s immune system to help it find and kill cancer cells.