“Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death
in the US, accounting for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths.
Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Lung Cancer Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Lung Cancer
  • Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
  • Primary Lung Cancer
  • Secondary Lung Cancer
  • Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer

What is lung cancer?

DotS the definition of lung cancer may vary. In Lung Cancer: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Lung cancer is a kind of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the lungs. The lungs are two spongy organs in the chest that control breathing”.2

Primary Lung Cancer

What is primary lung cancer?

DotS the definition of primary lung cancer may vary. In Lung Cancer: Overview – Types of Lung Cancer the (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:

“Cancer that begins in the lungs is called primary lung cancer”.3

Secondary Lung Cancer

What is secondary lung cancer?

DotS the definition of secondary lung cancer may vary. The NHS’s definition is:

“Cancer that spreads to the lungs from another place in the body is known as secondary lung cancer”.4

Types

What are the two main types of (primary) lung cancer?

In Lung Cancer–Patient Version: Overview the (United States) National Cancer Institute explain:

“Lung cancer includes two main types: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer”.5

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?

In Lung Cancer: Symptoms of Lung Cancer the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) elaborate on:

“People can have different symptoms for lung cancer. Some people have symptoms related to the lungs. Some people whose lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized) have symptoms specific to that part of the body. Some people just have general symptoms of not feeling well. Most people with lung cancer don’t have symptoms until the cancer is advanced.

Lung cancer symptoms may include:

  • Coughing that gets worse or doesn’t go away
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing up blood
  • Feeling very tired all the time
  • Weight loss with no known cause…”.6

Cause

What causes lung cancer?

In Lung Cancer: Risks and Causes – Risks and Causes: Smoking Tobacco the Cancer Research UK (United Kingdom) elaborate on:

“Smoking tobacco is the biggest cause of lung cancer in the UK. Around 7 out of 10 lung cancers are caused by smoking. This includes breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke”.7

In Lung Cancer: Lung Cancer Risk Factors: Smoking the CDC note:

“Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. In the United States, cigarette smoking is linked to about 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths. Using other tobacco products such as cigars or pipes also increases the risk for lung cancer. Tobacco smoke is a toxic mix of more than 7,000 chemicals. Many are poisons. At least 70 are known to cause cancer in people or animals”.8

Common or Not

How common is lung cancer?

DotS, Depending on the Country (DotC), Depending on the Terminology (DotT) or Depending on the Year (DotY) how common lung cancer is, may vary. It may therefore be in your best interest to choose to check what’s-what for you in your country.

In the United States (U.S.) according to the American Cancer Society (ACS):

“Lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell) is the second most common cancer in both men and women in the United States (not counting skin cancer). In men, prostate cancer is more common, while breast cancer is more common in women”.9

In the UK, according to Cancer Research UK:

“Smoking causes at least 15 different types of cancer and is the biggest cause of lung cancer in the UK. Smoking causes other diseases too, such as heart disease and various lung diseases”.10

Life or Death

Is lung cancer a leading cause of cancer death?

In the U.S. according to the ACS:

“Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death in the US, accounting for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined”.11

PreventionLung Cancer

What is the most important thing to do to prevent lung cancer?

In Lung Cancer: How Common Is Lung Cancer? How Can You Reduce Your Risk of Lung Cancer? Don’t Smoke the World Cancer Research Fund UK explain:

“Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer. Over 90% of cases in men and over 80% in women worldwide are due to tobacco use.

By far the most important thing you can do to prevent lung cancer is to not smoke, or to give up smoking. If you do smoke, stopping smoking will reduce your risk”.12

Weight Gain

What if I would like to quit smoking but I am worried about putting on weight?

If you would like to quit smoking but you are worried about putting on weight, your Country may have articles similar to MedlinePlus’s, Weight Gain After Quitting Smoking: What To Do or Smokefreewomen’s, Weight Gain and Quitting.

Quit Smoking Guide

Where may I find a quit smoking guide?

Your Country may have a quit smoking guide similar to the (United States) Smokefreewomen’s Quit Smoking, the NHS’s Quit Smoking or Australia’s Quit website.

Quit Smoking Apps

Where may I find a quit smoking app?

Your Country may have a quit smoking app similar to the (United States) Smokefreewomen’s Smokefree Apps.

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with lung cancer?

If you would like help with lung cancer, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. In Lung Cancer the ACS:

“There are different types of lung cancer. Knowing which type you have is important because it affects your treatment options and your outlook (prognosis). If you aren’t sure which type of lung cancer you have, ask your doctor so you can get the right information”.13

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Lung Cancer?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

Where may I find Links related to Lung Cancer?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Lung Cancer: About Lung Cancer – Key Statistics for Lung Cancer: How Common Is Lung Cancer? Last Revised: 29 January 2024. America Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Accessed: 30 June 2024
  2. Lung Cancer: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 30 April 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lung-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20374620 Accessed: 30 June 2024
  3. Lung Cancer: Overview – Types of Lung Cancer. Page Last Reviewed: 01 November 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/#types-of-lung-cancer Accessed: 30 June 2024
  4. Lung Cancer: Overview – Types of Lung Cancer. Page Last Reviewed: 01 November 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/#types-of-lung-cancer Accessed: 30 June 2024
  5. Lung Cancer–Patient Version: Overview. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/lung Accessed: 30 June 2024
  6. Lung Cancer: Symptoms of Lung Cancer. 23 February 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/lung-cancer/symptoms/index.html Accessed: 30 June 2024
  7. Lung Cancer: Risks and Causes – Risks and Causes: Smoking Tobacco. Last Reviewed: 14 March 2023. Cancer Research UK https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/lung-cancer/about/lung-cancer-risks-and-causes Accessed: 30 June 2024
  8. Lung Cancer: Lung Cancer Risk Factors: Smoking.  07 November 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/lung-cancer/risk-factors/index.html Accessed: 30 June 2024
  9. Lung Cancer: About Lung Cancer – Key Statistics for Lung Cancer: How Common Is Lung Cancer? Last Revised: 29 January 2024. America Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Accessed: 30 June 2024
  10. Smoking and Cancer: How Does Smoking Cause Cancer? What Types of Cancer Does Smoking Cause? Last Reviewed: 07 June 2023. Cancer Research UK https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/smoking-and-cancer/how-does-smoking-cause-cancer#smoking_facts0 Accessed: 30 June 2024
  11. Lung Cancer: About Lung Cancer – Key Statistics for Lung Cancer: How Common Is Lung Cancer? Last Revised: 29 January 2024. America Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Accessed: 30 June 2024
  12. Lung Cancer: How Common Is Lung Cancer? How Can You Reduce Your Risk of Lung Cancer? Don’t Smoke. World Cancer Research Fund UK https://www.wcrf-uk.org/uk/preventing-cancer/cancer-types/lung-cancer Accessed: 30 June 2024
  13. Lung Cancer. America Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer.html Accessed: 30 June 2024
Topic Last Updated: 30 June 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 30 June 2024