Lung Cancer

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

  • Coughing that gets worse or doesn't go away.
  • Chest pain.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Wheezing.
  • Coughing up blood.
  • Feeling very tired all the time (fatigue).
  • Weight loss with no known cause.
Source

Risk factors

  • Smoking tobacco and being around others' smoke.
  • Exposures at home or work (such as radon gas or asbestos).
  • Personal history (such as having radiation therapy or a family history of lung cancer).
Source

Treatment

  • Surgery: Doctors cut out and remove the cancer in an operation.
  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs could be pills or medicines given through an IV (intravenous) tube.
  • Radiation therapy: Radiation uses high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer cells. The rays are aimed at the part of the body where the cancer is.
  • Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy uses drugs to block the growth and spread of cancer cells. The drugs could be pills or medicines given through an IV tube. Bevacizumab (Avastin) and erlotinib (Tarceva) can be used to treat non-small cell lung cancer.
Source

Health Resources